With both of this week’s (chart dated 7/24/21) new entries being co-written by veteran performing artists – Ed Sheeran on Permission to Dance and Charlie Puth on Stay – we decided to spotlight other performing artists who were credited as behind-the-scenes songwriters in recent years.

While most performing artists write only for themselves, since 2015, a small percentage – roughly 10% of Top 10 charting artists – are also credited writers on songs for other artists, most of which go unnoticed by the general public. They include:

• Ed Sheeran (5): Love Yourself (Justin Bieber), Cold Water (Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MO), Strip That Down (Liam Payne feat. Quavo), Eastside (Benny Blanco, Halsey & Khalid), Permission To Dance (BTS)
• Charlie Puth (1): Stay (The Kid LAROI & Justin Bieber)
• Benny Blanco (8): Animals (Maroon 5), Castle on the Hill (Ed Sheeran), Cold Water (Major Lazer feat. Justin Bieber & MO), Don’t Wanna Know (Maroon 5 feat. Kendrick Lamar), Freaky Friday (Lil Dicky feat. Chris Brown), Love Yourself (Justin Bieber), Same Old Love (Selena Gomez), Señorita (Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello)
• Metro Boomin (6): Bad and Boujee (Migos feat. Lil Uzi Vert), Bounce Back (Big Sean), Tunnel Vision (Kodak Black), Mask Off (Future), Congratulations (Post Malone feat. Quavo), Heartless (The Weeknd)
• Swae Lee (3): Formation (Beyoncé), Black Beatles (Rae Sremmurd feat. Gucci Mane), Sicko Mode (Travis Scott)
• Charli XCX (2): Same Old Love (Selena Gomez), Señorita (Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello)
• Drake (2): Yikes (Kanye West), Sicko Mode (Travis Scott)
• Mark Ronson (2): Million Reasons (Lady Gaga), Shallow (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
• Murda Beatz (2): MotorSport (Cardi B, Nicki Minaj & Migos), Nice For What (Drake)
• Pharrell Williams (2): Havana (Camila Cabello feat. Young Thug), Stir Fry (Migos)
• Taylor Swift (2): This Is What You Came For (Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna), Deja Vu (Olivia Rodrigo)
• Daniel Caesar (1): Monster (Justin Bieber & Shawn Mendes)
• DJ Khaled (1): Don’t Mind (Kent Jones)
• Flo Rida (1): Somebody (Natalie La Rose feat. Jeremih)
• Jay Z (1): Savage (Remix) (Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé)
• Jeremih (1): Bounce Back (Big Sean)
• Justin Timberlake (1): Without Me (Halsey)
• Kanye West (1): Bounce Back (Big Sean)
• Mike Posner (1): Sugar (Maroon 5)
• Monty (1): 679 (Fetty Wap feat. Remy Boyz)
• Sia (1): Chained to the Rhythm (Katy Perry feat. Skip Marley)
• Ty Dolla $ign (1): FourFiveSeconds (Kanye West, Paul McCartney & Rihanna)
• Tove Lo (1): Love Me Like You Do (Ellie Goulding)

*Some writers, such as Benny Blanco, were initially songwriters before becoming performing artists.

Spotify Playlist: Artists Who Write For Others (2015-2021)