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Here are the winners of Songwriting Pro's "Play For A Publisher" event for October 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 Cyndi Forman of Universal Music. 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 co+writers 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 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 Cyndi’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):
"BETTER LIAR" by Doug Folkins, Annika Catharina, David Borys
"HEROES" by Elizabeth Eckert, Bradley Collins, Scott Barrier, Jericho Cole
"CHOOSE ME" by Kathy Kay Wallace
"DON'T TALK TO STRANGERS" by Kris Crepeau
"GET YOU ONE OF THOSE" by Lee Black
"DARK NIGHT" by Mary Zalla, Zach Blair, Kurtis John
"STILL GETTIN' OVER YOU" by Patrick Dodge
"AFTER ME" by Rich Catley
"NAMASTE" by Sean Squires, Stephen Hunley
"KANSAS" by Sue McMillan, Kenny Foster
You can hear each Top 10 song with a CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think!
Cyndi and I look forward to meeting with you (online) on October 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 10 "Top 20" songs (in no particular order):
"BREAKUP BOOTS" by Beau Harris
"HEY MISSOURI" by Blake Bard
"GIRLFRIEND'S SALARY" by Laura Honken
"THE COUNTDOWN" by Lew Garrison, Nolan Sotillo
"DUETS" by Matt Salada
"SWEETER CAROLINE" by Michael Allen Walker, Caroline Walker
"SHOULDA BEEN ME" by Randy Knadle
"LOVE ME BACK TOGETHER" by Scott Miller, Andrew Scott Wills
"SHADE OF BLUE" by Tedd Swormstedt, Victoria Banks
"THE CALL" by Kevin Hazellief
"GOT ME A KEEPER" by Tyler Richardson
"MISSIN' EACH OTHER" by Wynn Hunter
You can hear each of the "Top 20" songs 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), The LeFevre Quartet, Dave Adkins (the #1 Bluegrass hit, "She Put The Go In Gone) and more!
