How to Write Songs for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, & Randy Travis

nsavides — Wed, 23 May 2018 13:28:04 +0000

Some songwriters would kill for the chance to work with just one multi-platinum artist. Songwriter Brent Baxter has worked with a handful of them. One of his songs even made it onto Rolling Stone‘s list of the 40 Saddest Country Songs of All Time. How does a songwriter get to write for multi-platinum artists, and what’s it like writing songs for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum and Randy Travis? I brought Brent on the podcast to find out.

You want to make friends you can rise with not friends you have to rise above.” – Brent Baxter

Some of the things that we discuss include

How to write songs for superstars
Songs Brent admires for their craftsmanship
How songwriters are like Special Forces
Practical tips for moving to an industry hub like Nashville and getting connected with the community there
The business side of being a songwriter and some challenges involved
Why being a successful artist is all about being in the service industry
Why sync licensing can be more profitable for songwriters
When does it make sense to sign a publishing deal
How to prepare for a collaboration with a big name
What a well-written song involves

We also discuss these songs that Brent wrote: “Monday Morning Church” (Alan Jackson), “When Your Lips Are so Close” (Gord Bamford), “A Woman Scorned” & “Last Night Last” (Lady Antebellum), and “Every Head Bowed” (Randy Travis). At the end of the episode, you can hear a demo of a song Brent co-wrote with WILKES, who is currently featured on NBC’s The Voice.

Want to hear an interview with someone who was featured on NBC’s The Voice? Then check out this interview I did with bluesy rocker Lane Mack, who was a contestant on the show in 2016.

Sponsor for this Episode

nsavides productions – I make videos and tell stories. My new video portfolio is here!

This is the video I shot of the Rayo Brothers at Jazz Fest 2018:

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Related Things

This Spotify playlist, embedded below, includes songs mentioned in the episode. It starts with songs that Brent has written and then includes some of the songs from others mentioned by him and me.

Brent on
- Facebook, Instagram
giftfrombrent.com, where you can get a free copy of Brent’s book, Think Like a Pro Songwriter!
Songwriting Pro, where Brent helps other songwriters turn pro
- Facebook community
C.L.I.M.B. music podcast that Brent co-hosts with John Dwinell
- Facebook community
Brent’s event where you can play for a hit Music Row publisher on June 19
Nashville Songwriters Association International
Update on the Music Modernization Act
Help the Baxter family bring an orphan home
Shortcut for the podcast: nicksav.show

Music for the show provided by Rob Costlow.

Bands & Musicians Mentioned

Alan Jackson
Bob Dylan
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
The Beatles
Bruce Springsteen
Carrie Underwood
Dan Hill
Dierks Bently
Don Wiliams
Garth Brooks
George Jones
George Strait
Gord Bamford
Janet Jackson
Jimi Hendrix
Lady Antebellum
Lee Ann Womack
Old Dominion
Randy Travis
Ray Stevens
The Rayo Brothers
Taylor Swift
WILKE

Other Music Industry People Mentioned

Brandon Kinney, co-writer of “Every Head Bowed”
Byron Hill, producer and co-writer of “When Your Lips Are So Close”
Casey Kessel, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned”
Doug Johnson, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses”
Erin Enderlin, co-writer of “Monday Morning Church”
Graham Nash, writer of “Our House”
Hillary Scott, singer of Lady Antebellum
Keith Stegall, producer of “Monday Morning Church”
Kim Williams, co-writer of “Three Wooden Crosses”
Jerry Crabbe, writer of “He stopped loving her today”
John Armstrong, co-writer of “A Woman Scorned”

If You Liked the Show

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