The Song Machine

At first glance, one might not think of the wondrous deep voice of Dion Graham in the context of the shiny pop world of Britney Spears, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, and The Weeknd. However, he IS the perfect guide for an exposition of an industry that is under fire from several fronts: the digital world, consolidation into a few labels, and automated instruments that have made session musicians obsolete. The most startling revelation is that the Billboard pop charts are littered with songs written and produced by a few middle-aged Swedes! Graham is always enthusiastic and stylish as he introduces a diverse cast of characters, including Swedish pop-maker extraordinaire Max Martin, the legendary Clive Davis, and corrupt manager Lou Pearlman. It might be a dispiriting trip if it weren't for the brisk pacing and sly amusement of Graham. A.B. 2016 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

August 10, 2015
Traveling from Sweden and South Korea to Los Angeles and New York for interviews with a wide array of songwriters, producers, and artists, New Yorker writer Seabrook tunefully delivers a soulful refrain on the multilayered process of building hit songs today. He profiles Soo-Man Lee, founder of SM Entertainment and architect of K-pop, who created a manual detailing steps necessary to establish a winning artist: which chord progressions to use in songs, which camera angles for videos, and when to import foreign producers or choreographers. Denniz Pop’s vision of making the hits involves using a factory of Swedish songwriters who would create hits for British and American acts, combining the beat-driven music people danced to in clubs with the pop music people listened to on the radio. Seabrook also profiles Lou Pearlman, who engineered the Backstreet Boys and mismanaged their careers, and Britney Spears and Rhianna, examining the formulas for their pop successes. Seabrook almost giddily explores the ways that hit songs hook the listener when the “rhythm, sound, melody, and harmony converge to create a single ecstatic moment, felt more in the body than in the head.”

Starred review from December 1, 2015

Seabrook (Flash of Genius) takes music fans behind the scenes of the pop-music industry as he reveals the machinations of making modern youth-oriented pop and R & B hit songs. He also shares the stories of a series of successful executives, producers, songwriters, and artists who have been responsible for some of the most recognizable and best-selling singles of the past few decades. Seabrook's enlightening exploration of the creative and commercial aspects of the music business also includes thoughtful personal commentary on and in-depth research into technological advances and changing business models, but the book is centered on industry leaders who create and market songs that are considered mostly as consumable product rather than artistic contributions to popular culture. The book features a well-crafted balance of detail and narrative drive that is easy to follow and contains a wealth of fascinating insight. Dion Graham provides clear and enthusiastic narration. VERDICT This fun and informative book is a solid choice for popular music fans interested in what goes into making and marketing hit records within changing business and technology landscapes. ["This clever, lively, and well-researched book is essential for pop fans": LJ 9/15/15 starred review of the Norton hc; one of LJ's Top Ten Best Books of 2015: ow.ly/UCvAc.--Ed.]--Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

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