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

CLIMBer! Today's guest is a first-call studio musician, a producer for a rising artist on Warner Brothers Nashville, a songwriter, and a studio owner. We get into so much good stuff for you on your CLIMB. Oh yeah, and he's a great hang too. So you definitely want to listen to this one. Connect With David Dorn Here: Website: https://farmlandstudiosnashville.com/ Instagram: @FarmlandStudios Instagram: @DavidDornMusic Facebook: @FarmlandStudios The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and  SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an excerpt from Songwriting Pro's "J.A.M. Session." (J.A.M. stands for "Just Ask Me," and it's our monthly members-only online Q&A Session.) If you'd like to watch the full J.A.M. Session, just log in to the Songwriting Pro Member Area. If you're not yet a Songwriting Pro member, NOW is a great time to start your 14-day FREE trial at SongwritingPro.com! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBers, you're an artist. You're trying to amass an audience, and social media is the place you're going to do it. You're going to need a little bit of help on that. We're going to go over six TikTok artist growth hacks for 2026, y'all! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and  SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Johnny & Brent welcome Rick Monroe to The Challenge, where they craft 5-6 different conceptual ideas for a song titled "Another Garden". Rick was an indie artist for years, formerly endorsed by Jägermeister and now Monster Energy Drinks; however, Rick Monroe & The Hitmen just signed an imprint deal with Virgin Records. Monroe has performed in 17 countries, in every U.S. state (including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico), and he's a Seven-time Jaeger Meister country brand ambassador. He's toured with Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Lee Bryce, Aaron Lewis, Eli Young Band, Pat Green, Ted Nugent, and Randy Hauser, as well as opened for country music legends including the Charlie Daniels Band, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Patty Loveless, and more. Finally, he's entertained the USO overseas, AFV, US troops in Vietnam, and the former President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev. The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and  SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBer, let's go into a real publisher meeting. Come on a little trip with me. We're going to get some invaluable insights from an active hit music publisher in this one. So, you do not want to miss out! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford, and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro, and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at ⁠SongwritingPro.com/Baxter⁠ and  ⁠SongwritingPro.com⁠. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV, and music industry professionals. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell, and others.  You can find Johnny at ⁠info@daredevilproduction.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an excerpt from Songwriting Pro's "J.A.M. Session." (J.A.M. stands for "Just Ask Me," and it's our monthly members-only online Q&A Session.) If you'd like to watch the full J.A.M. Session, just log in to the Songwriting Pro Member Area. If you're not yet a Songwriting Pro member, NOW is a great time to start your 14-day FREE trial at SongwritingPro.com! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBers, how do you feel about misaligned incentives closing music venues and roadblocks to creating and innovating? Do these issues present a problem or an opportunity for you? Let's discuss numbers 28 through 32 of the 39 biggest problems in music, right now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent & Johnny welcome hit songwriter, Thom Shepherd, to The Challenge. Thom has five #1's singles, including "Redneck Yacht Club", "Riding With Private Malone", and "My Texas", over 10 radio singles, two Grammy nominated songs, and has had over 100 songs recorded by Blake Shelton and George Jones, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Easton Corbin, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Colt Ford, and many more. He's currently a songwriter, video host, and content creator at 8-Track Entertainment in Nashville. About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens and more with #1 singles in Country, Southern Gospel & Bluegrass. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBers! Today's guest, Krystal Polychronis, is a #1 hit songwriter, an artist manager, an author, and the founder and CEO of Three Strands Management. Before all that, she was a junior Olympic national gymnast and elite coach, which tells you everything you need to know about her discipline and drive. She went from coaching athletes to coaching artists, first winning recognition as a songwriter, and then helping develop talent from the ground up. Most notably, she discovered Ben Fuller in a bar, helped shape his sound and his team, and co-wrote his debut single, "Who I Am", which became a #1 Billboard hit and earned Dove and K-Love nominations. Krystal also co-founded Jesus in a Bar, Nashville's first faith-based ride-around, bringing music and ministry into unexpected places. Now, she's authoring Hero to Zero, a book about identity and purpose through the lens of her own story. So whether you're an artist, a songwriter, or somebody trying to make sense of the industry, her career is a masterclass in calling and grit and in using your gifts with intention. Connect With Krystal Polychronis Here: Facebook: @KrystalPolychronis Instagram: @singwithkrystal Website: https://3strandsmanagement.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an excerpt from Songwriting Pro's "J.A.M. Session." (J.A.M. stands for "Just Ask Me," and it's our monthly members-only online Q&A Session.) If you'd like to watch the full J.A.M. Session, just log in to the Songwriting Pro Member Area. If you're not yet a Songwriting Pro member, NOW is a great time to start your 14-day FREE trial at SongwritingPro.com! