The Top 10 songwriters of 2017 have been REVEALED

They were voted for by the public

Published 1st Aug 2021
Last updated 24th Aug 2021

A survey taken in 2017 revealed the Top 10 best songwriters of that year - and, as you would expect, the results cover a broad selection of pop, rock and dance! Ranging from 90s musicians right up to the present day, we saw the likes of Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran make their way to the top.

The Top 10 includes a mixture of artists from the UK such as Adele and Calvin Harris, as well as from across the pond including Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber. But who hit the Number 1 spot...?

Here are the Top 10 songwriters from 2017:

10 - Damon Albarn

Known for being part of 90s Britpop band Blur, and also the Gorillaz, Damon Albarn has written many songs including the 90s anthems 'Girls & Boys' and 'Country House'.

9 - Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber has been unstoppable in the charts, both as a solo artist as well as featuring on tracks by David Guetta, Luis Fonsi and DJ Khaled. But did you know he is also a talented songwriter? Justin co-wrote all the tracks on his 'Purpose' album including his Number 1 single 'Sorry'.

Joint 7th - Calvin Harris

Scottish DJ Calvin Harris has written and featured on a number of hit tracks - and he has also written songs for many artists.

In 2014 he released 'Summer' which he not only wrote, but it also featured his vocals.

Check out 9 songs you probably didn't know Calvin Harris had written.

Joint 7th - Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl was the drummer in Nirvana, and the founder and current frontman of Foo Fighters, so it won't come as a surprise to her he's a super talented songwriter, writing (or co-writing) many of his hits! Nirvana's 1991 classic 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' was co-written by Dave, with band mates Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic.

Despite being released three decades ago, 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' is, of course, still popular today, and was even used in the Hugh Jackman film Pan.

Joint 5th - Noel Gallagher

Noel Gallagher was the primary songwriter for Oasis in the 90s and has also penned a number of tracks for his more recent band Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.

Oasis' 1995 classic 'Don't Look Back in Anger' was written by Noel, which became one of their most known songs. The track later became the unofficial anthem for Ariana Grande's One Love Manchester, following the tragic terrorist attack at Manchester Arena on the 22nd May.

Joint 5th - Beyoncé

Beyoncé has co-written most of her songs, both solo and with Destiny's Child. Here is the video for her Top 5 single 'Sweet Dreams'.

4 - Lady Gaga

Before making it big as Lady Gaga, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was a songwriter for other well known artists including Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block, Fergie, and The Pussycat Dolls.

She was later spotted and became an artist in her own right, writing most her own tracks, including her hit track 'The Cure', written alongside DJ White Shadow and a few others.

3 - Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars hasn't just written many of his own songs including '24K Magic' and 'Grenade', he has also written for a number of high profile singers including Flo Rida ('Right Round'), Mike Posner ('Bow Chicka Wow Wow') and Mark Ronson ('Uptown Funk'). Impressive!

2 - Adele

Adele is an incredibly talented songwriter, writing (or co-writing) nearly all the tracks on her three albums '19', '21' and '25'. Her 2015 comeback single 'Hello' flew to the Number 1 spot around the world and became her second ever Number 1 single.

1 - Ed Sheeran

Unsurprisingly Ed Sheeran has the top spot in 2017's Top 10 most successful songwriters. He has written countless songs for himself and for other artists, including Justin Bieber, One Direction and Taylor Swift.

Check out 12 songs you probably didn't know Ed Sheeran had written.

These results were based on a survey conducted on behalf of BIC®, the stationery brand.

Here's 33 singers who changed their names for the stage:

Camila Cabello

Real name: Karla Camila Cabello Estrabao

Rag'n'Bone Man

Real name: Rory Graham

Bruno Mars

Real name: Peter Gene Hernandez

Rihanna

Real name: Robyn Rihanna Fenty

P!NK

Real name: Alecia Beth Moore

Lady Gaga

Real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta

Nelly

Real name: Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr.

Stormzy

Real name: Michael Omari

Calvin Harris

Real name: Adam Richard Wiles

Lil Nas X

Real name: Montero Lamar Hill

Iggy Azalea

Real name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly

Ke$ha

Real name: Kesha Rose Sebert

Nicki Minaj

Real name: Onika Tanya Maraj

Katy Perry

Real name: Katheryn Hudson

Alicia Keys

Real name: Alicia Augello Cook

Lana Del Rey

Real name: Elizabeth Grant

Macklemore

Real name: Ben Haggerty

Miley Cyrus

Real name: Destiny Hope Cyrus

AJ Tracey

Real name: Ché Wolton Grant

Zayn Malik

Real name: Zain Javaad Malik

Jason Derulo

Real name: Jason Joel Desrouleaux

Pitbull

Real name: Armando Christian Pérez

50 Cent

Real name: Curtis James Jackson III

Usher

Real name: Usher Raymond IV

Charli XCX

Real name: Charlotte Emma Aitchison

Jessie J

Real name: Jessica Ellen Cornish

Aitch

Real name: Harrison Armstrong

Snoop Dogg

Real name: Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr

Ellie Goulding

Real name: Elena Jane Goulding

will.i.am

Real name: William James Adams Jr.

Fergie

Real name: Stacy Ann Ferguson

Jax Jones

Real name: Timucin Fabian Kwong Wah Aluo

SAINt JHN

Real name: Carlos St. John Phillips

Kanye West

In October 2021, Kanye West announced he had legally changed his name to Ye, with the application being approved by LA Superior Court judge Michelle Williams.

John Legend

John Legend's real name is John Roger Stephens. He told us that the name John Legend was a nickname used by some of his friends.

Now read:

QUIZ: Guess the year of the famous song

QUIZ: Guess the song from the lyrics

QUIZ: Can you guess the One Direction song from the emojis?

How to listen to Northsound 1:

For great music, brilliant banter and incredible competitions tune into Northsound 1 on 96.9, 97.6 or 103.0 FM, online, on our Northsound app, your DAB digital radio, or say ‘Play Northsound 1’ on your Smart Speaker. We give you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists. You’ll find new favourites every day and hear the songs you've missed from the last few years.