Magne,

One of the biggest by products of co-writing is pushing the writer on speed and focus. When you have a limited amount of time on something, it brings the discipline to get it finished. Plus with two or more people writing, they are all focused on the same thing, which again, brings different levels to it.

Nadia, to speak to your point, most Nashville sessions are done in twos. One to start the song, generate the idea, design a template for the song. Then usually, the writers do indidual work on the song. Then they get back together and finish it up. One of the reasons on many hit songs you see the same names over and over in this country, is that they finish one song and start another.

One of the biggest problems I get with writers are being unable to finish songs. That is because if you do not put guidelines or deadlines on something, there is no incentive to get it done.

So there are ancilary benefits outside of just the writing of the song. Having multiple people pitching a song, having different avenues of thought going on, building the speed and focus factor in discipline, getting more songs going at the same time, and building future relationships all come into play.

That is why collaboration is more like dating or marriage than just one song. And it can show you the people you DON'T want to hang out with as well.

And that can be very important.

MAB