Karl Martin Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer. Although you've probably never heard his name, he is one of the most successful songwriters in history. Martin has written or co-written 24 number-one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and also produced most of them. He is the man behind the greatest hits of the Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Pink, Usher, Avril Lavigne, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and The Weeknd. ¹⁾

As an author of 24 number one hits, he is the third most successful songwriter in history, only behind Paul McCartney with 32 and John Lenon with 26 number one hits. He is also the second most successful music producer with 22 hits, just behind George Martin with 23. ²⁾

His first Numer one hit was “…Baby One More Time,” Britney Spears' debut single. Since then, he wrote or produced several more number one hits including “I Kissed a Girl,” “California Gurls,” “Roar,” and “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” by Katy Perry, “So What” and “Raise Your Glass” by Pink, “One More Night” by Maroon 5, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space” and “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift, “Can't Stop the Feeling!” by Justin Timberlake and “Can't Feel My Face,” “Blinding Lights” and “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd. He was also the producer or writer behind many hits from Adele, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi and Ellie Goulding. ³⁾

Young Max Martin was a student of Swedish municipal music schools, and as he states, “public music education to thank for everything”. This program made Sweden's music industry cluster like Silicon Valley is to computing. Sweden is one of the biggest music exporters, and thanks to Stockholm-born Spotify, the leader in music distribution. ⁴⁾