When songwriters pass away, they leave behind a legacy of work.
But, it turns out, they may not be the only ones who have to do with it.
And as the songwriting boom goes global, we may be seeing more of that legacy being left behind, and with it, the legacy of a music industry that used to thrive in this part of the world.
It’s a topic that has come up in recent weeks as the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York celebrates its 50th anniversary, as well as the induction of two new members of the Hall, and as the number of albums released by songwriters continues to rise.
While there’s no one singular culprit, it’s clear that we’ve all seen the results of this phenomenon.
In the U.S., where songwriters are just starting to make their mark on the pop charts, they’ve found themselves facing challenges like a rise in the number and type of songs they write, the proliferation of services like Spotify and Apple Music, and the ubiquity of digital devices that allow songwriters to create their own audio and video, all of which have made it easier for them to reach new fans and make more money.
“I’m starting to get more tired of being the guy who’s not doing a good job, and not being able to do anything,” says musician-songwriter and co-founder of the songwriters hall of fame, Scott Aukerman.
“If I can’t get a record out, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
If I can get a song out and have it be a hit, it takes that away from me. I don