New study reveals a 165% increase in the number of songwriters it takes to make a hit

26 July 2023 - Press release

 

A new study has revealed the number of songwriters it takes to write a chart-topping single. 

Beyonce’s ‘Heated’ has ranked higher than any other song in the Top 100 UK Singles Chart with 18 songwriters contributing to the summer anthem.

The music experts at iMusician conducted an in-depth analysis of the Official Singles Chart’s Top 100 to determine the factors that go into creating a hit. The study considered the artist(s), contributing writers and lyrics of the songs.

In second place is David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray’s hit ‘Baby Don’t Hurt Me’ with 12 contributing songwriters. Achieving over 168,000,000 Spotify streams, each songwriter has potentially earned $44,000 from this single, if the streaming royalties were split equally. 

This tune was closely followed by Jonas Brothers’ ‘Waffle House’, with 11 contributing songwriters. The study calculated the number of unique words in the track, totalling 76 meaning the songwriters contributed on average eight unique words each to the song. 

Simon Gardner, industry expert at iMusician, says: 

“Songwriters play a crucial role in the creation of chart-topping hits and have a significant impact on the music industry. Their contributions go beyond simply writing lyrics and melodies; they help shape the overall sound and commercial viability of a song.”

“Many chart hits are the result of collaborative efforts between songwriters, artists, and producers. Collaborative songwriting allows for the pooling of creative ideas, diverse perspectives, and the fusion of different musical styles, resulting in chart-worthy tracks.”

When looking at how the music industry has changed over time, the study also revealed that it takes more than double the number of songwriters nowadays to produce a no.1 single, than in the 1970s. 

The average number of songwriters per decade

The study analysed and compared the top 100 singles of each decade to reveal the average number of contributing writers, showing a steady increase over time. 

Some of the most iconic and influential singles such as Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ or Billy Joel’s ‘Uptown Girl’ are only credited with one songwriter whereas only 10% of the current UK top 100 singles were written by only one songwriter. 

However, when looking at the number of singles where the artist is credited, the current charting artists are credited on 61% of the singles charts, whereas in the 1970s only 54% of artists had songwriting credits on their singles. 

The current charting singles with only the artist as a writing credit are ‘Trojan Horse’ by Dave & Central Cee, ‘Heat Waves’ by Glass Animals and ‘Seventeen Going Under’ by Sam Fender.

Simon comments: 

“The findings in our study offer an interesting insight into what factors influence the making of a chart-topping single. Whether it takes one or 18 songwriters, key factors include catchy melodies and evocative lyrics that can tell a story and often create chart-topping hits.”

“We’re an evolving industry with genre styles changing and new ways of targeting fans developing. Songwriting is ultimately a creative and sometimes arduous journey. It takes time and dedication to develop a unique voice, but the process should be enjoyable and collaborative.”