I'm going to start this out by saying, I'm not too big a fan of today's modern rock and pop music. I was a rocker in the end of the 70's, through the 80's, then rock and pop turned darker, angrier, more bitter, and that was not where I ever was. I gravitated to country, because it was a more positive format (changing from the old days "crying in your beer" days), and I wanted to move to Nashville because it was closer to my home town of Birmingham, Alabama. If I failed I could probably hitchhike home.

Much is often said of "writing by committee and multiple writers in country music" and my contention is that it has been that way for most of the format's history and is also MUCH MORE PREVALENT in rock and pop of today.

Having said all that, I think that ALL WRITERS need to learn the art and craft of CO-WRITING. This is for two reasons.
#1. TO OPEN UP CREATIVE ABILITIES:
When you are working with others, you have someone to bounce ideas off of (or shoot them down if they are just no good) and you have to adapt to other styles, layers, nuances. It is a challenge to make sure you are on top of your game to convince other writers or artists that YOUR ideas are valid. Makes you be better at what you do.

#2. PURELY POLITICAL.
Other people may be politically connected where you are not. They might chart or publishing success you need and while you never "USE" someone, you are aware of things you can UTILIZE to help you move to higher levels of what you do.

This is an article that has made the BMI newsletter this week, but experienced writer, MARK SUTHERLAND. It includes information on how to contact and follow him, which I suggest you do. But it is a great article about the current state of pop and rock hitmaking that everyone needs to be aware of who are trying to enter these fields. Again, my biggest soap box is GET OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM! MEET OTHER PEOPLE!
This is the main reason.

MAB