Pop music has been a staple in the music industry since the 20th century, when music sales truly mattered to artists. No matter what genre, a singer, rapper, or band can be considered a “popular” artist depending on record sales and recognizability.
But other than the artists that sing the songs, producers also play a key part in making a song a pop song. Whether it’s a catchy melody, heavy dance rhythms, or just overall technical production, these producers can play a big role in making these artists “pop”.
There are many big producers that come to mind in the pop music industry, but one producer, who has been writing and crafting music for artists for almost 30 years, has been quite unknown to the music industry and even the pop industry. His name, Max Martin.
Born in Sweden in 1971, he originally started as the lead singer for the Swedish heavy metal band It’s Alive. They signed to the label of a producer by the name of Denniz PoP, and he discovered the real talent of Martin, writing pop songs.
He’s worked with tons of different mainstream artists over the past 30 years, such as the aforementioned Britney Spears, The Weekend, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, Jessie J, Christina Aguilera, Pink, Usher, Coldplay and countless others. Additionally, he also co-wrote most of the songs off Taylor Swift’s Grammy winning album 1984. If there is a pop song you can think of, he probably wrote it.
After producing and writing for 15 years, Martin finally scored his first #1 hit with the classic Britney Spears songs “…Baby One More Time”, in 1998. In the 90s’, Martin went on a songwriting spree with hit singles “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys in 1999, Celine Dion’s “That’s The Way It Is” also in 1999, and “It’s Gonna Be Me” by *NSYNC in 2000.
Since he started writing, Martin has written or co-written 27 Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles; 25 of which he has produced or co-produced. This is an all-time record for Billboard.
Many producers have cited Max Martin as an influence for their craft. Including pop-producer Lukasz Gottwald, a.k.a. Dr. Luke. Gottwald has said that when they first met, their connection between one another was magical. In a way, Martin served as a mentor for the up and coming producer.
Martin’s influence in the pop industry can not be overstated. From his countless number-one singles on Billboard, to the leverage he has on other producers in the industry, Max Martin is a titan. Hopefully, he will continue writing and producing music and keep on making exceptional pop bangers.
