Max Martin: The Musical Architecture of the Number Ones

Catalog description

Since 1998, Martin has written or co-written 27 Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit songs (most of which he has also produced or co-produced). Eight of these songs debuted at number one on the chart. This makes him the single most successful songwriter/producer in the history of popular music. Was it luck, skill, a combination of both or did he crack a social/cultural/artistic code and develop a language and set of formulae that went on to determine, predict and command the top of the charts? This course will investigate the harmonic, rhythmic, melodic, lyrical and sonic aesthetic choices that went into these 27 songs. Through weekly readings, listenings, transcriptions and creative assignments, students will present an argument for or against the “luck” theory and learn the inner workings of each of the 27 songs. Basic understanding of and access to a Digital Audio Workstation (Garage Band, ProTools, Logic, Ableton etc) is a requirement as students will be given access to recorded music stems in order to create their own sonic collages within the given parameters of each song or group of songs. Students will complete a library of their own works throughout the semester to accompany their argument and to be presented in a final project.