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

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

Helping Singers, Songwriters, and Indie Artists Create Leverage In the Music Business.

Episodes

January 2, 2026 31 mins
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 ...
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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”), ...
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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, indi...
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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. Conn...
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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
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December 16, 2025 51 mins
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."...
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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...
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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, Do...
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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. Connec...
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CLIMBer, "If you're in a band..." This episode is a must-listen! Mark Maxwell of the legendary Louisville band, The Crashers, reveals game-changing advice for anyone who wants to start a band or take their existing band to the next level. We're sharing Mark's wisdom because we want you to win. So listen up! Follow Maxwell's House of Music to see all these tips! Facebook - ⁠@MaxwellsHouseOfMusic⁠ Instagram - ⁠@MaxwellsHouseOfMu...
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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...
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Brent & Johnny interview Season 21 American Idol finalist, Colin Stough. Colin literally went from loping a horse to a 3rd-place finish on American Idol to getting a record deal with 19 Recordings/BMG. Connect with Colin Stough Here: Facebook: @ColinStough Instagram: @ColinStough TikTok: @ColinStough YouTube: @ColinStoughMusic Spotify: @ColinStough The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to helping singers, songwriters, indie...
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Brent & Johnny welcome hit songwriter Brice Long to the Challenge, and they craft 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing a song titled "Dirt In Your Church," sent in by CLIMBer and Songwriting Pro member, Shane Lanford. As a songwriter, Brice has had over 175 of his songs cut with artists such as Garth Brooks, George Strait, Chris Stapleton, Hank Williams Jr, Randy Houser, Josh Turner, Reba McEntire, Gary Allan, Cody Johnso...
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CLIMBers, we've got more problems to get to the bottom of! This will be numbers 23 through 27 on the 39 Biggest Problems In Music right here on your favorite podcast, The CLIMB. 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 ...
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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...
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CLIMBer, what if you turned your limitations into a cool, unique strength that grows your brand, deepens your relationships, and helps you stand out in a sea of songwriters and artists? Today, we're pulling back the curtain on our recent CLIMB Takeover event; what worked, what surprised us, and how you can apply some of the same strategies to your own music career. So, whether you're hosting events or just looking to connect with ...
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Brent & Johnny welcome The Heels, a Canadian country vocal trio of Bobbi Smith, Brittni Fiddler, and Kyla Rawlins, to The Challenge, where they craft 5-6 different conceptual angles for a song titled "Twisted," sent in by CLIMBer, Tracy Richardson. Managed by Grand Slam Productions, Conway Entertainment Group, and Thompson Artist Management—the powerhouse team behind the rising stars Red Clay Strays and legends Alabama and Randy T...
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CLIMBers, this is the third episode of my series of the 39 Biggest Problems in Music. Are they problems? Are they blessings? Are they a curse? Is it a crisis? Does it mean danger for you, or is it an opportunity? It just all depends on how you tackle it and what the mindset is. We've had some great conversations, and we're gonna continue with numbers 18 through 22 on this episode right here! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated to ...
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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...
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CLIMBer! There are common myths that trip up a lot of songwriters, and maybe you're one of them. Well, believing them keeps you stuck, frustrated, and spinning your wheels. But, the truth is, pros know better. In this episode, we're going to bust five of the biggest myths about songwriting and show you what really works in the music business. So hang on tight. You want to listen to this one! The C.L.I.M.B. Show is dedicated...
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