10 PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITTEN ALMOST EVERY HIT SONG
Many people argue that all pop music sounds the same these days. Some argue that record labels and commercial radio are to blame, but really, it could be a simple as the fact that almost every hit of the last 30 years has been written by a small group of people. In an ever-competitive market such as music, being able to write a Top 100 hit seems impossible, but the following 10 people have pulled it off time and time again.
While some of the people on this list are famous artists in their own right, who happen to write music for other artists as well, other names on this list are so obscure that it is unlikely the average person has ever heard of them. Either way, there are sure to be some famous songs you never realised were actually written by one small group of people.
Max Martin
If Max Martin is a name you are not familiar with, then you need to look at the back of almost any CD produced in the last 30 years. The 44 year old has written 21 Billboard Hot 100 number one singles since 1999, with his record as a songwriter only is beaten by two people in history: two of the beatles members, Paul McCartney who holds the record with 32 and John Lennon with 26.
Born as Martin Karl Sandberg in 1971, Max Martin initially rose to fame in the mid-90s, penning songs for some of the most iconic artists of the time. “...Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears), “I Want It That Way” (Backstreet Boys) and “It’s My Life” (Bon Jovi) were all massive hits that helped to launch his songwriting into the world.
In 2004, he reinvented himself from his former sound to a more rock-inspired sound to work with Kelly Clarkson on songs including "Since U Been Gone" (2004) and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" (2005).
Martin worked to catapult Katy Perry into stardom on her breakthrough song "I Kissed a Girl" (2008), and has worked on all three of her albums since, responsible for co-writing almost every single she has released, from “Hot and Cold” and “Teenage Dream” to “Roar”.
Not only did Martin work on all three of Britney Spears’ early teen pop albums, but he worked again with Britney Spears for her renaissance 6th albums “Circus” and “Femme Fatale” with hits including the provocative “If U Seek Amy” and "Hold It Against Me".
Everyone has noticed Taylor Swift’s new country-less sound, and again, Martin has played a part in that. From her album “Red”, he wrote the defining song "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, Swift’s first number one single. He wrote three singles from her latest album, 1989: “Shake It Off", "Blank Space", and "Style”.
Dr Luke
Born Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald in 1973, this producer has worked closely with Max Martin, getting his start as a writer on Kelly Clarkson's single "Since U Been Gone". During this time, he was working for SNL as the house band’s lead guitarist, but after finding success in records such as "Who Knew" (Pink) and "Girlfriend" (Avril Lavigne), left this to work on his new writing and producing career.
Dr Luke has written and co-written a ridiculous number of hits including “Dynamite” (Taio Cruz), “Magic” (B.o.B), three singles from Britney Spears’ “Circus” album and “Right Round” (Flo Rida).
He has not escaped controversy however, with the artist Kesha currently suing him. While he has been cited as having started her career by signing her and co-writing many of her songs, she claims that there relationship was abusive and has stopped her making new music.
George Martin
George Martin (no, not the author of the Game of Thrones books) has scored himself 23 number one hit songs in the United States in a career that spanned 56 years
Before the Beatles made it big, they were rejected by many labels in England. George Martin wasn’t deterred by this and agreed to not only sign them, but went on to become what some have described as the fifth member of the band.
With his extensive background in music, Martin was able to fill some of the gaps which the inexperienced Beatles members were faced with, such as scoring the entire string section in the famous “Eleanor Rigby”. His input can be heard on almost every Beatles song, from “Yesterday” and “Penny Lane” to “Yellow Submarine” and “I Am the Walrus”.
Outside of the Beatles, George Martin has worked with numerous artists including “All Shook Up” (Cheap Trick), “Candle In the Wind” (Elton John) and “The Reason” (Celine Dion).
Nile Rodgers
While a reasonably successful solo artist, Nile Rodgers’ real success has come from his work as a writer and producer, starting in the 70s, and still just as active today. His iconic disco sounds can be heard across 5 decades of music.
