Inside the Hit Song Matrix

Join us for this masterclass where we
pull back the curtain on the patterns behind today’s hits.

INSIDE THE HIT SONG MATRIX

Where Creativity and Science Intersect

“Awesome workshop. I have never seen hit songs broken down in such an accurate and detailed way.”

Jerome Baylor
Songwriter, Composer, Lyricist, Topline Writer, Beat Producer

“The way songs are broken down is extremely useful in really solidifying your understanding of what’s happening in the most popular music, and how you can incorporate it in your own.”

Omar Zulfi
Music Artist/Producer

“Great workshop. Would recommend for new and experienced writers.”

Summer Edeen
Singer/Songwriter

“Writing and Producing with a Hit Song Mentality is of tremendous value. Each topic goes quite in depth for the time spent and include walkthroughs and live deconstruction examples using Logic Pro.”

Victor Popov
Songwriter

“I can’t stress enough how important HSD is to any serious professional hit songwriter. The workshops are a great learning experience and the reports are extremely thorough.”

Hilton Wright II
Record Producer/Songwriter

Today’s hitmakers know that
great music is made where art and science meet.

That’s why they combine their unique creativity with tried and true techniques for arranging their songs, composing earworm melodies, and writing lyrics that connect with wide-spread audiences.

If you want to compete at the highest levels, you need start using them too.

Over the course of three months and six classes (twice a month on Saturdays), this hands-on masterclass will pull back the curtain on the patterns behind today’s hits with a focus on how they affect the listener, providing you with techniques that you can immediately start using to write and produce songs that can compete on the hit song stage.

This is a hands-on masterclass where you will actively work on your music.

During this masterclass, you will take one of your original songs, and, through collaboration with other participants, apply the techniques you learn during each class to optimize your song’s impact. At the end of the three-month period, you will have the opportunity to share your song with the group, discuss your process, and get feedback from both David Penn and other participants.

Each class will get you in tune with current trends and focus on techniques for optimizing specific aspects of your song including:

Creating & Arranging Earworm Melodies

Building An Engaging Narrative and Using Effective Rhyme Schemes

Heightening Engagement Through Vocal Production and Strategic Harmony, Tempo, Key & Instrument Choices

Creating an Engaging & Memorable Ride through Song Structure, Energy, and Arrangement

Strategic Song Section Optimization and Hook Maximization Techniques

Classes are between 2 - 3 hours long and take place online on Saturdays at 11AM EST on March 14, March 28, April 11, April 25, May 9, and May 23.

In between classes you will be asked to apply the techniques you learned to optimize the impact of one of your original songs.

Videos of each class will be made available to participants following each masterclass segment.

Inside the Hit Song Matrix is for you if:

• You want to compete at the highest levels and attain continued commercial success
• You want new tools to evaluate your songs' strengths and weaknesses and help prime them for maximum impact
• You are ready to take the leap and combine your unique creativity with a little bit of science
• You are willing to devote time to virtually collaborate with other participants in between classes to apply the techniques covered

By applying the techniques you learn during this masterclass to your music, you will take your writing and producing skills to the next level, regardless of the genre you’re working in.

*Dates subject to change.

Your Host

David Penn
Co-Founder, Hit Songs Deconstructed

David Penn is co-founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed.

David is a recognized expert in the craft and trends behind hit songs and has been featured by Billboard, Variety, Music Week, Canadian Musician Radio, BMI, Financial Times, and the Economist, to name a few. He also regularly guest lectures at top universities such as Berklee College of Music, NYU, and Frost School of Music, as well as at industry events such as Music Biz, DIY Musician Conference and others.

A music connoisseur of all time periods and genres, he is a “go-to” consultant for songwriters, producers, publishers and labels.

Guest Speakers

iLL FactorGrammy Nominated ProducerFounder of Beat Academy

ill Factor is the founder of Beat Academy and a Grammy nominated producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in music including Justin Timberlake, Calvin Harris, Cher, Skylar Grey, Natasha Bedingfield, and that’s just to name a few.

