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

Hosted by Johnny Dwinell and Brent Baxter

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Episodes

951

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

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

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60 recent

October 13, 20261 hr 9 min

Ep 544: Interview w/ Artist Manager, Clayton Toney

Clayton Toney is an artist manager at Neon Coast and co-manager of country artist Randall King. He's been part of Randall's team for seven years, helping build a career that now includes more than 500 million streams, international touring, and roughly 150 shows per year. Before joining Neon Coast, he worked in management and A&R at Durango Artist Management, where he worked on projects for both Randall King and Cody Johnson, including Cody's Human, The Double Album, and Leather Deluxe Edition. Clayton helped identify "Till You Can't", which went on to become a massive number-one Grammy winner, CMA single and video of the year, and now a 6X platinum hit. We talk about finding great songs, developing artists, building a fan base, touring management, and what it really takes to build a sustainable career in country music. Connect with Clayton Toney Here: Facebook: @RandallKingBand Instagram: @RandallKingBand TikTok: @RandallKingMusic 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

October 9, 202651 min

Song Title Challenge #223: "Pretty Penny" with Legendary Hit Songwriter Dave Gibson

Brent & Johnny welcome legendary hit songwriter Dave Gibson to The Challenge, and they create 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing a song titled "Pretty Penny". Dave Gibson wrote Alabama's "Jukebox On My Mind", Joe Diffie's "Ships That Don't Come In", Tanya Tucker's "If It Don't Come Easy", Confederate Railroad's "Queen of Memphis", and Pam Tillis' "Do You Know Where Your Man Is?". He also formed the ACM-winning Gibson Miller Band and won multiple ACM and NSAI honors. Connect with Dave Gibson Here: Instagram: @DaveGibsonMusic46 Facebook: @DaveGibson YouTube: @DaveGibsonMusic 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

October 6, 20261 hr 16 min

Ep 543: Interview w/ Songwriter Scott Sean White

For 22 years, Scott Sean White has lived in Poetry, Texas, as a professional songwriter. He's been making regular trips to Nashville every two weeks and proving you don't have to be a Nashville resident to grow and succeed as a songwriter and artist. Scott has had his songs cut by Cody Johnson and Bryan Martin. He's also an artist in his own right with 3 album releases under his belt. Today, we discuss how he's succeeded from afar. Connect with Scott Sean White here: Facebook: @ScottSeanWhite Instagram: @ScottSeanWhite TikTok: @ScottSeanWhite YouTube: @ScottSeanWhiteMusic 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

September 29, 202656 min

Ep 542: Interview w/ Industry Legend, Shelby Kennedy

Today's guest, Shelby Kennedy, is a songwriter, music executive, A&R veteran, and lifelong student of the music business. Ray Charles recorded Shelby's first song while he was still in college. He later wrote Reba McEntire's "I'm a Survivor" and has worked on the business side at companies including ASCAP, Lyric Street Records, BMI, TuneCore, and ONErpm. Along the way, he's helped discover, develop, and guide artists and songwriters at virtually every level of the industry. Now he's taken decades of those conversations and lessons and put them into a new book, Gold & Platinum Nuggets of Wisdom: Bite-Sized Perspectives For Navigating The Music Industry, designed to feel less like a textbook and more like sitting down for a series of meetings with somebody who's been on the inside forever. Purchase Shelby's Book Here: Gold & Platinum Nuggets of Wisdom: Bite-Sized Perspectives For Navigating The Music Business Connect with Shelby Kennedy Here: Instagram: @MusicCityShelby Facebook: @ShelbyKennedy TikTok: @MusicCityShelby 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

September 25, 202633 min

Song Title Challenge #222: "Curve Baller" w/ Hit Songwriter, Rob Hatch

Brent & Johnny welcome hit songwriter Rob Hatch to The Challenge, where they cook up 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing a song titled "Curve Baller". Rob's catalog includes number ones like Justin Moore's "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", Randy Houser's "Goodnight Kiss", Lee Brice's "I Don't Dance", which won the ACM Award for Single of the Year, and most recently, Megan Maroney's "Six Months Later". He was also named SESAC Songwriter of the Year in 2014, and his cuts include songs recorded by Faith Hill, Luke Bryan, Joe Nichols, Jamie Johnson, Ronnie Dunn, and others. He's also a co-founder of Pump House Records alongside long-time friend, Lee Brice. Rob also helped found and runs EnterSong Entertainment, which is a songwriter booking agency with 120 of the best songwriters you've ever heard in your life. Connect With Rob Hatch: Facebook: @RobHatch Instagram: @RobHatchMusic Website: RobHatchMusic.com Pump House Records: PumpHouseRecords.com Entersong Entertainment: Entersong.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 22, 20261 hr 10 min

