Running now through June 30th, 2025, this Special Event Pitch offers you a chance to be selected for a collaborative writing session with artist and producer Dylan Emmet and indie artist Constance. The song you co-write could become part of either of their artist projects or be pitched to other artists.
About our Guest: With over 3 million streams on his own Spotify project and over 15 million streams on tracks he’s written or produced Dylan Emmet, knows how to create songs that resonate globally. His music has been featured on ESPN, FOX SPORTS, NBC, MTV, and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. A seasoned vocalist, guitarist, and producer, Dylan brings over 20 years of songwriting experience and technical mastery in Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Logic Pro to every session. Listen to his music.
In addition, Dylan is SongU’s newest Songwriting Feedback mentor. Here’s what our members are saying:
“Dylan is incredibly knowledgeable and was extremely helpful with feedback on everyone’s songs. He is an awesome addition to SongU. ”
“Dylan created a conversational atmosphere where I felt I was right in the room with an eclectic group of writers-a pleasant and engaging experience with everyone’s songs and an added value of his insight into what makes a good song great.”
Here’s more about the artist Constance, Dylan’s long-time collaborator, whose project “NeonHeart” was in the EDM world and had some features with major artists in the scene like Said The Sky and 3LAU.
What do Eminem and Celine Dion have in common? They both recorded songs written by Michael Jay, who is our guest for the “Golden Ticket Special Event Pitch,” running now through November 3rd 2024. This event offers you an exclusive opportunity to be selected by hit songwriter and producer, Michael Jay, for an exclusive one-on-one co-writing session.
Michael Jay’s songs have sold over 75 million records worldwide.
About our Guest: Michael Jay has over 30 years experience in the music business which includes a background in radio, promotion, marketing and A&R. He also has in-studio experience as a creative talent with hit credits as a songwriter, lyricist, record producer and musician. His songs have sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
He entered the music business as an A&R executive at Curtis Mayfield’s Curtom Records in Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles he was signed as a songwriter to Famous Music, the music division of Paramount Pictures, where he instantly landed a song on the multi-platinum “Top Gun” movie soundtrack.
In the 1980s, Michael Jay discovered, developed and shopped a record deal for Martika from The Disney Channel’s “Kids Incorporated” TV show. He co-wrote and produced Martika’s entire million-selling debut album including the worldwide #1 hit “Toy Soldiers.” Years later, rap superstar Eminem recorded a new version of “Toy Soldiers” and it became a hit all over again.
In the 1990s he wrote the song “Declaration Of Love” which Celine Dion recorded for her Grammy Award-winning Album Of The Year “Falling Into You”.
In 2023, Michael Jay won the Hollywood Music In Media Award (HMMA) for Best Original Song In An Independent Film with his song “I Got You” from the movie “Holiday Twist.”
He’s currently working in Nashville and producing a rising Country songwriter-artist who is shopping major labels.
Join us for the latest “Staff Writer For A Day!” Special Event Pitch running March and April 2024. This is an exclusive opportunity to be selected by Emily Dryburgh, Co-Founder Young Music City and RNBW Collective, for a chance to find out what it’s like to be a professional staff songwriter for a day which includes a CO-WRITING SESSION with songwriter and artist Chad Michael Jervis of the band King Calaway.
About our guests:
Emily Dryburgh, Co-Founder of Young Music City and RNBW Collective
Emily Dryburgh began her Nashville publishing career as Creative Director and Nashville face of Deluge Music, a Los Angeles and Nashville-based publishing, management and record company. Emily’s duties included managing and developing writers and artists between L.A. and Nashville, including setting up co-writes, tweaking, cataloging and pitching songs.
In 2022 she teamed up with her twin sister Jamie on their joint venture, Young Music City. Along with pitching songs and artist development, they aim to shift the antiquated perception of the Nashville music scene by celebrating the diverse local music culture through events, strategic partnerships and modern social media platforms.
Founded in 2016 RNBW supports the progress and visibility of LGBTQ+ music in Music City and beyond. Their aim is to foster a community of queer creators and performers via live music, events, modern media and social connections. They are proud to have partnered with the likes of CMT, CMA, HRC, Virgin Hotels, The Nashville Pride Coalition, Good Neighbor Festivals, New Amsterdam, RumHaven, High Noon, Redbull and more.
