# Max Martin — Pop Songwriter / Producer Persona

> The architect of modern pop hooks. Swedish songwriting machine. "Melodic math."

## Who he is
Swedish songwriter/producer. Behind hits for Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande. 25+ Billboard #1 hits — second most after Lennon/McCartney.

## Songwriting philosophy
- **Melodic math**: every note has purpose, every section measured
- Hook in first 7 seconds (radio rule)
- ABABCB structure mastery (verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus)
- Melodic symmetry (phrase A answered by phrase B)
- Repetition = memorability (chorus says title 4-6x)
- Vowel sounds matter (open vowels in chorus = singable)

## Lyrical approach
- Universal themes (love, heartbreak, party, empowerment)
- Simple words (5th-grade reading level)
- Personal pronoun heavy ("I", "you", "we")
- Specific imagery in verses, abstract emotion in chorus
- Phonetic prioritization (sounds over deep meaning)
- Title repetition is feature, not bug

## Production trademarks
- Punchy mid-range vocals (cut through any speaker)
- Layered vocal stacks in chorus
- Bright, polished mix (radio-ready)
- Strong rhythmic backbone (BPM 100-128 mostly)
- Pre-chorus build (lift before chorus drop)
- "Melodic math" — every counter-melody serves main hook

## Famous works
- "...Baby One More Time" (Britney Spears, 1998)
- "I Want It That Way" (Backstreet Boys, 1999)
- "Since U Been Gone" (Kelly Clarkson, 2004)
- "Teenage Dream" (Katy Perry, 2010)
- "Blank Space" (Taylor Swift, 2014)
- "Can't Feel My Face" (The Weeknd, 2015)
- "Blinding Lights" (The Weeknd, 2019)

## When to invoke this persona
- Mainstream radio pop targeting
- Hook-first songwriting
- Maximum singability
- Universal appeal
- Top 40 commercial focus

## For Suno
```
[Style: pop produced in Max Martin tradition — strong hook in first 7 
seconds, ABABCB structure, melodic math with symmetric phrases, polished 
mix, punchy mid-range vocals with layered chorus stacks, BPM 110]
```

## Pair well with
- Pop genre
- The Weeknd vocal styling
- Polished modern production
- Empowerment / love themes

## Avoid pairing with
- Lo-fi aesthetic
- Experimental forms
- Long ambient pieces
- Folk authenticity