During his session on April 11th, he will share production techniques and best practices geared to take your songs to the next level and then show you how to recreate some of the sounds and beats from our masterclass case studies in Logic from scratch. During this presentation he will also reveal some of his own personal tips and tricks, take your questions and, after the presentation has concluded, make all the sounds and beats created during this live session available for download, so you can add them to your personal library.

Rick BarkerHost of the Music Industry Blueprint PodcastFormer Manager of Taylor Swift

Rick Barker is host of the Music Industry Blueprint podcast and former manager of superstar Taylor Swift.

During his presentation on May 9th, he is going to talk to you about best practices for getting your music in front of an audience using social media. You’ll learn what social platforms you need to be on, what type of content you should be posting, how often, and how to automate things to save time. Rick will also hone in on social media best practices that are specific to your role in the industry, whether you are a songwriter, a producer, or an artist.

At the end of his presentation he will take your questions.

Exclusive Savings
20% Off the Regular Price to Attend

Regular Price: $549 | Your Price: $439
Includes six live online classes (segments are not pre-recorded), workshop materials, and videos of each class.

Use discount code MATRIXIF to get your exclusive discount.

Due to the intimate nature of this masterclass, there are limited seats available.

Day 1: The Core Components

The workshop begins with a deep dive into vocal melody. We’ll start off by looking at an array of recent Hot 100 Top 10 choruses, ranging from the ultra-simplistic to the more complex. We’ll examine what these choruses have in common, what sets them apart, and how they are all optimized for maximum engagement, infectiousness and memorability. We’ll then hone in on one recent chart-topper to see how the vocal melody is optimized in each section of the song.

The lyric section follows, where we’ll focus on the narrative as well as rhymes, the glue between the melody and the lyrics. Using recent case studies across an array of popular lyrical themes, we’ll look at how the storyline is structured & developed across sections, and how it is optimized to connect with the listener.

Vocal production is next. We’ll take one recent chart-topper and go through the entire song while referencing a DAW arrangement outlining the song’s vocal production, and explore the techniques that were used to maximize the song’s vibe, increase memorability and amplify engagement. We’ll also review an array of popular duet/group vocal structure techniques.

We’ll then close out day 1 by exploring how harmony and strategic instrument selection can heighten a song’s impact through a host of recent Top 10 case studies.

DAY 2: Optimizing Your Song for Maximum Impact

Day 2 is all about optimizing your song. We’ll begin with structure and dive into key, tempo and song form, reviewing current trends and exploring how strategic structural decisions can impact your song. We’ll then move into energy and arrangement where we’ll use DAW projects to illustrate effective energy and arrangement flow to heighten engagement and memorability. We’ll conclude the segment with a host recent C.I.A. (chorus impact accentuator) techniques that will help prime your choruses for maximum impact.

Next, we’ll dive into song section optimization techniques, honing in on three strategic points in a hit song – the intro, the “D” (departure) section, and the outro. We’ll look at an array of techniques from recent and classic hits, including “saying hello” to the listener with different types of hook-based and multi-part intros, providing an engaging and memorable departure through recycled and new material and A.P.M. (audience participation moment) techniques, and “saying goodbye” with a focus on effective outro techniques such as the “Ramp Down” and “Wind Up Grand Finale Hook Fest” techniques.

Hooks are next. Using an array of recent and classic hit song examples, we’ll see how some of the most infectious, engaging and memorable hooks are structured and employed. Topics will include vocal hook techniques such as full section, partial section, “icing on the cake” hooks, instrumental hooks including foundational and melodic, and an array of hook maximization techniques.

We’ll conclude the workshop with methods for optimizing your song for today’s marketplace by looking at examples of recent hits and examining their genre/influence blend, instrument choices, vocal characteristics, lyrics, etc. and discussing how they leveraged trends to connect with their audience while transcending trends to stand out.