The 100 best songwriters of all time

The 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time is a list published in 2015 by the American pop magazine Rolling Stone of what they consider to be the 100 best songwriters of all time.

reception

The list appeared on Rolling Stone's website in August 2015 and was more critical than any other listing in the magazine. The British Guardian identified a problem in the cooperation with Apple Music . For example, Kate Bush and other artists whose discographies cannot be accessed via the streaming service are said to have been deliberately left out. In addition, according to the target readership, the list contains 70% white and only nine female solo songwriters.

The Telegraph was also dissatisfied with the list and, as a backlash, published its own ranking in May 2016 with the title 100 Best Songwriters Missed Out by Rolling Stone . This includes, for example, Ray Charles , Freddie Mercury , Cat Stevens , Peter Gabriel or Frank Zappa .

List (excerpt)

The following extract contains the first 30 places. Bob Dylan Paul McCartney John Lennon Chuck Berry Smokey Robinson Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Carole King and Gerry Goffin Paul Simon Joni Mitchell Stevie Wonder Bob Marley Brian Wilson Hank Williams Bruce Springsteen Eddie Holland , Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland Leonard Cohen Neil Young Prince Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller Lou Reed Van Morrison Robert Johnson Elvis Costello Randy Newman James Brown Ray Davies Woody Guthrie Buddy Holly Pete Townshend

100 Best Songwriters Missed Out by Rolling Stone ( Telegraph ) Cole Porter Townes Van Zandt Ewan MacColl Kate Bush Ray Charles Freddie Mercury Louis Jordan Damon Albarn John Hiatt Richard Thompson Irving Berlin Stephen Sondheim George Gershwin Joan Baez Cat Stevens Phil Spector Lefty Frizzell Paul Anka Shane MacGowan Gordon Lightfoot Gil Scott-Heron Lead Belly John Denver Jelly Roll Morton Otis Redding Peter Gabriel Guy Clark Jarvis Cocker Loudon Wainwright III Frank Zappa

See also

• The 100 greatest musicians of all time
• The 100 best singers of all time
• The 100 best guitarists of all time
• The 100 best drummers of all time

Web links

• 100 Greatest Songwriters on rollingstone.com (English)
• 100 Greatest Songwriters Missed Out by Rolling Stone on telegraph.co.uk (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Geeta Dayal: The real peril in Rolling Stone's greatest songwriters wasn't the lack of diversity - it was the corporate sponsorship. The Guardian , August 24, 2015, accessed August 3, 2017 . 
2. ^ Judy Berman: Does 'Rolling Stone' Know It Declared Songwriting Dead? Flavorwire, August 17, 2015, accessed August 3, 2017 .