The C.L.I.M.B. with Johnny Dwinell and Brent Baxter

We all hear talk around town about the “new” music business…Johnny and Brent are always talking about how the artist is getting more and more power and therefore need a record label less and less. But is it really new? Or are we just putting a brand new tag on those same old worn in pair of jeans? This is the question that was submitted for the new “Pick Johnny’s Brain” miniseries, both Johnny and...

this is the first episode of “Pick Johnny’s Brain.” We’ve asked CLIMBers to submit music marketing questions and Johnny will be answering them on the podcast! If you have a music marketing question, please comment below! We’d love to answer it for you! Email your questions to info@daredevilproduction.com and put Pick Johnny’s Brain in the subject line. Get Johnny’s free download 21 Biggest Reasons...

“You don’t necessarily need to write with the artist, it certainly helps. But, I’m a firm believer that the BEST SONG WINS”, is just a small bit of advice from song-of-the-year songwriter Jimmy Yeary. What else can YOU learn from this multi-hit songwriter? In this episode, Brent and Johnny recap Frettie interview with song of the year songwriter Jimmy Yeary! Find out what Jimmy does every day to s...

Are you certain that you have settled on the very best concept to write your song title? The Song Title Challenge miniseries mimics what happens during the first 15 minutes of a pro songwriting session by creating 4-5 different concepts for writing lyrics. In this episode, Brent and Johnny craft concepts for the song title “What People Think”. How would YOU write this one? PS: If you’d like to par...

How do great independent artists and bands FILL A ROOM? How do indie artists get MORE new people turned on to their music? We know the steps that it takes to help you get there. Are you ready to discover our secrets? In this episode, Johnny and Brent discuss case studies of how independent artists and bands have connected to new people via digital marketing and turn empty rooms into a sea of fans!...

Do you know your target audience and your brand? That’s the secret to hyper growth on your social media platforms. If not, how do you find YOUR audience, create a long lasting relationship with them and what can you learn from Johnny’s Social Media Challenge with Michael R. J. Roth? 2019 NSAI lyric winner Michael R. J. Roth dives head first with Johnny into his online presence, how to find his tar...

Have you ever thought about hiring an independent song plugger to pitch your songs but decided not to because you don’t know how it works? Were you afraid you might find a shark of some kind that would take your money and not pitch your songs? In this episode, Brent and Johnny discuss the truth about song pluggers and reveal 5 different things you need to look out for to be sure your plugger is le...

Have you ever wondered what the first 15 minutes of a pro songwriting session are like? In this super-fun, creative miniseries, CLIMBers send in their song titles to info@daredevilproduction.com (please put SONG TITLE CHALLENGE in the subject line). Johnny springs the title to Brent live on the podcast. Then, for about 15 minutes they brainstorm on 4-5 different conceptual approaches to writing ly...

How can Facebook kill your career when we’re always touting it as thee most important tool you can use to get your art in front of new eyeballs? In this episode, you’ll find out the in’s and out’s and become a student of the game to avoid losing everything! You’ll discover how and why Facebook could ruin you as well as what you need to do to protect yourself. PS: Need a bigger fan base? Get Johnny...

Maybe you love driving highways, back roads, and interstates but you can’t drive all three at the same time. Tune into this miniseries episode where Johnny helps indie country artist, singer/songwriter, wellness coach, and wine enthusiast YouTube personality Erin McAndrew clarify her many brands setting her up to expand her fan base by more effectively connecting with them. Follow along with Erin’...

Are you an artist and/or songwriter with a day job you just can’t stand? Do you constantly daydream about how much better your career would be if you could focus 100% on your craft as opposed to that stinking job? Are you thinking prison or paycheck…or both? In this episode, Brent and Johnny break down some different perspectives that will ease any pain & suffering you may be experiencing and actu...

If you’re a songwriter, how would YOU write this one? What is a genuine music row writing session like? It starts with the writers making sure they have the right concept to the title before they begin writing lyrics. Brent and Johnny run a fast brainstorming session in the song title challenge miniseries. They create 4-5 different approaches to writing lyrics for the song title “Kiss Me Off”. PS:...

Artists and songwriters, the content in this episode will bring HOPE to your career. The game is changing and slowly but surely, the power is going to the artists and the songwriters because, ultimately, they create the traffic. We promise you’ll be encouraged and excited after you listen to our breakdown of the new Goldman Sachs financial forecast for the music industry. PS: Download Johnny’s fre...

