The Hitmaking Mindset Behind 18 Hot 100 #1s ft. Sean Garrett “The Pen” #259

Sean Garrett aka “The Pen” is one of the most legendary hitmakers of the modern era. He’s credited with 18 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles in just 7 years, and Billboard recently ranked him #23 on its Greatest Songwriters of the 21st Century list.

In this episode, Sean breaks down the art of hitmaking (and why it’s not the same thing as songwriting). We discuss what all hit records have in common, why interacting with humans is the secret sauce for relatability, and the real mindset shift most independent artists need to make if they want their music to cut through.

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0:00 Intro
3:20 What hit records have in common: relatability + humans
5:45 Can you “manufacture” hits? Feeling, not formulas
7:23 Melody is still king (AI + perspective talk)
11:23 Hitmaking = “consideration” (how hitmakers think)
12:30 “You’re trying to leave with a hit” + the truth about wanting hits
15:37 Hitmaking is a competitive market (rings mindset)
19:34 Session playbook + why teams/specialists matter
23:38 Respect creatives + pay the writers
33:08 Studio rules + producer mindset
35:48 What turns a great song into a hit song
45:25 Going outside = competition + music business vs streaming business
53:32 Rapid Fire Rampage with Sean Garrett