Singer-Songwriter Chad Michael Jervis
Chad Michael Jervis is a singer-songwriter from Wilmington, DE and a current member of the country band King Calaway.
Jervis moved to Nashville in 2018 after pursuing a Songwriting degree at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he would would land a coveted spot in the band, King Calaway, and go on to sign a major deal with Broken Bow records.
King Calaway burst onto the scene in 2019 with the #1 most added single on their debut release. Today, the band has garnered over 20 million global streams and has been deemed one of Billboards “7 new country acts to watch.”
The band has showcased major TV performances on Jimmy Kimmel, The Late Late Show with James Corden, TODAY and The Kelly Clarkson Show. They have toured nationally and internationallywith the likes of Garth Brooks, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Gabby Barrett, Scotty McCreery, and sent out 2021 and 2022 with performances with Lainey Wilson and Steve Miller on CBS’s New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.
With 2023 already in motion, the band is set to hit the road with the legendary Zac Brown Band, who also produced their current single, “I’m Feelin’ Good (Steve Miller Band)” as well as their upcoming album.
Join us for the latest “Staff Writer For A Day!” Special Event Pitch which is running during the months of February and March 2021. This is an exclusive opportunity to be selected by Ciara Shortridge, Senior Creative Director, Publishing of Curb | Word Music Publishing for a chance to find out what it’s like to be a professional staff songwriter for a day. This includes a meeting with Ciara and a CO-WRITING SESSION with Grammy nominated songwriter, Bobby Tomberlin! Additionally, Ciara will be listening for potential signings for single song contracts. Ciara says she’s happy to be participating in this event and looking forward to hearing our songs. You can read more about our special guest below.
Creative Director, Ciara Shortridge
About Ciara Shortridge: Having Joined Curb/Word as Sr. Creative Director, Country Publishing in January of 2020, Ciara previously held the position of A&R Manager and served as the main creative point of Disney Music Group’s Nashville-based publishing office. In her role, she was responsible for signing and developing songwriters, placing multi genre catalog, and connecting Disney internal and international collaboration opportunities with the Nashville community. Ciara’s career at DMG began in September 2009 after graduating from Belmont University’s Mike Curb College Of Entertainment & Music Business and included previous roles as A&R Coordinator and A&R Representative.
In her newest role, Ciara helps curate writing and catalog placement opportunities for the Curb|Word publishing writer/artist roster and catalog, including hit writers such as Kyle Jacobs, Hannah Ellis, Chris Gelbuda, Billy Montana, Adam Wood, Phillip Lammonds, Bobby Tomberlin, and many more.
A Webster, New York native, Ciara felt the intangible magic of Nashville at the age of 13, ultimately making it her permanent home in 2007. Through various college internships and countless writer rounds, she found her true passions were rooted in the far-reaching impact a well-crafted song can have on someone, and in championing the incredible songwriters that bring them to life every day.
Hit Songwriter, Bobby Tomberlin
Bobby Tomberlin is a GRAMMY, CMA, and ACM nominated songwriter. He started his music career at age eleven as a disk jockey in his hometown of Luverne, Alabama. Bobby’s position at the radio station provided the opportunity to interview some of country music’s biggest names including Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Keith Whitley. With a childhood so closely intertwined with country music and its legends, Bobby developed a deep-rooted respect for the genre. His signed his first publishing deal with Mel Tillis and he is currently a staff writer for Curb Word Music Publishing. His first number one hit at country radio was “One More Day,” a career song for Diamond Rio. Bobby’s songs have been recorded by Barbra Streisand, Willie Nelson, Blake Shelton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, Josh Turner, Rodney Atkins, Thompson Square, Tyler Farr, Chris Young, Dylan Scott, Pam Tillis, Little Jimmy Dickens, Joe Nichols, Sundance Head, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie, and The Oak Ridge Boys, just to name a few.
As the old adage says, “You can’t play the game when you’re sitting on the bench.” Whether or not you win the co-write session or a song contract, you will have done the work of a songwriter by putting your song out there into the world. Good luck to all!
