Songwriting Pro is a community for songwriters who are ready to WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to pros. Hundreds of songwriters from all over the world use Songwriting Pro to get their songs in front of music industry professionals, find collaborators and gain real-world, real-time knowlege about the music business. We'd love to have you join us... so what are you waiting for? Join today!
Announcements by Brent Baxter, Team SWPro on January 13, 2026
Here are the winners of Songwriting Pro's "Pro Connect" event for January 2026!
First of all, thank you to each of you who took a chance, took positive action, and submitted one or more songs to this event with Paul Secord of Godsey Entertainment. Ya’ll are just plain awesome.
There were a lot of worthy songs sent in, and it was tough to leave so many out. If your song wasn’t chosen this time doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good song.
You know, one time I turned a song in to my publisher, and they didn’t know what to do with it, so they didn’t want to do anything with it. My cowriters wanted to demo it, and the publisher said they wouldn’t pay for a demo.
The song was called, “Crickets,” and we got it cut by Joe Nichols. It’s the title track to one of his recent albums.
That’s right. The song my publisher wouldn’t even pay to demo got cut, anyway. (My cowriters did an out-of-pocket guitar/vocal, and we pitched it ourselves.)
Welcome to Nashville. So while each and every song was heard and every effort was made to pick the ones that have the best chance of catching our guest's ear… I could be wrong. That’s just the way the music biz works. So if your song wasn’t selected, it doesn’t mean you should give up on it.
Okay, here are the Top Ten (in no particular order):
"FOR THE LIFE OF ME" by April Joiner, Nathan Sennett
"WHALE OF A FISH STORY" by Elizabeth Mintus
"GOD, DESIGN ME" by Heather Platania
"HOW I'M WALKING OUT" by Michael Lacey, Jonathan Gamble, Lyn Rowell, John Gooch, Ryan Tremblay, Trevor Willoughby
"SAVED" by James Kelso, Kaitlin Reynolds, Matthew Simmons
"THE LIFE I NOW LIVE" by Jim Lane
"YOU NEVER GAVE UP" by Kevin Lynch
"DOWN TO THE WATER" by Patrick Dodge, Bill Small, Toni LaShaun Wortherly
"OBITUARY FOR THE OLD ME" by Scott Miller, Dan Curry, Scott Parker, Mitch Townley
"PEOPLE LIKE THAT" by Tedd Swormstedt, Patrick Dodge
You can hear each Top 10 song with a CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think!
Paul and I look forward to meeting with you (online) on Tuesday, January 20! Keep your eyes open for the invitation in your email.
Of course, these weren't the only good songs sent in for the event. Here's the list of the "Top 20" songs. These were the next 10 songs, just outside of the Top 10. Any of these songs could have ended up in the top 10 - they were right in there fighting it out for a spot in the Top 10. And there were several that were SO close to making this list, too. So please be encouraged, and keep on writing!
Okay, here are the rest of the Top 20 (in no particular order):
"WRITTEN IN RED" by April Joiner, Meredith Boggs
"WHY ME" by Bobby Davis
"DEAR SPIRIT" by Jayne Sachs
"EMMANUEL" by John Matthews, Adrenna Sjodahl
"THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN" by Fred Kitchen
"COUNTDOWN TO THE MIRACLE" by Kathy Robinson
"PAIN BE YOUR PRISON" by Natalie Otto, Carol Yu
"CRANK UP THE GRACE" by Heather Platania
"ONE MORE TOWN AWAY" by Samuel Alexander Barbour
"UNCHANGED" by Brian Conover
You can hear each Top 20 song with a CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think!
God bless,
Baxter
Who is Brent Baxter?
Brent is an award-winning songwriter with songs recorded by Alan Jackson (the top 5 Country hit "Monday Morning Church"), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Steve Cropper, Andy Griggs, Buddy Jewell, Lonestar, Gord Bamford (the #1 hit and CCMA Single Of The Year "When Your Lips Are So Close"), The Sound (the #1 hit and Dove-nominated Southern Gospel Song Of The Year "Can I Get A Witness"), Wilburn & Wilburn (#1 single), Dave Adkins (#1 single) The LeFevre Quartet and more!
