Life Factors Common to Women Who Write Popular Songs

Abstract

Biographical information for all women who wrote best selling songs between the years 1960 and 1990 suggests that this group of musically creative women shared many common life factors. These factors included being first or second born, musical precocity, living near or moving to a cultural mecca, being lower to lower middle class, experiencing some sort of early parental loss, earning less than a college degree, leaving home prior to age 19, experiencing problems in establishing and maintaining relationships with men after becoming financially successful, collaborating on musical projects (usually with men), having fewer average numbers of children, experiencing major problems with record companies and managers, expressing generativity through engagement in charitable pursuits, having a tendency for mental disorders (substance abuse or anxiety/depressive disorders), lacking a strong identification with feminism, and having the ability to make successful comebacks after periods of hiatus.