Top 10 Music Producers Who Made More Hits Than You Realize
#10: A. G. Cook
Hyperpop began to form an identity in the mid-2010s, and by the end of the decade, it had entered the mainstream. Figures like Charli XCX and Sophie pioneered the genre, and behind tons of their work was A. G. Cook. In 2013, he founded PC Music, a label that became central to hyperpop. Cook was the main producer for the 2019 album Charli, one of the most celebrated albums of the genre. Since then, hyperpop has faded back into obscuritybut not Cook and his collaborators. In 2024, he and Charli showed their talents extend to other genres with the release of the very successful album, Brat.
#9: Ludwig Göransson
While you might not know his name, if youre into 2010s hip-hop youre probably familiar with his work. He's primarily known for working with Childish Gambino, the rap persona of actor Donald Glover. Göransson produced his two biggest albums, Because the Internet and Awaken, My Love!, as well as the hit single This Is America. The latter was so celebrated, it won two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year. Hes also worked with other popular artists like Adele and Kendrick Lamar. Göranssons also a prolific composer, working first on NBCs Community, then eventually landing blockbuster projects like The Mandalorian and Black Panther.
#8: Benny Blanco
In his career, Benny Blancos work has sold over 500 million album-equivalent units. Initially, he trained under Dr. Luke, a prolific producer in the late 2000s. His first production credit was a track for Hell Rell in 2007. A year later he was working with both Britney Spears and Katy Perry. For the next few years, Blancos work was almost entirely unavoidable. The number of hits hes had to his name is way too long to list, but a few examples include Moves Like Jagger and Dynamite. Now, hes in a relationship with Selena Gomez, who hes also produced loads of tunes for.
#7: Greg Kurstin
This Californian producer is predominantly known for collaborating with English singer-songwriter Adele. You might remember Adeles Hello, a single that broke records, but maybe you didnt realize that Greg Kurstin produced and co-wrote the track. He has a background in jazz, which he said was a major boon within the industry. One of his early successes was Lily Allens debut album in 2006. By 2008, he was working with Britney Spearsand as time has gone on, hes worked with other big names like Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, and many more.
#6: Dr. Dre
If youre interested in hip-hop, youll already know how heavily Dr. Dre has been involved in the genre. He began as the primary producer for N.W.A in the early 90s, launching himself into stardom. Dre became a pioneer of West Coast G-funk. Following N.W.As breakup, he went on to have a hugely successful solo careernot only that, but he kept producing for some of the biggest names in the industry. These included Snoop Dogg and Eminem, who both became titans of rap. Now, Dre rarely makes his own music, as producing for others is his main focus.
#5: Timbaland
In the early 2000s, Timbalands production style was so successful it inspired various pop trends in the late 2000s. One of his most known works is Justin Timberlakes 2002 hit Cry Me a River. Following its success, Timbaland went on to produce most of Timberlakes ensuing albums. Hes collaborated with dozens of other artists, too. Some of the biggest names include Katy Perry, Michael Jackson, and Rihanna. Now, while hes less prominent in pop music than he used to be, its understandable given his four Grammy wins that hes taking more of a backseat.
#4: Pharrell Williams
Pharrell is one of the most well-known producers of 21st-century pop music. There might be fewer people who dont know him than ones who do. He got his start alongside Chad Hugo, in the production duo, the Neptunes, formed in 1992. Decades later, he's considered one of pop musics biggest names. Theres a high chance youre already familiar with his biggest songs. Hes probably most well known for Happy from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack. Outside of his solo music, hes produced for an unbelievable number of major artists, like Snoop Dogg, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, and so many more.
#3: Arif Mardin
Atlantic Records is one of America's most influential labels. Founded in 1947, they have since signed huge artists like Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles. For over 30 years, Arif Mardin was one of their best producers. The Turkish-born musician ended up making music for some of the industrys biggest names, including Franklin, also known as the Queen of Soul. That wasnt the only Royal he worked with either; he also produced for Queen. The band got him on board for the track Staying Power, notable for being the only Queen song with a horn section. Mardin tragically died in 2006, but his legacy and influence can still be felt today.
#2: Jack Antonoff
Few will contest the claim that Jack Antonoff has been one of the most influential producers in 2010s and 2020s pop. For three years in a row between 2022 and 2024, Antonoff won Producer of the Year. He rose to fame as a member of Fun, who had a smash hit with We Are Young. He has written most of Taylor Swifts newer albums, which won him three Album of the Year awards. He also did Lordes Melodrama, Lana Del Reys NFR!, and most recently Sabrina Carpenters Short n Sweet. All three of those got him nominations for even more awards. Antonoff also has a band called Bleachers, which he was the sole member of until 2023.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Catherine Marks
Shes Become One of Indies Most Influential Producers
Madlib
One Half of Super Group Madvillain Is One of Hip-Hops Biggest Producers
Andrew Watt
Watts Worked Alongside Bieber, Gaga, Del Rey, & Even Ozzy Osbourne
Rick Rubin
Founded Def Jam Recordings, Then Became a Huge Figure in Early Hip-Hop
Mike Dean
Since the 1980s, Deans Been Producing Synthesizer-Heavy Anthems
#1: Max Martin
In the late 1990s, Max Martins work on major hits like ...Baby One More Time and I Want It That Way made him a monumental pop producer. As of 2024, hes had 27 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100. The only person with more than that is the Beatles Paul McCartney. Songs that got him there include Shake It Off and Blank Space by Taylor Swift, I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry, and the Weeknds Blinding Lights. A frequent collaborator of his is Shellback, another producer worth mentioning, who has also worked with industry titans.
Were there any producers we missed? Leave them in the comments section below!
