"Dream On'" (PDF) from the Trombone Shorty album, Say That To Say This.

(2023 revision):
In his autobiographical book, 21-Hit Wonder, songwriter Sam Hollander recounts the struggle of his twenty-year career in the music industry, collaborating with both legendary and up-and-coming artists on hundreds of songs with only dozens achieving any noteworthy acclaim on the charts. The collection of stories focuses more on the personalities rather than the financials but it sheds light on the commercial demands for a comfortable living through moderate success. The dream of writing one hit song to bring fortune and fame remains, however a career of multiple flops can also still add up and bear fruit as well.

Similarly, Norwegian musician Kristian “Boots” Ottestad initially found success in the music industry through the band The Getaway People, but it was the placement of the band’s songs in film and television that launched Ottestad’s career as a sought-after songwriter, settling eventually in Nashville to develop his craft. Both Hollander and Ottestad contributed to the song “Dream On” from Trombone Shorty’s 2013 album, Say That to Say This, co-written with Shorty’s band, and although it may not have been the career-defining hit for those involved, the recording adds to a list of music credits long enough to build a dream on.

Recommended Reading: 21-Hit Wonder: Flopping My Way to the Top of the Charts by Sam Hollander.  Published by Matt Holt Books.