The rise of toplining has been a great thing for young singers. It’s no longer necessary years learning to play the guitar or piano. If you have a good voice all you need is a mic and a laptop. Previously complete songs would be written by a songwriter who would compose the song with a guitar or piano. Today producers are able to create interesting beats electronically and then send them to multiple topliners to see who can complement their beats the best.
Although topliners are influenced by the producers’ beats in the creation of their melodies and lyrics they usually have autonomy over their own component of the song and can use it elsewhere without sharing the writing credits. Consequently, singers who both sing well and have an ear for what a good contemporary beat sounds like are in a very good position to have a successful career in music.
