Songwriting: Conversational Lyrics

In working with songwriters sometimes the most difficult area to give definitive method and approach is in lyric writing. Writers by nature are an individual lot – it is their stylistic personality and even idiosyncrasies that give writers their unique voice. To codify and categorize, to attempt to standardize it, or teach a method for it, may by definition be going against the special qualities a teacher...

Marcia Campbell - The Keeper of the WSM Flame!

Marty Stuart has often been referred to as the “Keeper of the Country Flame” for his determination in making people aware of artists like Flatt and Scruggs, Porter Wagoner, and Buck Owens. It could be said that Marcia Campbell-- hospitality director for Marty’s RFD-TV series could be called the “Keeper of the 50,000 Watt Blowtorch,” referring to the legendary signal of 650 AM---WSM to host...

Building a Bridge: The Oprah Winfrey Network’s Commitment to Country

When The Judds’ self-titled reality series wrapped its sixth episode in May on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), it was followed immediately by the premiere of “Why Not? with Shania Twain,” the Country superstar’s own revealing documentary series. Coincidental scheduling? Hardly. The fledgling cable network is happily aware of this genre’s pull. “The truth is we know that Country Music...

How Long Should A Good Thing Last?

The term of copyright is a controversial and much argued issue. How can we minimise any negative consequences without robbing anybody of their property? Copyright lasts a pretty long time. If I live to 75, the copyright in this article will finally expire some time in 2114. After that it will be in the public domain, out of copyright. Anyone will be able to use and my successors – probably...

Collaboration - Just Write A Song

I had a very interesting and enlightening classroom experience the other day that may help you in just writing a song. I teach songwriting at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and in one of the classes we have a workshop on writing. The other day I was working with two students who were to collaborate on writing a song in class. I have written songs with other writers many times...

Darius Rucker Bets on Education with the New Mexico Lottery

Since its launch in 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised in excess of $477 million to benefit education in the state ($70+ million for public school construction and repairs and $407+ for college tuition). More than 68,000 students have received Legislative Lottery Scholarships. Impressive, yes, but so is the potential for this program to benefit even more recipients. So to widen their...

Sarah Darling: Two Discs and New Twists with ‘Angels and Devils’

It’s often said that the landscape in music has shifted from album to singles format, thanks to the ease of downloading digital tracks and the explosion in use of mobile phones and other portable media players as the channel of choice for listening. This transformation is still underway in Country, where albums continue to make strong impacts. But even in that genre all sorts of experiments...

Six Things Every Songwriter Needs - Part 1

This is actually a list of qualities or characteristics. If you want to succeed as a songwriter, you need them. Now actually possessing and practicing these qualities would stand you in good stead in just about any endeavor, but as I’m writing to songwriters, I encourage you to take notice of them. So here they are, in a very particular order...

Concert Review: Jo Dee Messina and Jimmy Wayne at “The Fred”

The Fred. It’s short for the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater, located in Peachtree City, GA. It’s a 2500-seat amphitheater intimately nestled in the woods about 30 minutes south of downtown Atlanta, and on Saturday night it was home to Country Music, Jo Dee Messina style. With over five million albums sold, nine #1 singles, two Grammy nominations as well as awards by the CMA...

LoCash Cowboys – Live and Up Close

Take one Energizer bunny, throw in a few Skynyrd, Allman Brothers and Ted Nudent CDs and stir it all with a tornado and you’ll find yourself in front of the stage at a LoCash Cowboy’s concert. Chris Lucas and Preston Brust bring an energy to their concerts that is both infectious and addicting. Recently, LCC headlined at the Woodstock Summer Concert Series in Woodstock, GA. It was a day full of adventure for the guys

Two Songwriting Tips by Kim Copeland

In the writing process: Explore every angle for the idea; every possible character perspective; every scenery option and every timeline. When the muse sends you a full song, write it and say thank you. But before you spend money on the demo or put it in your finished file, explore these elements to make sure that you have exploited that idea to the fullest. If your goals are commercial songwriting, “uniqueness” is your best friend.

Bobby Braddock, Jean Shepard and Reba McEntire Welcomed into Country Music Hall of Fame

A long Lincoln Town Car glided to a stop outside the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The driver hustled to open the back door, and Reba McEntire with her husband Narvel Blackstock emerged into a flurry of cheers and camera flashes. As they waved to hundreds of onlookers, Blackstock chuckled, patted the luxury vehicle and quipped, “It’s a cheap car.”

Aaron Keyes - Dwell

The last thing you want to do in the middle of a fight is... NOTHING. Unless, of course, you expect someone bigger to show up and fight for you. It’s an upside down principle, or so it seems, but for worship leader and songwriter Aaron Keyes, this is the key to worship, even the key to life itself: “Deliverance, provision, miracles—everything we pray for in the rough seasons

The Differences Between Songwriting in NYC & Nashville

As a transplanted songwriter from Nashville to New York City, I’ve had the chance to observe, up close, the approaches to songwriting and the songwriting communities in both cities. While there are of course many similarities, there are also quite a few differences. By the way, I feel I should mention that the following observations are really more my impressions than hard facts...

New Artist Spotlight: Walker Hayes

There’s no shortage of deft writers and entertainers in Nashville. What nudges Walker Hayes slightly ahead of the field is that his music makes him seem like somebody you’d like to know as much as listen to. This is clear on his first EP, produced by Marshall Altman, with all four tracks slated for his upcoming debut album, Reason to Rhyme. Each performance creates an impression...