The Top 10 Pop Music Producers of All Time

A list of the top 10 pop music producers of all time, as chosen by the editorial staff at Billboard.

Introduction

In the world of pop music, the producer is often the unsung hero. Behind the scenes, these creative masterminds are responsible for shaping the sound of chart-topping hits, molding talented singers into polished performers, and assembling the right team of collaborators to bring their vision to life.

Though their work is often invisible to the general public, the best producers are true artists in their own right, with a unique sonic signature that can be heard in every track they produce. From Quincy Jones and Max Martin to Dr. Dre and Rick Rubin, these are the producers who have left a lasting mark on pop music history.

Dr. Luke

Dr. Luke, born Lukasz Sebastian Gottwald, is a record producer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in music. After working as a DJ and producing remixes for tracks, he eventually signed with Kemosabe Records in 2005. He has worked with artists such as Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J and Miley Cyrus. In 2014, Billboard named him the “Top Producer of the Year”.

Max Martin

Max Martin is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. He is known for his work with some of the biggest names in pop music, including Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, The Backstreet Boys, and NSYNC. He has produced 22 number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, more than any other producer in history.

David Guetta

David Guetta is a French DJ, songwriter, record producer and remixer who has sold over nine million albums and thirty million singles worldwide. In 2011, Guetta was voted as the number one DJ in the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll. He has received several Grammy Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. His 2010 hit “Club Can’t Handle Me” was nominated for a Grammy Award.

Guetta’s music style is accessible to a wide range of people. He often uses pop melodies with danceable beats. Guetta has worked with many famous artists, including Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Usher, Justin Bieber, Ne-Yo and Akon.

Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris is a Scottish record producer, DJ, singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. His first studio album I Created Disco was released in 2007 and contained the top-ten singles “Acceptable in the 80s” and “The Girls”. His second studio album, Ready for the Weekend (2009), reached number one in the United Kingdom and included the singles “I’m Not Alone”, “Ready for the Weekend”, and “Flashback”.

Harris ranked as the world’s highest-paid DJ for five consecutive years from 2013 to 2018. He appeared on Debrett’s 2017 list of the most influential people in Britain. Harris has collaborated with numerous other recording artists, including Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, John Newman, Ne-Yo, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, Florence Welch, Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, Lauren Mayberry of Chvrches, Rita Ora, Nicki Minaj, Usher and 5 Seconds of Summer.

Avicii

Avicii was a Swedish producer who specialized in electronic dance music. He rose to prominence in 2011 with his hit single “Levels” and his debut album, True. Avicii was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for “Levels” in 2013. He won numerous other awards and was one of the most popular DJs in the world. Avicii died in 2018 at the age of 28.

Other producers on the list include:

2. Calvin Harris
3. David Guetta
4. Diplo
5. Dr. Luke
6. Max Martin
7. Mike Will Made-It
8. Neptunes (Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams)
9. Skrillex
10. Timberland (Tim Mosley)

Skrillex

Skrillex, real name Sonny Moore, is an American record producer and DJ. A former member of the band From First to Last, he began his solo career in 2007 and released his debut EP, My name is Skrillex, in 2010. He has since released four albums, Bangarang (2012), Recess (2014), All Is Fair in Love and Brostep (2015), and SkullcamplandepressionEP (2020). His music is characterized by its heavy use of bass and dubstep dropouts. He has won eight Grammy Awards, including Best Dance/Electronic Album for Recess.

Diplo

Diplo, born Thomas Wesley Pentz, is an American record producer, songwriter and DJ. He is best known for his work with electronic dance music and for his collaborative project Major Lazer. Diplo has also produced songs for a variety of other artists, including Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, Madonna and Usher.

Zedd

Zedd is a German-born Russian music producer, DJ, and record label owner. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez. His debut album, Clarity, was released in 2012 and reached number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. He has won two Grammy Awards, a World Music Award, and an MTV Europe Music Award.

Marshmello

Marshmello is a American electronic dance music producer and DJ. He first gained international recognition by featuring on songs with established artists such as Jack U and Skrillex. He has since released his own singles and albums, including ‘Joytime’ and ‘Silence’. Marshmello has headlined various music festivals, including Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, and Tomorrowland.