Christmas Day
I’m taking stock of a year gone by on a day I believe I was given to take stock. Maybe I didn’t do all the things I promised myself I’d do last year. But at least I try. And I feel blessed that it appears there’s still time. (Pictured: a visit from my longtime songwriting pal, Gregg Sutton)
Dear Santa...
We don’t need material gifts, Santa….just some shift in the Universe that gives musicians faith in the idea that we, and the young people who will come after us, will be able to sustain ourselves and keep giving the world what they can not live without: music.
Color Blind
This is the time of year when we search for the better angels in ourselves. I’m keeping an eye out for mine.
Topliners Taking Back The Power
There’s a new breed of "Topliner" on the scene who are charging for their valuable time and service. "I’m tired of working for free and being asked to cough up lunch money.”
Kings & Queens of Nashville
Four hours later my session is a total bust. Three ideas and we couldn’t get hard. We parted without any eargasm to speak of. Even well seasoned writers come up empty sometimes. They might not tell you that but I will.
Make the Music Industry Great Again
The Donald has promised to do things differently. This is an area where I hope he does. It would be a Huge gesture of good will and would improve an ecosystem in disarray.
Dear Madame Almost President...
I took an Abmien last night at 9:30. Slept like a baby. Woke up despondent and Stepford. Sort of like when my otherwise healthy father had an aortic aneurysm and the doctor told me he would probably not live and I kept thinking I’d get a call saying it all turned around overnight and he’d be fine. It didn’t. He wasn’t. He died.
Eeny, meeny, miny, moe
When it comes to creators' rights and digital royalty improvements, I’m praying for a President with a kid who wants to be a rockstar. Watch how fast the Copyright Office is given autonomy, streaming rates go up, take down stays down!
Blurred Lines Revisited
With the "Blurred Lines" case in appeal Pharrell & Robin have a chance to turn the verdict around.
Life Lessons Revisited
College wasn’t perfect. I had my share of broken hearts, C-minuses, zits. But all in all it was a rich, eye-opening experience and although I didn’t wind up pursuing a career in the area of my study, it readied me in many important ways for the world.
Courtney's on The Voice!
"What do you do when you've raised your son, sent him off to college, and it's clear you're on your own with a whole lotta life left ahead of you? You audition for The Voice."
Back To School
The students I’ve been with this week have been open, curious, reasonable and interested. Most of all, they want a future in the music business!
H-O-L-D: The Forgotten 4 Letter Word
Songs got put on and taken off of H-O-L-D all the time. No one was immune. No matter your status. Even if you won a Grammy. Soon it would just roll of your shoulder. You’d dust yourself off and write another song.
Hey There Delilah (And MoZella)
Shortly after MoZella, Jude and I were pressured into removing a proper name from the title of a song we wrote for MoZella's record, Plain White T's had a GINORMOUS hit with "Hey There Delilah."
Goodbye Again
Last year when I returned home to an empty nest, it was a very busy time for me. I was furiously crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s of Confessions of a Serial Songwriter. There was no time to think about 'Now What?'
I Saw The Light
My fantasy of a photo op with Todd didn't come to fruition but I DID get to hear "I Saw The Light" hard copy after all these years of listening through speakers.
Broken Record
The perception of free is a dangerous drug and the longer we believe it’s okay to use it the harder it will be to get sober.
Elusive Butterflies
A creative mind never punches out. It’s always working. And that’s probably a good thing. As long as we're prepared to catch a butterfly.