Ep 541: Interview w/ Legendary A&R Exec, Missi Gallimore

Today's guest, Missi Gallimore is a veteran A&R executive, artist manager, and founder of Truth or Dare, whose ear has helped shape some of country music's biggest records. Over more than two decades, she's played a role in finding more than 30 number one songs for Tim McGraw, helped to bring songs like Faith Hill's "This Kiss" and "Breathe" to the table, and introduced Keith Urban to "Blue Ain't Your Color". Today, through Truth or Dare, she works with artists and songwriters in everything from finding the right songs and collaborators to developing careers and creating opportunities. Connect With Missi Gallimore: Instagram: @TruthOrDareMusic Spotify: @TruthOrDareMusic Website: https://truthordaremusic.com/roster/sam-williams/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 15, 20261 hr 0 min

Ep 540: Interview w/ The Nashville Road Coach, Paul Secord

CLIMBers, today we welcome the Nashville Road Coach (and long-time CLIMBer), Paul Secord, and we talk all about what is probably the #1 revenue generator for your band: merch! Paul has spent more than three decades in the music business as an artist, performer, producer, and artist development coach. He has more than 3,000 shows under his belt, and he spent a massive portion of those shows behind the merch table after the show. Learn how to 2X, 3X, 5X, or even 10X your merch with Paul's Merch That Moves course! Click Here To Access The Merch That Moves Course: This course is normally $97, but CLIMBers have a special discount at $54 for a limited time. Connect With Paul Secord Here: Facebook: @NashvilleRoadCoach Instagram: @NashvilleRoadCoach TikTok: @NashvilleRoadCoach YouTube: @NashvilleRoadCoach Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

September 11, 202634 min

Song Title Challenge #221: "Within Reach" w/ #1 Hit Songwriter Wynn Varble

Johnny & Brent welcome hit songwriter Wynn Varble to The Challenge! Together, they craft 5-6 different conceptual angles for writing a song titled "Within Reach" (sent in by CLIMBer, Bobby Davis). Wynn has written #1 hits like "Have You Forgotten" by Darryl Worley, "Waiting On A Woman" for Brad Paisley, and "I'm A Little More Country Than That" for Easton Corbin. All three of these were nominated for Song Of The Year by either the ACMs and/or CMAs. Wynn has had songs recorded by Garth Brooks, Cody Johnson, Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Mark Chesnutt, Kelly Pickler, Lee Ann Womack, and more. Wynn Varble was the 2009 Nashville Songwriter Association Songwriter Of The Year recipient. Connect With Wynn Varble Here: Facebook: @WynnVarbleMusic Instagram: @WynnVarbleOfficial YouTube: @WynnVarbleOfficial Spotify: @WynnVarble Website: https://WynnVarble.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

September 8, 202652 min

Ep 539: Interview with Centricity Artist, Rachel Purcell

CLIMBer, when you find out who you are, what lane you're supposed to be in, who you are as an artist, and actually bring that into the room - magic happens. It actually gets easier. Fancy that. It's amazing! We get into that and so much more with our guest, Centricity recording artist Rachel Purcell, today. You want to stick around for this one! 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

September 1, 20261 hr 11 min

Ep 538: How To Achieve Financial Freedom As An Indie Artist (Without Compromising Your Artistic Integrity)

CLIMBers, if you're interested in achieving financial stability and financial freedom as an indie artist without compromising your artistic integrity, this episode is for you! Dan Scott is a musician, attorney, advisor, and founder dedicated to helping creatives build good lives where their work, wealth, and purpose align. You can do it all; you just need to have a few tools in the toolbox. After beginning his legal career at Sullivan and Cromwell, he founded Scott Law in 2015 and then launched Spotlight Advisory Group, where he advises artists, entrepreneurs, and creators on ownership, financial freedom, intellectual property, and long-term legacy. He's a contributor to Forbes and Entrepreneur magazines; Dan speaks on creativity, entrepreneurship, and the evolving creator economy, and his upcoming book, which has not been released yet. Make An Appointment With Dan: CLICK HERE To Schedule 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