What We Do
At It All Starts With A Song Foundation, we give songwriters a proven creative process to find their voice, define their message, and lay the foundation for a career and life built around their music.
Our retreats are unlike any other songwriting experience. They are not just workshops — they are immersive, transformative journeys designed to unlock the songwriter from the inside out.
We believe great songs come from a whole person. That’s why our retreats address the full mind, body, and soul connection — helping writers get out of their heads, quiet the inner critic, and tap into the deeper emotional truth that makes a song resonate with strangers as if it were written just for them.
The results speak for themselves
Over 12 years and 50+ retreats, our songwriters have gone on to secure film and TV placements, sign publishing and record deals, release independent music, and tour internationally.
every participant leaves with:
A clearer sense of who they are as a writer, a stronger creative process, and the foundation to keep building long after the retreat ends.
About Judy
Judy Stakee is a world-renowned artist development specialist, author, and speaker whose songwriting methodology has kick-started and shaped the careers of today’s most acclaimed songwriters and artists.
During her 20 years as Senior VP of Creative at Warner Chappell Music, Judy signed, developed, and managed a star roster that includes Grammy Award-winner Katy Perry, Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Jewel, Gavin DeGraw, Julian Bunetta and John Shanks — earning her a reputation across the industry as the ultimate champion of the songwriter.
In 2009, Judy launched her independent artist development company built on a single belief: It All Starts With A Song. Her proven methodology — outlined in her book The Songwriter’s Survival Guide, now adapted into music curricula at renowned institutions across the U.S. and beyond — gives songwriters the foundation they need to build a lasting creative career.
Judy holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Southern California, is a past president of the National Songwriters Association, and a former governor of NARAS (LA Chapter). Her writers have earned hundreds of BMI and ASCAP awards, as well as Grammy, MTV, CMA, and AMA recognition.
Success Stories
Emma Gale
3x Eurovision Finalist
Emma Gale almost gave up songwriting on the way home from one of my retreats — not because she hadn’t had an amazing time, but because she saw just how talented everyone else was. Music had other plans, though. She kept going, and in 2024–25, three of her songs reached Eurovision national finals, reflecting her remarkable and growing momentum across Europe.
Learn more about Emma
Nell Maynard
signed a Publishing Deal
After briefly attending medical school, Nell came to one of my retreats and immediately pivoted to pursue her true calling. She moved to Nashville in 2017. In 2021, pop country up-and-comer, Lauren Weintraub, released their co-written song ”Like A Boy,” which racked up over 6 million views on TikTok. The momentum kept building, and Nell landed the ultimate prize — a publishing deal with Savage Music.
Learn more about Nell
Christine Merritt
Lyric of the Year Winner — American Songwriter Magazine 2023
Christine had never written a song in her life — until one night her son said something that sparked a song she didn’t know she had in her. After a year of working together and attending one of my retreats, that song went on to win one of the most prestigious Annual Grand Prize songwriting honors in the country.
Learn more about Christina