How to Write Songs for Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, & Randy Travis
Release Date: 05/23/2018
NICKSAV Film & Music SHOW
In this episode I expand on some ideas that came up in my discussion with Brian A. Loschiavo about his documentary about the Bluebird Cafe, a now iconic music in Nashville. After I did the interview, certain subsequent news stories involving Taylor Swift came out, and they did affect my take on the film. Since Taylor Swift was prominently featured in the Bluebird documentary and discussed in my interview with Brian, I decided to do a supplemental commentary track to expand on my thoughts about her and how she affected my interpretation of the documentary. # Sponsors for this Episode nsavides...
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info_outlineSome songwriters would kill for the chance to work with just one multi-platinum artist. Songwriter Brent Baxterhas 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 for 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'sThe Voice? Then check out this interview I did with bluesy rocker Lane Mack, who was a contestant on the show in 2016.
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Sponsor for this Episode
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Related Things
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- Brent on
- 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
- C.L.I.M.B. music podcastthat Brent co-hosts with John Dwinell
- 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.
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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
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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”
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