Pop's Top 35 Hitmakers

Latest News

1. 

   Bonnie McKee on Writing Hits for Pop's Leading Ladies: 'Britney Spears Is Just All Sex, All Day' (Q&A)

   2:30 pm 2/6/2013

   • by Emily Zemler

   Pop divas look to THR's No. 8 Hitmaker for their next chart-topper. Now, the award-winning songwriter is taking her turn at a solo career. Read more

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2. 

   Ne-Yo on Today's Pop Hits: 'There's Simple and Then There's Stupid' (Q&A)

   8:00 am 2/6/2013

   • by Shirley Halperin

   His first and last hit have the same name ("Let Me Love You") and it's no coincidence, says the R&B singer, in-demand songwriter and A&R executive. Read more

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3. 

   Dr. Luke: 'I'm Always Petrified That This Is My Last Good Song' (Q&A)

   8:00 am 2/6/2013

   • by Shirley Halperin

   The man who's had a hand in more than 40 smashes since 2004 is No. 2 on THR's Hitmakers list. Read more

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4. 

   OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder on Hitmaking, Writer's Block and the Song That Got Away (Q&A)

   8:00 am 2/6/2013

   • by Michele Amabile Angermiller

   "When a song doesn’t go as far as you anticipate, it’s soul crushing," says the in-demand producer and award-winning songwriter, who is No. 6 on THR's Hitmakers list.Read more

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5. 

   How Rihanna's 'Diamonds' Was Born and Other Stargate Revelations (Q&A)

   8:00 am 2/6/2013

   • by Sophie Schillaci

   The production team behind Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” and Katy Perry’s “Firework”are ranked No. 9 on THR’s Hitmakers list.Read more

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6. 

   THR's Hitmakers 2013: How Producer Max Martin Sold 135 Million Songs

   8:00 am 2/6/2013

   • by Fred Bronson

   The Swedish phenom who tops THR's inaugural list is responsible for Britney Spears, 'N Sync and Pink's greatest hits.Read more

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7. 

   Hitmaker Ester Dean on Songwriting, Fighting and Eating Hot Dogs (Q&A)

   3:57 pm 2/5/2013

   • by Rebecca Ford

   The chart-topping songwriter -- whose hits include Rihanna's "Rude Boy" and Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass" -- has expanded her world to include roles in voice acting ("Ice Age: Continental Drift") and feature film ("Pitch Perfect"). So what's next?Read more

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8. THR's Hitmakers 2013: The Creative Minds Behind Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Flo Rida's Biggest Singles

   8:05 AM PST 2/6/2013

   "Teenage Dream," "Locked Out of Heaven," "I Cry" -- the secret ingredient in these pop hits is behind the scenes: the songwriters, producers, A&R executives and multihyphenate artists who help create those irresistible hooks. Read More