[Data-modeling] The Songwriter type considered

[Christopher R. Maden]

Ed Laurent <spatial.db at gmail.com> wrote:
> Why not keep the Songwriter tag and co-type it with Composer and Lyricist?
> This way that would allow users to add properties for both types at the same
> time to a topic when needed AND define a different category/level of
> musicianship.

This is my inclination.

Looking at <URL: http://www.freebase.com/view/music/songwriter >, and particularly at the Wikipedia blurbs for the people therein, it seems like songwriter is a useful semantic classification, distinct from an instrumental composer.  Most of the counter-arguments have been of the form that Songwriter is not *needed* for modeling properties, which is true, but I do think that semantic value should be considered.

Any closing arguments?

~Chris
-- 
Christopher R. Maden
Data Architect
Metaweb Technologies, Inc.
<URL: http://www.metaweb.com/ >