Rick Monroe is an indie artist that grossed over $400,000 touring last year. He’s has many sponsorships, not the least of which is Monster Energy Drinks. He also handles all the marketing and touring logistics himself. He’s a self-proclaimed “Army of One”. You’ll learn a ton about how to optimize your social media efforts getting more results for less time as I accept Rick’s challenge and dive int...

If you’re a songwriter, this is a MUST listen! Brent and Johnny break down 5 key points on songwriting that will stack the deck in your favor and give you the best chance to get cuts. Download Brent’s free ebook, Think Like A Pro Songwriter. Just go to giftfrombrent.com and tell him where to send it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is like during the first 15 minutes of a pro write on Music Row? ANSWER: Just like this episode. Brent & Johnny execute a quick 15-minute creative exercise to develop 4-5 different lyric concepts for the song title “Different Than I Remember”. If you’re a songwriter, you’ll absolutely LOVE this miniseries. As always, all the song titles are submitted by CLIMBers (listeners of the podcast). If...

Did you know that you get most of the beliefs that dictate your day-to-day behavior from the ages of 1-7 years old? Your beliefs on self-worth, money, religion, trust, love, sex, success, value, etc. heavily influence every decision you make in your life as a person, a friend, an employee, a parent, a partner, a songwriter, and as an artist. When was the last time you reexamined these beliefs to s...

Drop in on a live on-the-spot social media critique of a real indie artist. On these episodes Johnny offers up advice on what he would do to the social media accounts if the artist was his client. Bottom line: Tons of VALUE BOMBS in these shows!! This week’s artist is Hot Sauce Universe. Here are the links if you’d like to follow along. Please follow them and show support if you do! Website: HotSa...

How aware are you of what’s going on RIGHT NOW on Billboard’s Country charts? What’s the ratio of male to female artists in the top 15? What are the top 15 songs about? How are they written exactly, i.e. first person? Letter to the world? Present tense? Past tense? Brent and Johnny dissect all the songs in the top 15 songs on Billboard’s Country Chart. Be a student of the game. Keep your finger on...

Songwriters, how would YOU write this one? Even Brent has been going back through 20 years of hooks in his hook book and breathing new life into some old song titles using the Song Title Challenge method! We want to challenge you to do the same. In this episode, Brent and Johnny surprise themselves with all the different conceptual variations they created for writing lyrics to the song title “God...

MUST LISTEN if you’re a singer! Mindy Pack is the vocal coach for Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, The Indigo Girls, Halsey, and Martina McBride just to name a few. Mindy Pack Holds a certificate in Clinical Vocology from The National Center for Voice and Speech Holds certificate in laryngeal manipulation Is the creator of one of the top Educational Apps called Voice Tut...

Jordan Cook hops on this episode to dissect and refine his social media efforts. You simply won’t BELIEVE his engagement. Lots to learn on this one! Here are Jordan’s links so you can follow along with the critique. Instagram: @smashing_good_time Website: SmashingGoodTime.rocks If you’d like to optimize your social media efforts or clarify a strategy that will get you into immediate growth, schedu...

Imagine being a fly on the wall in a bunch of different publisher meetings. what value bombs you would take away from those meetings?? Once again Brent breaks down a platinum publisher’s advice that was gleaned during a SongwritingPro “Play For Publisher” event. This time it’s John Ozier from ole` Publishing. If you’d like to submit a song for one of Brent’s “Play For Publisher” events, download h...

Songwriters, how would you write this one? Did you ever wonder what normally happens in the first 15 minutes of a pro songwriting session? All the writers participate in an exercise that’s just like our SONG TITLE CHALLENGE. Brent and Johnny are under pressure as they have about 15 minutes to cook up 4-5 different ways to write the song title “Out Of Order”. If you’d like to submit one of your son...

How did Johnny grow an artist’s Twitter account from 27 followers to over 5,000 followers with over 2,000 downloads of the artist’s single in under 3 months? ANSWER: Using the power of congregations. Have you unleashed the sheer power of congregations when you’re growing your audience? As humans we all congregate. We want to, heck, we NEED to congregate. Once an artist understands how, why, and wh...