Author

About the Author
DEAN OLSON is a songwriter host and producer of the weekly radio show "StrongWriter On the Radio." The popular long form music interview program is now a weekly podcast with new episodes being added each week. Dean is based out of Orange County, California.

The Hitless Songwriter

Michael Tannen, The Roches’ manager, was yelling into the phone at me. Why don’t you just listen to the radio and figure out how to write a commercial song? Then the phone went dead. We were at that point every music career gets to where the honeymoon was over. The Roches had burst onto the…

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Celebrities Honor Young Cancer Patient by Covering Viral Hit “Clouds”

“When faced with months to live, how do you say goodbye?” That’s the question posed by 17-year-old cancer victim Zach Sobiech, who wrote a viral hit song , “Clouds,” as his answer. The tune touched the hearts of many, including a slew of celebrities who have filmed their own take on “Clouds” to raise awareness…

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Nick Buda: Getting Into Music and Making it Work

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nick Buda for Berklee College of Music’s alumni blog. The following is a re-posting of the blog on Berklee Blogs. LAB: Getting Into Music and Making it Work Berklee Alumni Spotlight: Nick Buda ’96Nick Buda (’96) started playing drums on his mom’s couch cushion when he was a kid…

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Worship Songwriting Tips #1 from WorshipSongChapel.com

The structure is the foundation of any worship song. It doesn’t matter how much passion you put into your melody, how profound a wordsmith you are or how sincere your …   READ MORE >>>

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SONGWRITING TIPS: Try David Bowie’s ‘cut-up’ method of writing …

David Bowie’s typically enigmatic decision not to do any interviews about his new album,The Next Day, means people have been left to put their own interpretations on the album’s unusual lyrics and surreal imagery. Author Ricky Moody – who writes for the literary magazine The Rumpus – recently asked Bowie to explain his thinking behind the new songs….

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Win Tickets to See 3 Hit-Making Songwriters in Concert

Chip Taylor has 50 years years as a professional songwriter under his belt. He penned hits recorded by Janis Joplin, The Hollies, Linda Ronstadt and Ike and Tina Turner. From “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)” to “Wild Thing,” the songs of his career are …

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Johnny Cash Museum Plans To Open In Nashville In May

 Thursday morning, Joanne Cash Yates and Tommy Cash walked into The Johnny Cash Museum, a downtown space devoted to their late brother that is set to officially open in May. First, they smiled at an old Martin guitar with a folded dollar bill stuck through the strings: In the 1950s, before he had a drummer,…

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Glenn Campbell’s daughter Ashley tells senators how Alzheimer’s has affected her father

–  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  –  – An emotional Ashley Campbell spoke to senators on Wednesday about how Alzheimer ’s disease has affected her father, country music legend…

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Billy Bragg on “How To” Write a Song?

Billy Bragg has songwriting advice to offer.  Or does he? This video shows the UK artist and ubiquitous left-wing socialist interviewing with Daytrotter.com/Seagate Creative. Okay, maybe I am getting bored with all the attention going to musicians and songwriters with this political bent.  Sorry, people.  The musical world has a rich history of their works….

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Michael Trotter, Jr. “Sing Your Song Moment #2”

Songwriter Michael Trotter is preaching to the choir, but sometimes the individuals in the choir need a little personal attention.   You know we are all guilty of saying and even promising that we will do something to improve ourselves… and then NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH on that promise! My good friend Michael tells you what…

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