Richard Marx passed on writing with a teenage Taylor Swift, and says he still made the right call

Richard Marx has revealed that he once had an early chance to work with Taylor Swift and said no. For fans who know Marx from late 1980s and 1990s hits, the surprising part is not just the missed connection, but his reason for turning it down and why he still stands by it.

A future superstar, a brand new label, and an unexpected no

Speaking on the Bob Lefsetz podcast, Marx said the moment came about 20 years ago during dinner with his friend Scott Borchetta. Borchetta had just launched Big Machine Records and wanted to show Marx the new office.

Marx said Borchetta unlocked the space and played him music by the first artist he had signed. The songs were the first two or three demos by Taylor Swift. After playing them, Borchetta asked whether Marx wanted to write with her.

Marx said his answer was simple: no.

The decision sounds startling now because Swift would go on to become one of the biggest artists in the world. But Marx explained that the context mattered. He said he asked Borchetta how old she was and was told she was 15. That, for him, immediately raised the question of what he could realistically bring to a writing session with a teenage girl.

Why Marx says the match did not make sense

Marx did not describe the choice as a dismissal of Swift's talent. In fact, his account suggests he could tell there was something there. What he did not hear was a natural creative partnership for himself.

He said one of his personal rules for co-writing is that he has to feel he can truly be useful to the other artist. In his view, the point is to help someone in a way they cannot already help themselves. With Swift, he did not believe he was the right person for that job.

That explanation is central to why he says he has no second thoughts. When people hear the story, Marx said, they often assume he must regret passing on a collaboration with someone who later became so successful. His response is the opposite. He said he believes he did the right thing because he would not have been good for her creatively.

Where Marx is now

The story offers an unusual footnote in the career of an artist whose own songwriting history is extensive. Marx is widely known for hits including Right Here Waiting, Hold On to the Nights and Satisfied. Beyond his solo work, he has also built a long co-writing career with artists including Ann Wilson, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Loggins, Keith Urban and NSync.

He is currently on a North American tour that runs into 2027. His latest album, After Hours, was released in January.

For nostalgia-minded fans, the anecdote is less about a missed payday than a revealing glimpse into how one veteran hitmaker judged a potential collaboration before either the mythology or the hindsight had a chance to take over.

How pop songwriting collaborations work

In mainstream pop, country and adult contemporary music, songs are often built through co-writing sessions. An artist may bring a title, hook, diary-style lyric or melody idea, while a more experienced writer helps shape structure, tighten lines and find a stronger chorus. Producers may also influence the final form by changing tempo, key, arrangement and phrasing.

For younger performers, these sessions can serve two purposes at once: creating songs and learning the craft. A writer who already understands radio formats, publishing and studio workflow can help turn raw instinct into something recordable.

Why a writer might pass

Turning down a collaboration is normal in the music business. Writers and producers often choose projects based on schedule, genre fit, creative chemistry, career goals or a simple feeling that they are not the best match. Saying no is not always a judgment on talent. It can mean a writer believes someone else will be more useful, or that the artist's sound is still forming.

That matters because early career choices can shape an artist's voice. Some performers benefit from outside polish. Others grow faster by writing more on their own or with peers closer to their own style.

What fans can look for

If you want to understand an artist's evolution, check the songwriting credits on albums and streaming services. Look for recurring co-writers, changes in producers and shifts in genre language from release to release. Liner notes, reissues and songwriter interviews can also reveal whether a song began as a solo idea or a room-built collaboration.

Those details often explain why one era sounds more personal, more polished or more commercial than another.