Who was the most successful pop composer in Sweden last year?
You’re already there, aren’t you. Max Martin, right? He’s surely Sweden’s biggest songwriter every year.
Except this time. In 2016, he missed out on the accolade – by a whisker.
According to stats from Musikforlaggarna (The Swedish Music Publishers Association), Markus “Mack” Sepehrmanesh actually claimed the biggest share of Sweden’s Top 100 most popular songs last year.
Sepehrmanesh is one of the key songwriters behind Zara Larsson, having contributed to hits Lush Life, Ain’t My Fault and Girls Like (the latter technically by Tinie Tempah ft. Zara Larsson).
“Personally, I [Often] work with female songwriters, but I would love to see more of them, especially female producers.”
Markus “Mack” Sepehrmanesh
That gave him a bigger proportion of the Top 100, says Musikforlaggarna than the immensely talented Mr. Martin, who co-wrote the likes of Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop The Feeling and Ariana Grande’s Into You.
Sepehrmanesh is signed to the publishing company of TEN – Zara Larsson’s independent label home in Scandinavia.
He is also the VP of Creative at TEN Music Group, and has previously written for the likes of Tiesto and VV Brown.
Larsson herself made the 2016 Top 10, having co-written Ain’t My Fault and Girls Like.
“Personally, I [often] work with female songwriters, but I would love to see more of them, especially female producers,” said Markus ”Mack” Sepehrmanesh (pictured above at the 2016 Music Musikforlaggarna Prize event with some of his Zara Larsson songwriting collaborators).
“I see more women studying to become music producers so I think we soon will see a more balanced future.”
Interestingly, the entire Top 10 songwriters on Musikforlaggarna’s 2016 list co-write their tunes.
In fact, 91 of the 100 most popular songs in Sweden were co-writes (you can see the full Top 100 below).
Top 10 Swedish songwriters 2016 (based on number of songs and position):
Markus ”Mack” Sepehrmanesh (Publishing Company TEN) Songs: Zara Larsson – Lush Life, Zara Larsson – Ain’t My Fault, Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like
Martin ”Max Martin” Sandberg (MXM/Kobalt Music) Songs: Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop the Feeling, Ariana Grande – Into You, Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj – Side To Side
David Landolf och Noel Svahn (Universal Music Publishing) Songs: Vigiland – Pong Dance, Norlie & KKV – Din Idiot
Simon Strömstedt (Universal Music Publishing) Songs: Vigiland – Pong Dance, Julie Bergan – Arigato
Christian Karlsson (Universal Music Publishing) Songs: David Guetta feat. Sia – Bang My Head, Galantis – No Money
Anderz Wrethov (Extensive Music/Kobalt Music) Songs: Samir & Viktor – Bada Nakna, Panetoz – Håll Om Mig Hårt
Zara Larsson (Publishing Company TEN) Songs: Zara Larsson – Ain’t My Fault, Tinie Tempah feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like
Jakob Erixon (Lionheart/Universal Music Publishing) Songs: Panetoz – Håll Om Mig Hårt, RedOne feat. Enrique Iglesias, R.City, Serayah & Shaggy – Don’t You Need Somebody
Magnus Lidehäll och Vincent Pontare (Universal Music Publishing) Songs: Veronica Maggio – Vi Mot Världen, David Guetta feat. Sia – Bang My Head
Ilya Salmanzadeh och Alexander Kronlund (Wolf Cousins/Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia, MXM/Kobalt Music) Songs: Ariana Grande – Into You, Ariana Grande feat. Nicki Minaj – Side To Side
Sweden’s Top 100 popular songs of 2016
Alan Walker – Faded Walker, Borgen, Froen, Greve (Sony/ATV, Warner/Chappell)
Sia Feat. Sean Paul – Cheap Thrills Furler, Kurstin (Sony/ATV)
Drake Feat. Wizkid & Kyla – One Dance Graham, Jefferies, Reid, Balogun, Shebib, Smith, Reid, Johnson (Sony/ATV, Kobalt, Sentric, Manus)
Justin Timberlake – Can’t Stop The Feeling! Shellback, Max Martin, Timberlake (Universal Music Publishing, Kobalt)
Mike Perry Feat. Shy Martin – The Ocean Persson, Shy Martin, Islam (Kobalt, Publishing Company Ten)
The Chainsmokers Feat. Daya – Don’t Let Me Down Taggart, Schwartz, Friedman (Sony/ATV, Kobalt, Scandinavian Songs)
Mike Posner – I Took A Pill In Ibiza Posner (Sony/ATV)
Jonas Blue Feat. Dakota – Fast Car Chapman (Kobalt)
Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend (Seeb Remix) Martin, Berryman, Buckland, Champion, Eriksen, Hermansen, Tovar, Yard, Zant (Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV, Reach Global)
Justin Bieber – Love Yourself Sheeran, Levin, Bieber (Sony/ATV, Universal Music Publishing)
