system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are DJs like Avicii and Calvin Harris listed as the primary performer in a song title when they don't sing?

Example 1: The Song "I Need Your Love" is listed as "by Calvin Harris feat. Ellie Goulding, when she's singing the entire time.

Example 2: Titanium by David Guetta feat. Sia

Example 3: Clarity by Zedd feat. Foxes


The way it's listed, it's as if the DJs are singing and the lead singers are only singing the bridge or something. Why are these DJs considered different than just a regular music producer or songwriter and paid so much more?
gpt
It because they write all the music and lyrics.  Then they essentially hire a talented singer for the vocals.  A traditional songwriter may only write the lyrics or just the music.  Maybe they come up with the basic layout of the song and then sell it to an artist who works on the song, along producers and studio musicians, to flesh out the song, essentially acting as co-writers.  Calvin Harris hiring Elle Goulding is pretty much the same as hiring a studio guitar player to play a solo over your song.  

Why do they get paid so much?  It because they market themselves so well.  They could just be like a song writer and sell their songs without ever getting on stage, but they discovered they make way more money by retaining creative control.  By making a superior product, they control their own fate.  You want a Calvin Harris hit song?  You can't just buy the rights and call it your own.  You have to ask him to be featured on the song and give him full credit.  It's a pretty ingenious system on the part of the DJs.  They don't have to write full albums with the same band.  They just release a series of singles with all different types of artist, keep their sound fresh and allowing them to pump out a large number of songs.  By featuring top billings singers, like Elle Goulding, they are also riding their popularity to promote the song.  All this adds up to them receiving royalties and residuals on a bunch of hit songs.