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBers! Today's guest was an indie artist for years, formerly endorsed by Jägermeister and now Monster Energy Drinks, Rick Monroe & The Hitmen just signed an imprint deal with Virgin Records. Today, we'll discuss his connections, collaborations, strategies, and tactics for promoting. Connect with Rick Monroe and the Hitmen Here: Facebook: @RickMonroeOfficial Instagram: @RickMonroe Website: https://www.rickmonroe.com/ Spotify: Rick Monroe & The Hitmen YouTube: @RickMonroeandtheHitmen About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and  SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent & Johnny welcome hit songwriter, Michael Farren, to The Challenge, and they craft 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing a song title "Genius Mode." Get Brent's free ebook! Go to ⁠GiftFrom Brent.com⁠ and tell him where to send it. If you would like to do a private Song Title Challenge or get private coaching, go to ⁠SongwritingPro.com/coaching⁠ and schedule your appointment today. Join the movement and broaden your understanding of how to honor the digital platform. This FREE download, Whoever Owns The Traffic, Rules The Road, will help you understand and adjust your tactics to grow your traffic and get paid on a digital platform. Go to ⁠GiftFromJohnny.com⁠ and tell him where to send it.  If you'd like some one-on-one coaching to better understand your assets and how to use them to get paid, schedule a consultation with Johnny today. Email him at info@daredevilproduction.com and put CONSULTATION in the subject line. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBers, I (Johnny) wish pain and suffering upon all of you...and I mean that in the very best way! Learn why I am such an a-hole in today's episode! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at ⁠SongwritingPro.com/Baxter⁠ and ⁠SongwritingPro.com⁠. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at ⁠TheCLIMBshow.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an excerpt from Songwriting Pro's "J.A.M. Session." (J.A.M. stands for "Just Ask Me," and it's our monthly members-only online Q&A Session.)  If you'd like to watch the full J.A.M. Session, just log in to the Songwriting Pro Member Area. If you're not yet a Songwriting Pro member, NOW is a great time to start your 14-day FREE trial at SongwritingPro.com! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CLIMBer, today's guest has gone from being in the studio as a production assistant for Taylor Swift, you might have heard of her, to a Partner and Creative Director of an up-and-coming music publishing company, Dream 3 Publishing. She's awesome. She's a sweetheart. We had a great conversation with her. We can't wait for you to meet her and learn about what is happening in the publishing business. It's going to do you right. Connect With Our Guest, Emily Olson Here: Website: ⁠Dream3Publishing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brent & Johnny welcome the great Neal McCoy ("Wink", "No Doubt About It", "If I Was A Drinking Man") to Song Title Challenge! Together, they cook up 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing the song title, "Dig A Little Deeper," submitted by CLIMBer and SongwritingPro.com member Randy Maynor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you hateful towards Spotify because they pay the least? What if we told you they pay the least because they stream the most? How does that work? Find out why there is no such thing as a per-stream pay rate for any streaming service and how they calculate the payouts on this CLIMB Classic! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and  SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is an excerpt from Songwriting Pro's "J.A.M. Session." (J.A.M. stands for "Just Ask Me," and it's our monthly members-only online Q&A Session.) If you'd like to watch the full J.A.M. Session, just log in to the Songwriting Pro Member Area. If you're not yet a Songwriting Pro member, NOW is a great time to start your 14-day FREE trial at SongwritingPro.com! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at SongwritingPro.com/Baxter and SongwritingPro.com. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others. You can find Johnny at TheCLIMBshow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here's the thing: after multiple record deals, Dustin Lolli's band, Sanctus Real, had their greatest successes when they WEREN'T on a label! Brent & Johnny welcome the lead vocalist for the acclaimed Christian band, Sanctus Real. They are celebrated for their authentic lyrics, powerful performances, and they've earned eight number-one singles, including "Lead Me" and "My God Is Still the Same," multiple Grammy nominations, Dove Awards, and a gold-certified single. Their newest song, "The Difference," resonates deeply, offering hope and transformation through music. Connect With Dustin Lolli and Sanctus Real Here: Facebook: ⁠@SanctusRealMusic⁠ Instagram: ⁠@SanctusReal⁠ YouTube: ⁠@SanctusRealMusic⁠ Spotify: ⁠@SanctusReal⁠ Apple Music: ⁠@SanctusReal⁠ Website: ⁠SanctusReal.com⁠ The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford and more.  He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro and CONNECT to the pros.  You can find Brent at ⁠SongwritingPro.com/Baxter⁠ and  ⁠SongwritingPro.com⁠. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowell and others.  You can find Johnny at ⁠TheCLIMBshow.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you haven't heard this Song Title Challenge yet, it's worth your time! Taylor Austin Dye is an indie artist (now signed to Red Street Records) who is currently blowing up! She has over 1 million followers across all social media platforms and over 25 million streams! Johnny and Brent welcome Taylor to the show and craft 5-6 conceptual angles for writing a song titled "Sinner's Heart," sent in by CLIMBer Randy Maynor. Connect With Taylor: ⁠https://tayloraustindye.com⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie artists and industry pros "Create Leverage In The Music Business." We want you to win! About the hosts: Brent Baxter is an award-winning hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson (“Monday Morning Church”), Randy Travis, Lady A, Joe Nichols, Ray Stevens, Gord Bamford, and more. He helps songwriters turn pro by helping them WRITE like a pro, DO BUSINESS like a pro, and CONNECT to the pros. You can find Brent at ⁠SongwritingPro.com/Baxter⁠ and ⁠SongwritingPro.com⁠. Johnny Dwinell owns Daredevil Production and helps artists increase their streams, blow up their video views, sell more live show tickets, and get discovered by new fans, TV, and music industry pros. Daredevil has worked with artists including Collin Raye, Tracy Lawrence, Ty Herndon, Ronnie McDowel,l and others. You can find Johnny at ⁠TheCLIMBshow.com⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices