48 ASCAP Members Make New York Times Readers’ “Best Living American Songwriters” List

The readers have spoken! New York Times Magazine recently asked its readers their picks for America’s top living songwriters. Of the top 100 creative geniuses submitted, ASCAP represents a whopping 48 – more than any other performing rights organization in the US, by a healthy margin.

The ASCAP songwriters represented include all-time legends (Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel & Diane Warren) and contemporary hitmakers (Noah Kahan & Olivia Rodrigo), from country tunesmiths (Chris Stapleton & Kacey Musgraves) to hip-hop greats (Jay-Z & Ms. Lauryn Hill), from innovative rockers (Jack White & Trent Reznor) to indie heroes (Adrianne Lenker, John Darnielle & The National).

We’re especially thrilled to see ASCAP Board member Jimmy Webb get a much-deserved inclusion, alongside former Board member Valerie Simpson.

Here are all 48 ASCAP songwriters on the list:

This New York Times Magazine Reader Top 100 was a followup to their editorial list of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters, which was also brimming with ASCAP members (including our Board member Terry Lewis, along with his musical partner in crime Jimmy Jam – also a former Board member).

André 3000 of Outkast
Fiona Apple
Mariah Carey
Brandy Clark & Josh Osborne
Lana Del Rey
The-Dream
Missy Elliott
Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis
Jay-Z
Stephin Merritt
Lionel Richie
Romeo Santos
Valerie Simpson
Diane Warren
Stevie Wonder

Read the entire New York Times Magazine Reader Top 100 list here, and the full editorial list here.