The most-recorded songwriters
The 20 songwriters whose registered songs have the most recordings linked to them in the registration data Songlinks reads. Each name opens the person’s Songlinks page, under their Songlinks person ID.
Measured 2026-09-15.
| # | Registered as | Songlinks person ID | Recordings | Songs with recordings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JOHN LENNON | SLP-Z3W3-9ZW0-N | 651,588 | 568 |
| 2 | PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY | SLP-8QN5-RHHM-N | 635,313 | 999 |
| 3 | GEORGE GERSHWIN | SLP-766W-237Y-2 | 457,110 | 1,151 |
| 4 | MARTIN MAX SANDBERG | SLP-NYWX-WTGG-N | 454,420 | 629 |
| 5 | RICHARD RODGERS | SLP-NX4M-8S8V-9 | 428,631 | 776 |
| 6 | IRVING BERLIN | SLP-4GM4-S763-C | 409,888 | 823 |
| 7 | DUKE ELLINGTON | SLP-ESFV-KKD3-C | 381,404 | 1,089 |
| 8 | IRA GERSHWIN | SLP-PTTD-83CS-M | 367,473 | 610 |
| 9 | JOHNNY MERCER | SLP-ARWW-E0DC-X | 343,210 | 595 |
| 10 | COLE PORTER | SLP-88XB-E1V9-R | 332,679 | 482 |
| 11 | ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM | SLP-YC92-8SC0-P | 299,843 | 418 |
| 12 | SAMMY CAHN | SLP-EZDW-1Q96-8 | 284,305 | 783 |
| 13 | ROBERT DYLAN | SLP-0Y8G-S48Q-2 | 269,326 | 790 |
| 14 | LUKASZ GOTTWALD | SLP-S1B8-CD16-Q | 267,596 | 596 |
| 15 | BURT F BACHARACH | SLP-9HFG-JW99-Y | 259,291 | 936 |
| 16 | OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II | SLP-2M5W-P3S0-2 | 256,135 | 479 |
| 17 | HAROLD ARLEN | SLP-03E2-4WJP-C | 248,852 | 409 |
| 18 | STEVIE WONDER | SLP-8PJV-SJ1Z-4 | 246,906 | 766 |
| 19 | LORENZ HART | SLP-K5S2-7734-6 | 243,254 | 359 |
| 20 | HAL DAVID | SLP-9YGH-3DCV-7 | 230,777 | 755 |
How the list was made
- Recordings, not covers. The count is every recording linked to a songwriter’s registered songs. The data does not say which recording is a cover, and the count includes re-releases, compilations and alternate versions of one performance.
- One person, all their registrations. A songwriter often appears under several registration records. Each row is one Songlinks person, and a song registered under two of their records is counted once.
- People only. Every row has an IPI name number. Names registered for no one in particular (“Traditional”, “Public Domain”, “Unknown”) and company-shaped names are left out.
- Songwriters, not catalogues. People with more than 2,000 songs with recordings are left out. Among the most-recorded registrations, most of that size are large catalogues registered under one writer’s name, and the rest are mainly classical and film composers.
Which records make up each person is a machine’s grouping, and no person has checked it. Songlinks is in beta. Why one songwriter appears under several records: one songwriter, many registrations.