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Here are the winners of Songwriting Pro's "Co+Write Pitch Event" for July 2025!
First of all, thank you to each of you who took a chance, took positive action, and submitted one or more song-start to songwriter/artist, Caroline Owens. 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-start was heard and every effort was made to pick the ones that have the best chance of catching Seth’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):
"SHE NEVER WROTE HIM BACK" by Sundi Jo Graham
"HOMELESS" by Tracy Richardson
"SEE YOU SON" by Kathy Robinson
"BEING HUMAN RACE" by Patrick Dodge
"WINE ON THE VINE" by Leslie Bowe & Jeff Roe
"BEDFORD CHAPEl 1889" by Fred Kitchen
"DOLLY WOULD" by Elizabeth Eckert & Carine Fradin
"ONE MORE BROKEN LINE" by Andrea Shihady
"WHEN HE DIDN'T HAVE TO BE" by Rachel Cintula
"KENTUCKY ON MY PLATE" by Mary Zalla
Here's the "Top 10." Let us know what you think!
You can hear each Top 10 song with a CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think!
Caroline Owens and I look forward to meeting with you (online) on July 17! Keep your eyes open for the invitation in your email.
Of course, these weren't the only good song-starts 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! Oh, and these will all be sent to Seth Elbe for his consideration, too!
Okay, here are the "Top 20" song-starts (in no particular order):
"LEFT BEHIND" by Mary Zalla
"GOOD GRAVY" by Leslie Bowe, Ryan Jacobs, Megan Kelley & Carly Zimmerman
"LEAN IN" by Elizabeth Eckert, M Human & M Quinn
"WHERE THE CHURCH ONCE STOOD" by David L Smith
"DADDY'S FAVORITE SWEATER" by Kathy Kay Wallace
"IF THIS QUILT COULD TALK" by Mitch Matthews
"HERE I GO" by Brian Conover & Jim Glenn
"THIRD SECOND CHANCE" by Tom Ruesink
"YOU LET ME FULLY BE ME" by Michael Howard
"GOING BACK TO MY HOME" by Wayne Pope
Here are the "On Hold" songs. Let us know what you think!
You can hear each Top 20 on hold song with a CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think!
God bless,
Brent
PS- Thanks for stopping by Songwriting Pro! I appreciate it. As a matter of fact, I want to give you a special little something just for your visit. Actually, it's a BIG something - over an hour of free interviews with hit-making songwriters and producers! This look into the Songwriting Pro Member Area is full of tips to help you succeed at the art, craft and business of songwriting. You can gain access to all this good stuff at SongwritingPro.com/preview.
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), The LeFevre Quartet and more!
