The secret behind today’s hits? Here’s what independent artists can learn from today’s songwriting teams
Luminate’s latest data shows that most top songs are written by multiple songwriters. Here’s what that means for independent musicians and why collaboration could be your biggest creative advantage.
The rise of the songwriting team
While many hit songs may be fronted by a single artist, it’s becoming rare for that artist to be the only songwriter. According to new data from Luminate, the majority of today’s top tracks are the result of collaboration.
It might sound surprising, especially since the singer-songwriter image is so iconic. Take the likes of Bob Dylan or Paul McCartney, who mainly write and perform their own music. But in reality, most chart-toppers often come from teams of writers and producers working together to craft the perfect hit track.
What the data shows
Luminate’s report looked at the 50,000 most-streamed songs in the US in 2024, released within the past three years. The data found that every one of the top 10 songs was written by at least two people. As you move further down the list, though, that number starts to change.
Despite the top 11-100 having more songs written by just one person than the top 100-10,000, the overall trend is clear. By the time you reach the top 50,000 songs, tracks written by only one person increases, with the number written by six or more decreasing. However, most still have three to five writers.
Why the difference? As Luminate suggests, resources. Bigger artists can afford to bring in teams of songwriters and producers to polish their ideas. On the other hand, independent artists simply can’t afford to do that.
Genre makes a difference
The number of credited songwriters also depends on genre. Luminate’s random sample that:
- Pop songs are the least likely to have a single songwriter- only 13% do.
- Latin music is most likely to have just one songwriter, at around 35%.
- R&B/Hip-hop tracks are most likely to have six or more songwriters (29%).
- Country music is the least likely to have six or more songwriters, with just under 10%.
Luminate suggests these figures can easily be explained. Pop’s history is enriched with songwriting teams dating back to the 19th and early 20th century, when professional writers worked behind the scene to create radio hits.
By contrast, rock built its identity on the raw authenticity and individual expression from its songwriter (which is why it is the second highest genre for having a single songwriter). As for hip-hop, its traditions of sampling and interpolation mean that writing credits can pile up fast.
Interestingly, the more popular or commercially successful a genre becomes, the more likely it is to adopt typical pop practices. That means more hook-focused structures and co-writing sessions with producers and songwriters.
Why it matters for independent artists
So, what does this all mean for you if you’re an independent artist?
The biggest takeaway is the importance of collaboration. You shouldn’t be ashamed to collaborate, as most of today’s biggest hits exist thanks to artists working together. So, while you might not have a label-backed writing team, you can still tap into the same creative benefits by working with others.
Co-writing can help you:
- Bring fresh ideas to your music
- Check for weaknesses in your lyrics or melodies
- Speed up your writing process
- Learn new songwriting or production techniques
- Build relationships that could open doors to new opportunities
Even a single collaborator can make a huge difference. You don’t need a team of six to create something special, just someone who brings a new perspective and can offer fresh ideas.
The bottom line
Luminate’s research highlights an important truth about today’s music landscape: collaboration helps fuel creativity. The top hits are rarely solo efforts, which only shows the power of shared ideas.
For independent artists, the lesson isn’t to chase what’s working at the top of the charts though, it’s to embrace collaboration in whatever way makes sense for you. Whether that’s co-writing, sharing ideas, or exchanging feedback, teamwork could be the key to unlocking your next great song.
Read more from Luminate’s data about songwriter credits here.