Hook your listener fast. In this SongTown Podcast, hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share 7 ways to hook listeners in the first 7 seconds—starting with the first vocal line, not the production intro. You’ll get practical songwriting tips from hit songwriters you can use today.

These Songwriting Myths Are Holding You Back, Clay Mills and Marty Dodson bust 5 big beliefs that secretly stall your progress—You’ll hear real-world stories from the writing room, learn how pros actually think about creativity, and pick up practical ways to level up your craft starting today.

In this episode, Clay and Marty share the kind of tough-love truths that helped them go from unknowns to hit songwriters—stuff all writers need to hear but nobody says out loud. We’ll talk originality, “your life is not interesting,” writer’s block, rejection, AI shortcuts, and why excuses are quietly killing your songwriting dreams. If you’re serious about your songwriting craft and want real-world guidance from pro writers (not theory), you’re in the right place. Dive in, then check out the SongTown.com community and our SongTown Edge mentoring to get your songs and career to the next level.

Multi-Hit/Grammy nominated songwriters Clay Mills & Marty Dodson share 3 books that completely changed the way they write songs. We dig into work ethic, handling rejection, show-don’t-tell lyric writing, rewriting songs, and why clarity beats being “clever” every time. If you’re looking for real-world songwriting tips from pro writers, this episode will help you write better songs and level up your lyric writing. Drop your favorite songwriting book in the comments and let us know what’s helped YOU grow as a writer. Write on! 🎶✍️

Multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills & Marty Dodson break down 8 pro bridge tips to bring fresh momentum, new sounds, and real emotion to your songs. Learn when you actually need a bridge, how to create contrast with melody/chords, and ways to set up that last-chorus lift. Perfect for leveling up your songwriting and sharpening your bridge writing toolkit. Subscribe for more pro songwriting tips from the SongTown crew!

Multi #1 songwriters Marty Dodson & Clay Mills share 10 ways to make your song unpredictable—the kind of lyric-to-melody fit and arrangement moves artists, publishers, and fans can’t ignore. If you want real-world pro songwriting advice from the SongTown crew—fresh songwriting tips for melody writing and lyric writing—hit play, take notes, and write on!

Level up your songwriting with Clay Mills & Marty Dodson as we share 7 real-world tips from top publishers inside our SongTown Edge Groups. From conversational lyrics to chorus lift and word-to-melody flow, you’ll learn how to build a diverse, pitchable catalog that artists can’t ignore. Hit subscribe and write on!

Tired of “shoulds” that stall your songs? In this SongTown session, Clay Mills & Marty Dodson show you the real-world songwriting tips they use instead of chasing rules. We break down five so-called “musts,” explain when they hurt your song, and give you practical tools you can pull from your toolbelt the moment you hit play.

Stuck writing the same song on repeat? In this quick SongTown songwriting tips lesson, multi‑#1 hit writers Clay & Marty show how to write a song that doesn’t all sound the same—fixing grooves, lyric habits, themes, and instrument limits. Try new grooves, move the hook, sing before you play, and swap instruments to spark fresh melodies. If this helps, hit subscribe, drop your favorite tip in the comments, and keep writing better songs with SongTown.

Clay Mills and Marty Dodson reveal proven ways to make your hooks and choruses hit harder—advanced techniques made simple, grounded in real-world hits. If you’re chasing your best songs and want practical, craft-first lessons for your next one, this is for you.

In this episode of the SongTown Podcast, hit writers Clay Mills and Marty Dodson reveal the common songwriting mistakes 99% of writers make—and share advanced songwriting techniques, songwriting tips, and real-world songwriting lessons to help you master your craft. The go-to songwriter podcast for pro songwriting tips and inspiration.

Hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson break down The Worst—but Most Helpful—Exercise For Songwriters. Learn how pro writers sharpen their skills with tough melody and lyric workouts that build your rhythm vocabulary and make your songs more hooky. If you’ve ever felt stuck in the same patterns, this exercise will help you unlock fresh ideas and level up your writing.

From notebook scribbles to Billboard #1 hits—Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share the real stories behind their first chart-topping songs. Packed with pro songwriting tips, real-world struggles, and breakthrough moments, this episode is a must-watch for anyone chasing their next big song.

In this episode: Hit writers Clay Mills and Marty Dodson take a raw idea (“Love This Side of Town”) and show a brilliantly simple, repeatable way to turn a spark into a song—pick the unexpected angle, sketch vivid verses, set-up the chorus hook. Learn a real-world pro process to develop ideas that feel fresh, hit deeper, and actually get finished.

Multi #1 songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share pro songwriting advice and tips to avoid common songwriting mistakes: the 5 worst ways to start a song—and the simple fixes to sharpen your first lines, pace your story, and set up a knockout chorus.

Struggling to finish your songs? Hit writers Marty Dodson and Clay Mills share proven strategies—separate writer vs. editor, set deadlines, lean on co-writes and accountability, and know when a song is “done”—so your music reaches the finish line with clarity, emotion, and replay value. Learn how to finish more songs that truly connect!

Want to make your hooks impossible to forget? Hit writers Marty Dodson and Clay Mills share 5 pro tips to craft titles, melodies, and lyrics that grab attention and keep listeners hooked. Discover how to use intrigue, repetition, emotion, story, and sing-a-bility to create songs people can’t stop singing!

In this week’s SongTown Songwriting Podcast episode, multi-hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson share why great songs don’t always come from personal pain. Through real-life stories, they reveal how to turn heartbreak into hope, write from others’ experiences, and find the magic in contrast—unlocking new ways to create your most powerful songs.

Want to write better songs fast? Learn pro songwriting tips and advanced songwriting techniques from hit songwriters Clay Mills and Marty Dodson. Avoid common songwriting mistakes and start creating songs that truly connect with listeners.

Are your songs ready to share with the world? Hit writers Marty Dodson and Clay Mills reveal 6 must-answer questions to improve clarity, emotion, and replay value. Learn how to write songs that truly connect!