What's the current state of professional songwriters?

Back in the 60’s, record companies (like Motown, for example) had a stable of professional writers (Holland, Dozier, Holland was a great team) who would pump out hit after hit. Goffin/King wrote a ton of hits as well.

Is this sort of thing still being practiced? I know there’s plenty of independent writers out there, but are there any who are contracted like the old days?

I went to see Alison Krauss + Union Station last week (and they kicked ass, as usual) and they have used several of the same writers over the years (and made them quite wealthy) and it got me to wondering.

I can’t confirm this except from memory… I thought the “stables” of writers died out with HDH and the Carole Kings and Neil Sedakas. But then I’m not sure. I’m thinking of Philadelphia in the disco era. Didn’t they also have some house writers who churned out hits for MFSB and others?

Still, just my opinion, I’m thinking by now that most groups write their own stuff (or cover old songs.)

I can only speak of some of latest hip / hop and pop stuff. I’m sure there are people writing the entire songs as well, but many of the people are getting beats written for them and then they write vocals, or add more stuff to the track. Currently a duo called the Neptunes have been making the music for many of the hits of the past few years. Busta Rhymes - “Pass the Courvasiae” (can’t afford it, can’t spell it), " Nelly - “It’s getting hot in here”, Britney spears - “Slave to u”, The Clipse - “Grinding”, and a million other tracks.

I think people writing catchy music and selling it to have a famous face front it, isn’t going away anytime soon.

Well, if you’re Randy Neuman, you get Pit threads written about you.

Someone is writing music for people like Hillary Duff and Lindsey Lohan.

I did know of one songwriter in the late 60s who wrote songs for several groups and sold them outright. The groups didn’t want to credit another songwriter (since they were supposed to write their own music). The guy I knew – a former member of the Left Banke – definitely wrote “I Got a Line on You” (credited to Spirit) and “I’d Love to Change the World” (credited to Alvin Lee*) and rumor had it he also did “Signs.”

  • He recorded the song himself, and put his name onto the song credits. Since Alvin Lee sang backup, Lee obviously didn’t have any objection to sharing credit.

Linda Perry (previously of 4 Non Blondes and then a solo album) has been out collaborating with artists like Pink and Gwen Stefani.

There’s also Diane Warren who has a syrupy writing style:

There are still lots of them working for music studios. Not only do they completely write and arrange songs for the utterly talentless bubble gum queens (often with only co-writing credit or no credit at all), but they often work with established artists who are in a slump or who need to meet a contractual obligation and have no material. Alanis Morrisette, who is by all accounts a decent writer, was paired with a writer from her record label for Jagged Little Pill.

I think this is more common than the industry wants to let on. Too much packaged music out there.

Maybe a vague hijack, but does anyone have any idea how these people get songwritng jobs? It’s something I’m interested in pursuing since I’m a singer/songwriter but not exactly marketable as a pop star, and it seems this might be easier to get into than the whole performing bit…

I think The Matrix is kinda what you’re referencing. Maybe check out this link to an article about the Matrix songwriting team and what it’s done for Avril Lavigne.

You might be interested in this forum:
Songwriter’s Tip Jar
and this website:
The Muse’s Muse