Interesting discussion.

I only write lyrics. I've tried writing music for them, but I was never happy with the results. So all my songs have been co-written.

What matters is the song, however it's created. Either a song "works" or it doesn't. Songs that "work" are the children of a successful marriage of words and music, whether it takes one person or twenty to effect that miracle.

The world is full of bad marriages. But there are some good ones too.

I love collaboration. I love the give and take, the companionship, and the mutual exploration. Ninety percent of my collaborations didn't work, however, for whatever reason. Just means you have to try again. Enough of my collaborations have worked to leave me with some sonic children I'm proud to have parented.

The focus has to be on the song. Egos have to be left outside the door. If anyone involved starts to quibble about how much credit they deserve the child is going to be deformed. Or stillborn.

The business of music is a whole other world. A world in flux at the moment. The old ways of compensating songwriters have been demolished and the new ways haven't yet been devised. I'll probably die before the new ways take shape. Oh well. I missed my chance.

So my focus now is on the song. I enjoy parenting sonic children. I'll go out sowing wild notes.

Them's my 2 cents.

I'm a lyricist seeking music writers.

Check https://drooble.com/stanfield.major/wall for songs I've collaborated on.