In a hat tip to this year's Ivor Novello Awards, the new edition of Music Week is devoted to the world of songwriting.
Our cover story pairs two emerging talents making waves in that world, Mike ‘Scribz’ Riley and Rachel Furner, who sit down for a joint interview to give a frontline perspective from the next generation of hit songwriters.
We speak in depth with songwriting great Diane Warren about the secrets of the craft, while a host of top names from the biz attempt to answer the million-dollar question: Who is the greatest songwriter of all-time?
In our inaugural songwriting special issue 12 months ago, our revelation that it took an average of 4.53 people to write 2016’s 100 biggest hits caused an international sensation and we revisit the subject to reveal the latest number of writing credits on the UK’s biggest hits.
Also in news, Midem director Alexandre Deniot tells us why this summer’s edition will have the “biggest delegation from the UK for many years”. The music conference and festival in Cannes takes place from June 5-8.
In addition, Decca Records president Rebecca Allen hails the impact of the Royal Wedding ceremony for the label’s classical artist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who was invited to perform during the service by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Sync Story looks at the link-up between new Netflix series Safe and sync king Barns Courtney, and Making Waves showcases on Dutch noise popsters The Homesick. Swedish singer/songwriter Ina Wroldsen is On The Radar, while occupying the Rising Star slot is Michelle Duffy, a publicist for Halestorm PR. Journalist Paul Stokes is this week's Tastemaker.
Plus, there’s all our usual enhanced news, new music, analysis, charts coverage and market share statistics.
The issue is available in all good newsagents now. To subscribe and never miss a vital music biz story, click here.