In the earlier days of his career, he worked to breakthrough artists such as Sister Sledge with “We Are Family”, Diana Ross with “I’m Coming Out”, and co-wrote and produced Madonna’s first album “Like a Virgin”.
He also worked with some huge names in music such as David Bowie on his songs “Let's Dance” and “China Girl”, the hit “Love Shack” (B-52s) and “Original Sin” (INXS).
He tends to go all-in on the projects he works on, and there were even rumours he had become a member of Duran Duran after his extensive work on their album “Notorious”.
Nile Rodgers has made a huge comeback in recent years after working heavily with Daft Punk for their latest album with hits such as “Get Lucky” with Pharrell Williams which brought back the disco sounds which has filled the Top 100 recently. He has since worked with artists including Avicii, Disclosure, Sam Smith, Pitbull, Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue and Nervo.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
This duo have been working together since the 1970s and have written 41 top 10 hits in the US.Working most famously with Janet Jackson on almost every one of her songs in her extensive career.
They have written 16 number 1 hits, including "4 Seasons of Loneliness" and "On Bended Knee" (Boyz II Men), "Monkey" (George Michael) “Thank God I Found You" (Mariah Carey) and "U Remind Me" (Usher).
The duo have worked together almost exclusively since the 1980s, most notably with Janet Jackson, credited as writers on most of her songs, including 9 billboard number one hits for her.
Babyface
Kenneth Brian Edmonds, or as he is known as in the music scene, Babyface has won 11 Grammy Awards for his numerous hits he was written and worked on.
With so many songs, there are lists where people have ranked just their top 100 favourite songs written by him. Just some of his number one hits include “End Of The Road” (Boyz II Men), “Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” and “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (Whitney Houston) and "You Don't See Me” (Josie & The Pussycats).
Jörgen Elofsson
This Swedish born songwriter is one of many Swedes taking over the songwriting scene, working from 1994 with a wide range of artists to produce some huge hits.
He has written a number of songs for big events, such as "The Time of Our Lives" for the 2006 FIFA World Cup but is most well known for his work for Kelly Clarkson’s debut single after American Idol "A Moment Like This" and "Angels Brought Me Here" by the first Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian.
Shellback
Another writer who has worked with Max Martin is Karl Johan Schuster who goes by Shellback, and for someone so young, has an unbelievable list of songs, starting in only 2008.
Getting his start as a member for a metal band, and a recording artist for some Swedish black metal bands, Shellback has taken a massive turnaround and has worked with some of the biggest pop artists of the decade. At just 30 years of age, he has already penned 9 number one singles, and 12 additional top 10 hits.
Some of the songs he has written include “So What” (Pink!), “DJ Got Us Falling In Love” (Usher), “Moves Like Jagger” (Maroon 5) and “Kiss You” (One Direction).
He has also worked extensively on Taylor Swift's latest album "1989", credited as a writer on 9 of the 13 tracks, along with 3 from her previous album, "Red".
Tove Lo
While an artist in her own right, Tove Lo is perhaps more successful as a songwriter. Born as Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson in 1986, she is yet another Swedish songwriter taking on the global stage.,
“Love Me Like You Do”, the Ellie Goulding hit was written with Tove, along with the breakout self-titled album by Icona Pop. Her bright, poppy sound can also be heard on “What Are You Waiting For?” (The Saturdays) as well as "Something New" (Girls Aloud) and “Sparks” (Hilary Duff).
Jessie J
With 3 albums of her own under her belt, it’s amazing that she has time to give away other songs, but the 27 year old Jessica Ellen Cornish has written an astounding number of hits for a wide range of artists.
While Miley is known for writing many of her own songs, for “Party In the USA”, she had some help from Jessie J, candidly claiming the royalties from the song paid her rent for 3 years. Along with this hit, she also wrote for Robin Thicke and DJ Cassidy for “Calling All Hearts” and “I Need This” by Chris Brown and Rhianna.
9 songs have been penned by Jessie J with Justin Timberlake, so how many of them are hits is yet to be decided.