Panel Discussion of the Book The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory
In his book The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory, longtime New Yorker staff writer John Seabrook tells the story of the massive cultural upheaval that produced the new, super-strength hits of the past two decades. Seabrook takes us into a strange and surprising world, full of unexpected and vivid characters, as he traces the growth of this new approach to hit-making from its obscure origins in early 1990s Sweden to its dominance of today's Billboard charts.
Through telling the stories of artists like Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Rihanna, as well as expert songsmiths like Max Martin, Stargate, Ester Dean, and Dr. Luke, The Song Machine shows what life is like in an industry that has been catastrophically disrupted—spurring innovation, competition, intense greed, and seductive new products.
Join us as we sit down with John Seabrook and discuss today's popular music and where it is headed.