Frans – If I Were Sorry Andersson, Söderberg Fogelström, Jeppsson Wall, Saxell (Sony/ATV, Sifty Songs, Cineast Music)
Major Lazer Feat. Justin Bieber & Mø – Cold Water Sheeran, Scott, Levin, Pentz, Allen, Meckspeper, Bieber, Orsted (Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV, Kobalt, Songs Music)
Major Lazer Feat. Nyla & Fuse Odg – Light It Up Pentz, Meckseper, Thorbourne, Fender, Abiona, Swift, Malcolm (Sony/ATV, Kobalt, Universal Music Publishing, Songs Music, Manus)
Dj Snake Feat. Justin Bieber – Let Me Love You Bieber, Tamposi, Lee, Grigahcine, Bell, Wotman, Rosen, Cedeno, Mendez, Perez, Marsden (Kobalt, Universal Music Publishing, Edition Björlund, Songs Music)
The Chainsmokers Feat. Halsey – Closer Taggart, Frank, Kennett, Frangipane, Slade, King (Sony/ATV, Warner/Chappell, Universal Music Publishing)
Laleh – Bara Få Va Mig Själv Pourkarim, Nobel, Thörn, Yonan (Kobalt, Loveworks, Manus)
Calvin Harris Feat. Rihanna – This Is What You Came For Wiles, Swift (Sony/ATV)
Rihanna Feat. Drake – Work Fenty, Samuels, Moir, Graham, Stephenson, Brathwaite, Ritter Allen, Thomas (Sony/ATV, Warner/Chappell, Edition Björlund, Universal Music Publishing)
Shawn Mendes – Treat You Better Mendes, Geiger, Friedman (Universal Music Publishing, Scandinavian Songs, BMG)
Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out Joseph (Warner/Chappell)
David Guetta Feat. Zara Larsson – This One’s For You Guetta, Van de Wall, Tuinfort, Dean, Troelsen (BMG, Peermusic, Sony/ATV, Universal Music Publishing)
Joel Adams – Please Don’t Go Goncalves (Tunecore Publishing)
Charlie Puth Feat. Tyga – One Call Away Franks, Isaac, McDonald, Carter, Charlie Puth, Prime (Warner/Chappell, Sony/ATV, BMG)
Zara Larsson – Ain’t My Fault Larsson, Mack, Emenike (Publishing Company Ten, Warner/Chappell)
Miriam Bryant – Allt Jag Behöver Scocco (Kobalt)
Imany – Don’t Be So Shy (Filatov & Karas Remix) Goldman, Mladjao (Universal Music Publishing, Edition Björlund)
Miriam Bryant – Ett Sista Glas Trad., Forssell, Björlin (Manus)
Sia Feat. Kendrick Lamar – The Greatest Kurstin, Furler, Kendrick Lamar (Sony/ATV, Warner/Chappell)
Tinie Tempah Feat. Zara Larsson – Girls Like Larsson, Mack, Bennett, Butler, Okogwo, Jankel, Bediako Rogues, Bennett (Sony/ATV, Publishing Company Ten, Universal Music Publishing, Manus)
Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha – In The Name Of Love Garritsen, Cunningham, Juber, Radosevich, Philibin, Rexha, Nahar (Scandinvian Songs, Sony/ATV, Universal Music Publishing, BMG)
Madden Feat. 6Am – Golden Light Njølstad, Raugland, Garmark (Warner/Chappell)
Sabina Ddumba – Not Too Young Culver, Ddumba, Lewis, Ruth, Sibanda (Kobalt, Universal Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell)
Bacall & Malo – Africa Porcaro, Paich (Sony/ATV, Kobalt)
Veronica Maggio – Vi Mot Världen Maggio, Al Fakir, Pontare, Lidehäll (Universal Music Publishing)
Panetoz – Håll Om Mig Hårt Erixson, Jansson, Solem Kjellholm, Baheru, Badjie, Badjie (Capitol, Manus)
Ed Sheeran – Photograph Sheeran, McDaid (Sony/ATV, Kobalt)
Kent – Egoist Berg (Sony/ATV)
Wiktoria – Save Me Dyson, Siverstedt, Wallin (Universal Music Publishing, PRMD Songs)
Cheat Codes & Dante Klein – Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On) Lyttle, Hennings, Primus, Keith, Scandrick, Parker, Jones, Sills (Sony/ATV, Manus)
David Guetta Feat. Sia – Bang My Head Lidehäll, Pontare, Karlsson, Furler, Guetta,Tuinfort, Rotteveel, van Wattum (Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV, BMG, Peermusic)
Robin Schulz Feat. Francesco Yates – Sugar Bautista, Perez, Bryant, Schulz, Yates (Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV)
Alessia Cara – Scars To Your Beautiful Caracciolo, Felder, Wansel, Tillman (Universal Music Publishing, Sony/ATV)
Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa & Imagine Dragons – Sucker For Pain (with Logic, Ty Dolla $ign & X Ambassadors) Mosser, Harris, Grant, Carter, Griffin, Hall, Thomaz, Sermon, Reynolds, McKee, Platzman (Universal Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell, Sony/ATV, Bluewater, Songs Music)
Ariana Grande Feat. Nicki Minaj – Side To Side Ilya, Kotecha, Maraj, Kronlund, Max Martin, Grande (Kobalt, Warner/Chappell, Universal Music Publishing)
Ariana Grande – Into You Ilya, Max Martin, Kotecha, Kronlund, Grande (Kobalt, Warner/Chappell, Universal Music Publishing)
Junge Junge (Feat. Kyle Pearce) – Run Run Run Grolle, Noack, Pearce (Sony/ATV, Roba Music)
