Hundreds of songs. Twenty-four Rising Star contenders. And one 10-out-of-10 winning song!
Our recent Big Reveal Special Event Pitch gave SongU members the opportunity to get their songs heard by Kirby Mathews, VP of Publishing at Back Blocks Music, one of Nashville’s exciting artist development and publishing companies.
Kirby listened to hundreds of submissions, ultimately narrowing the field to 24 Rising Star contenders before choosing her top three and one winner.
The writer of the winning song received a Golden Ticket Invitation to an exclusive one-on-one meeting with Kirby, with the opportunity to play more songs, ask questions, and make a valuable industry connection.
But before we get to the winners, Kirby shared some terrific advice about songwriting, networking, and navigating today’s music industry. Here’s what we learned:
👉Kirby’s Songwriting Craft Tips
- Make sure your second verse goes somewhere. Many songs fall apart in the second verse. Don’t simply restate Verse 1 in different words. Verse 2 should move the story, idea, or emotion forward by giving the listener something new.
- Find a great title — and don’t settle for the obvious angle. Once you have a strong title or hook, explore it. Is there a different, unexpected, or surprising way to use that phrase? Look for ways the meaning of your title can evolve or reveal something new as the song unfolds.
- Make your rhythms and rhymes interesting. Look beyond standard, predictable end rhymes. Interesting lyrical rhythms and less-obvious rhyme choices can help give a song its own identity and keep the listener engaged.
👉Kirby’s Industry Tips
- Walk through the doors that are open. Make connections by taking advantage of the doors that are already open to you — whether those doors are literal, online, or metaphorical. Use every opportunity you have to meet and connect with other songwriters, new artists, and industry professionals. Get your songs out there and heard. Write over Zoom or FaceTime. As Kirby put it: “We’ve never been in a place where the world is more at our fingertips. Capitalize on that.”
- Listen, listen, listen.
Listening makes you a better writer. Ingest as much information as you can about what’s happening in music right now. Listen to current songs, but don’t stop there. Seek out interviews and podcasts about other songwriters’ journeys. Follow the names and links you find in song credits. Dig deeper and explore the people behind the music. The more you understand the current musical landscape, the better equipped you are to find your own place in it.
What was the Criteria for Choosing the Rising Stars? With hundreds of songs to consider, what made certain submissions rise to the top? Kirby said she narrowed the field to 24 contenders using a combination of criteria, including songs with a current feel, memorable hooks, strong ideas, and consistent momentum through the verses and choruses.
Drumroll please…
⚡ GOLDEN TICKET WINNER
“Memories Into Miles” — Mitch Mallahan
Kirby called “Memories Into Miles” a “10 out of 10.” As the writer of the winning song, Mitch receives the Golden Ticket Invitation and an exclusive one-on-one meeting with Kirby to play more of his songs and make a valuable Nashville industry connection. Congratulations, Mitch!
👏 A big round of applause to all the writers whose songs made Kirby’s final contenders list!
⭐FIRST RUNNER-UP: “Lovin’ Leavin’ Lonely” — Brad McKinney
⭐SECOND RUNNER-UP: “My Honky Tonk Side” — Mitch Mallahan
⭐ “The Second Pew” — Steven Bentley
⭐ “What Happens After” — James DeBorde
⭐ “Whiskey, If You Could Hear Me” — Blake Bard
⭐ “I’ll Be Home (Female)” — Drew Duquette
⭐ “Tell Jesus” — Laurie Anne Collins
⭐ “The Art He Left on Me” — Neil Harris
⭐ “Two Lights Down the Road” — Derek Vanboxel
⭐ “She Makes Bad Idea’s Look Good” — Curtis Flint
⭐ “Rowdy Lessons” — Jacob Holbrook
⭐ “I Hope You Never Understand” — James DeBorde
⭐ “Here ’Til We’re Not” — Mitch Mallahan
⭐ “Her Town” — David D. Reuter
⭐ “One Winning Season” — David D. Reuter
⭐ “Miss Me Yet – V2” — Mitch Mallahan
⭐ “Whiskey Lies” — Mitch Mallahan
⭐ “Camo in the Crosshairs” — James DeBorde
⭐ “That Old Mill Bridge” — Jon Nyberg
⭐ “Holding on to Holding You” — Curtis Flint
⭐ “Wings Are Tied” — Melyssa Corrigan
⭐ “Thin Air” — Erin Gaetz
⭐ “29 Again” — Mitch Mallahan
Listen to the winning song “Memories Into Miles” and all the Rising Star songs listed in alphabetical order by title.
Whether or not your song was among Kirby’s final Rising Star selections, you stepped up, walked through the open door, and took the opportunity to get your music heard by a Nashville decision-maker. That matters.
That’s how opportunities begin. And sometimes, one of those doors leads to a Golden Ticket!
