Story of the Year

Band

Photo: Rodrigo Bertolino · CC BY-SA 2.0
Active 1995-present
Origin St. Louis, Missouri
Albums 7
Tracks 84
Most frequent collaborator Colin Brittain · 22 tracks
Genres Post-HardcorePop PunkEmoAlternative Rock
Complete Artist
100%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 84 of 84 tracks

Does Story of the Year write their own songs?

Every track on all seven albums is credited to band members. The catch is that the first four albums credit them collectively as "Story of the Year" rather than naming anyone, so no individual appears until Wolves in 2017. Dan Marsala and Ryan Phillips are on all 84 tracks, and 60 of those have no outside writer at all.

By the Numbers

7
Studio Albums
84
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
31
Years Active
22
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 84 / 84 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 84 tracks: how many Story of the Year wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Story of the Year has a writing credit100%
71%
29%
Sole author60tracks71%
Co-written24tracks29%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Story of the Year's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 84 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)98%
Composer (music)100%
Producer14%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 84 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
Dan Marsala 1995-present
98%
100%
14%
100%
Ryan Phillips 1995-present
98%
100%
14%
100%
Adam Russell 2000-present
83%
83%
14%
100%
Josh Wills 2000-present
83%
83%
14%
100%
Philip Sneed 2003-2018
57%
57%
14%
100%
John Taylor 1995-2000
0%
0%
0%
0%
Perry West 1995-2000
0%
0%
0%
0%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Story of the Year's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
2003Page Avenue
2005In the Wake of Determination
2008The Black Swan
2010The Constant
2017Wolves
2023Tear Me to Pieces
2026A.R.S.O.N.
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2000s
Page Avenue, In the Wake of Determination +1 more
100%
2010s
The Constant, Wolves
100%
2020s
Tear Me to Pieces, A.R.S.O.N.

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Story of the Year sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Story of the Year
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Kenny Chesney20%
Britney Spears32%
NSYNC41%
Sinéad O'Connor59%
Usher74%
Smash Mouth83%
The Used92%
100%Story of the Year
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Discography 7 albums

All seven studio albums. The acoustic re-recording Ten Years and Counting and the EPs sit outside this catalogue.

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Photo of Story of the YearStory of the Year84 tracks
Photo of Colin Brittain22Colin Brittain, 22 tracks on Linkin Park's page MB20Michael Baskette, 20 tracks Photo of John Feldmann16John Feldmann, 16 tracks AS14Aaron Sprinkle, 14 tracks KM13Kevin McCombs, 13 tracks SE12Steve Evetts, 12 tracks NB4Nick Bailey, 4 tracks DB4Dan Book, 4 tracks LW3Lachlan West, 3 tracks CW2Cameron Walker-Wright, 2 tracks EN2Elisha Noll, 2 tracks JW1Jordan Witzigreuter, 1 track KV1Keith Varon, 1 track NF1Nick Furlong, 1 track KS1Kevin Skaff, 1 track AG1Aaron Gillespie, 1 track KF1Kyle Fishman, 1 track EN1Elijah Noll, 1 track JF1James Fauntleroy, 1 track DS1Dominique Sanders, 1 track JS1Jacoby Shaddix, 1 track on Papa Roach's page JH1John Hall, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. MB Michael Baskette · AS Aaron Sprinkle · KM Kevin McCombs · SE Steve Evetts

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Dan Marsala and Ryan Phillips are credited on all 84 album tracks. The first four records credit every song to Story of the Year as a whole, so no member is named individually until Wolves in 2017. Sixty of the 84 tracks have no outside writer at all.

Quick Facts

  • Two constantsMarsala and Phillips are credited on all 84 tracks
  • Written in-house60 of 84 tracks have no outside writer
  • Signed as a bandThe first four albums name no member individually
  • The changeFrom Wolves in 2017 the credits start naming people
  • Platinum debutPage Avenue is certified platinum
  • Never on the Hot 100No single has entered the chart across seven albums

Creative Fingerprint

Four albums signed by the band, then three that name the writers, with the same two men on every song either way.

The Story

A St. Louis post-hardcore band that spent four albums crediting its songs to nobody in particular, then started naming names. Seven records, a platinum debut, and not a single Hot 100 entry.

Frequently Asked Questions Story of the Year

Does Story of the Year write their own songs?
Every track on all seven albums is credited to band members. The catch is that the first four albums credit them collectively as "Story of the Year" rather than naming anyone, so no individual appears until Wolves in 2017. Dan Marsala and Ryan Phillips are on all 84 tracks, and 60 of those have no outside writer at all.
Who wrote "Until the Day I Die"?
The credit reads Story of the Year, with no individual named. It is the band's best-known song and reached number 12 on the Alternative Airplay chart.
When did the credits start naming people?
On Wolves in 2017, which credits Ryan Phillips and Dan Marsala on all fourteen tracks. The two albums after it name four members plus their producer.
How many albums have they released?
Seven studio albums between 2003 and 2026, plus an acoustic re-recording of the debut that sits outside this catalogue.
Have they ever had a Hot 100 hit?
No. No single from any of the seven albums has entered the Billboard Hot 100. Their chart history is on the rock and alternative charts instead.
Who is Colin Brittain?
The producer credited as a co-writer on every track of Tear Me to Pieces and A.R.S.O.N., the first outsider written into the band's blanket credit.
Which album sold the most?
Page Avenue, the 2003 debut. It is the only album of theirs the RIAA has certified.
Did John Feldmann write with them?
On two songs. He produced Page Avenue and co-wrote "Swallow the Knife" and "Sidewalks".
What was the band called before?
67 North from 1995, then Big Blue Monkey from 1998, and Story of the Year from 2002.
Who is Philip Sneed?
The rhythm guitarist and keyboard player from 2003 to 2018. He shares the band credit on the four albums released while he was a member.

Sources

Wikipedia: Story of the Year Wikipedia: Story of the Year discography