Update: Our Fall 2020 Special event winner, Brad McKinney has a co-writing appointment scheduled for mid-February with hit songwriter, Danny Myrick. In the meantime, for inspiration read the interview with our Spring/Summer 2020 Staff Writer for a Day winner:
Join us for the latest “Staff Writer For A Day!” Special Event Pitch which is running during the months of October and November 2020. This is an exclusive opportunity to be selected by Emily Dryburgh, Creative Director of Deluge Music, for a chance to find out what it’s like to be a professional staff songwriter for a day. This includes a meeting with Emily and a CO-WRITING SESSION with hit songwriter, Danny Myrick! Additionally, Emily will be listening for potential signings for single song contracts. She says she’s excited to hear new writers and new material.
Deluge Music is a Los Angeles and Nashville-based Publishing, Management and Record company. Opening its doors in 2015, Deluge has become home to hit and developing songwriters with cuts by artists including Rod Stewart, Tim McGraw, Little Big Town, Jason Aldean, Reba, Walker Hayes, Rascal Flatts, Ashley McBryde, Keith Urban and more! They Currently have Lady A’s single, “Champagne Night” and have recently landed a TBA major deal with one of their artists.
Emily Dryburgh, Deluge Music Creative Director
Emily Dryburgh is the Creative Director and Nashville face of Deluge Music. Her duties include managing and/or developing writers and artists between LA and Nashville, setting up collabs, tweaking and pitching songs, overseeing creative processes, and developing and maintaining relationships with other publishers, managers, labels, writers, producers, etc. in the Nashville music industry. Prior to Deluge, Emily worked in artist management, handling “day to day” and development for Grammy, CMA and Tony award winning artists in the Country, Bluegrass and Gospel genres.
Danny Myrick, songwriter
Danny Myrick is a 3 time #1 Country songwriter and producer, and 6 time #1 Gospel and Contemporary Christian writer. With songs recorded by Tim Mcgraw, Jason Aldean, LoCash, Craig Morgan, Maddie and Tae, Trace Adkins, Big and Rich, Randy Houser and more. Danny has Trace Adkins current single, “Just The Way We Do It.”
A little bit muddy water Mississippi preacher’s kid, a little bit California beach bum, Danny grew up playing, singing and writing for his family’s gospel band in south Mississippi and being consumed with 70’s FM radio. He achieved his first #1 gospel song as a songwriter at the age of 17 before moving to Nashville. After landing several more #1 Gospel and Contemporary Christian hits, Danny re-focused his attention on founding and fronting country rock band, Western Flyer, with whom he made two albums and had several Top 40 singles, including What Will You Do With M-E and Cherokee Highway, which dealt strongly with racial division in the Deep South and led to Western Flyer being the first country artist invited to play the annual Martin Luther King Day in Atlanta.
Following thousands of miles on the road with Western Flyer, Danny decided to stay home in Nashville, and ended up singing 100s of songwriter demos as well as adding background vocals to numerous albums by the likes of Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry and Keith Anderson before immersing himself in his love of songwriting.
Over his career, Danny has produced numerous artists, including The FARM and The Jane Dear Girls, and has written songs for a wide range of artists from Maddie & Tae to Joe Cocker, celebrating numerous hits, including Craig Morgan’s “International Harvester, Tim McGraw’s “Truck Yeah”, LoCash’s “I Love This Life”, as well as 2009’s most played country smash, “She’s Country” for Jason Aldean!
Danny’s wide array of interests has led to appearances on MSNBC and CNN discussing political and religious topics affecting country music and southern culture. He is currently working on several projects, including his own self-produced album, King Of Jones County; and releasing remixes under his alter ego DJ DMaxx featuring social media sensation Leslie Jordan. Danny currently writes for Deluge Music.
As the old adage says, “You can’t play the game when you’re sitting on the bench.” Whether or not you win the co-write session or a song contract, you will have done the work of a songwriter by putting your song out there into the world. Good luck to all!
For more inspiration read the interview with our Fall 2020 Staff Writer for a Day:
