Quinten Collier 2009 Lyric Contest Grand Prize Winner (Co-write with Rodney Crowell) My experience with the Lyric Contest was unexpected, first off, because I had no intention of winning the Grand Prize; I just wanted the bi-monthly guitar. I was of course thrilled to be flown to Nashville, where I was treated extraordinarily well by More
In the song “Dear Jimmy Buffett,” Matt Hoggatt tells the mayor of Margaritaville that he “could sure use a record deal.” Buffett took the songwriter’s plea to heart. Earlier this month, Hoggatt, a detective from Gauthier, Mississippi, released Hotter Than Fishgrease on Mailboat Records, the label owned and operated by the famous beachcombing singer. “It’s More
When Ashley Monroe met 2014 lyric contest winner Blair Bodine for her “dream co-write” prize in Nashville, the Warner Brothers recording artist showed up with quite a nugget of inspiration for a new song. Monroe’s idea came in the form of a phrase that was left on her voicemail by none other than rock and roll More
“If Chris is going to sing it, it’s got to be a song for the girl.” That’s how Bill DiLuigi (known as Bill “D” to most) summed up “Parking Lot Dancer,” the song he penned earlier this month with RCA Recording Artist Chris Young during his “dream co-writing session” in Nashville. As part of his More
It’s hard to break through as a non-performing songwriter in the music business. Many try. They come to Nashville with a battered guitar and a suitcase full of lyrics and toil in oblivion for years. They play songwriter rounds, honky-tonks, and doggedly pursue the reps of publishing companies, oftentimes to no avail. Most never land More
“Somewhere in Between” is the first single off Cox’s upcoming self-titled album, produced by Mike Marsh More
Caroline Spence2013 Grand Prize WinnerCo-write with Lee Brice Looking back, I’d say winning the 2013 Lyric Contest was one of the first major validations in my career. I’d been in Nashville for a few years at that point, quietly writing in my bedroom and just starting to tour. When I finished writing “Mint Condition,” I More
Many songwriters set out to write with a specific goal in mind, be it writing for a national act, for a certain genre, or trying to write a hit for themselves as an artist. Then there are writers like Bill DiLuigi, who writes day after day and takes advantage of the opportunities as they present More
The songwriter teases album with the songs “Long Haul” and the title track. More
