Madonna is in the studio with Max Martin, super producer behind hits by Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd and more!
She's making her Blinding Lights. Or her Style. Or her Into You. Or her...
It's a pop emergency - Madonna is in the studio with Max Martin working on new music.
That's right, the Queen of Pop is officially collaborating with the man who has helped usher in career-defining hits for the likes of Taylor Swift (Shake It Off), Ariana Grande (Problem), Katy Perry (Teenage Dream) and so many, many more.
Taking to Twitter last night, Madonna posted a picture of her seemingly writing lyrics in the studio with Martin - a very rare feat in itself, since the svengali is notoriously publicity shy.
"When in doubt, go to work," Madonna wrote accompanying the image. "Nothing shuts down the noise or the naysayers more than being in the creative process."
When in Doubt go to Work ……….. Nothing shuts Down the Noise or the Naysayers More then being in the Creative Process !! ✍️🎼 🎧🎤🤍 #maxmartin pic.twitter.com/CoFDDDzd0w
— Madonna (@Madonna) March 20, 2023
MORE: Madonna's enviable Official Charts history in full
If that news hasn't sent your stomach doing backflips, then let us explain why this is so important. Because it is really important.
Max Martin is a Swedish super-producer whose work now stretches across more than three decades of pop hits. He's proved extremely versatile and cunning in terms of reacting to pop trends; making his name in the late 90s with super-charged hits for the likes of Britney (...Baby One More Time) and the Backstreet Boys (I Want It That Way), he famously stopped working for a few years when the fad of teen pop idols and boybands was less en vogue, re-emerging in the mid-00s, gifting raucous pop rock hits that re-ignited Kelly Clarkson's career (Since U Been Gone) and then changed tack again, creating opulent electronic pop with his two most important muses of the 2010s, Katy Perry (Teenage Dream) and Taylor Swift (1989, reputation).
Since his 2010s heyday, Max has kept quite a low profile for the last few years, excusing his work with The Weeknd (Blinding Lights, probably the most successful and influential single of the last five years) and Coldplay (he executive produced their latest album, Music of the Spheres), he's mostly focused on launching a jukebox musical based on his many hits, & Juliet, which has just transferred to Broadway.
Madonna is just the latest in a line of pop girls who have never quote-unquote 'needed' Max, but have chosen to work with him later in their careers - Lady Gaga is another example, famously shying away from big producer collaborations to instead curate her own intimate team. Gaga joined forces with Max for the first time on Stupid Love, the lead single from Chromatica, which peaked at Number 5 on the Official Singles Chart.
Much like Gaga, Madonna always seems to work best when her creative talent is filtered through one main producer partner (think RedOne or BloodPop for Gaga, and Madonna's highly influential work with Patrick Leonard in the 80s or with William Orbit on Ray of Light).
Where some of her most recent albums have been muddied sonically by too many cooks in the pot, this could signify that joining forces with Max and his WolfCousins cohort - which includes the likes of Shellback, Savan Kotecha and Mattman & Robin - represents a more streamlined interpretation of her pop vision. 1989 and reputation, for example, are both pop records bursting with ideas and big themes, but run with the efficiency of a Swiss (or in the case, Swedish) watch.
Whether Madge is working with Max on material to drop just in time for her forthcoming Celebration Tour later this year (it would make sense, wouldn't it?) or whether Madonna will hold back any bangers for her next album, it's thrilling and actually very exciting to see the woman who is, let's face it, probably the best pop star of all time, finally working with modern pop's defining hitmaker.
Keep in mind - Madonna may be the female solo artist with the most Number 1s in the history of the Official Chart (13 in total), but she hasn't had a Top 10 single in this country since Celebration in 2009. She doesn't, and has never, needed to prove anything to anyone, but if she's in the right head space to make proper pop music again...she could do a lot worse than taking Max Martin along for the ride.
Let's see what magic they can make together. This could be her Blinding Lights. Or her Style. Or her Into You. Or...
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C
Cloudbuster
Please note that Beth Kenning, Linsey Hamilton and Simone Teason are aliases of that Madonna hating TROLL, Jake. Look at the profiles. Isn't it time you got a life, mate?
R
RyanT
Madge wants 14th #1 and world again, come or high water and Max is the guy.
After the Madame X Floppage and all her recent needless and embarrassing queer bating antics with the likes of Tokischa, just fell flat on her face and alienated more of her core fan base and didn't exactly get her new ones. So it's great she is tossing that and getting on with going mainstream again. If they can conjure up a "Flowers" like smash and appeal to the cross generations, this can be her 5th Era (Virgin, Like a Prayer, Ray of Light, Confessions...). This could be her Cher Believe?!
Max cannot be undermined, if he can still deliver hits with The Weekend and Coldplay and gave Gaga a Top 5 and also that awful Ginger's current new smash. Maddge will squeeze him dry of whatever remaining talent he has!
DamionThorn
Madonna hasn’t had a huge hit single because mainstream radio turned their back on her. BBC1 didn’t even add the amazing singles from “Rebel Heart” to the playlist, despite it being Madonna, for ridiculous reasons. Maybe radio will stop being ageist?
Beth Kenning
Omg this is so embarrassing. He's one of the worst, if not THE worst successful producer in the world. Calvin Harris and Madonna would have been a more exciting collaboration than this.
Linsey Hamilton
Wow. Madonna must be desperate to have to work with this guy. Must have hit rock bottom. .
Nico Seperas
FINALLY, she got the memo. (Most) fans don't want her Ghetto IG images or themed music.
We want what brought her to the charts, quality pop/dance music. She must be tired of having her albums posting at No. 1, then fall completely off the charts the following week. So glad she's on track. Max will make her create excellent music.
AUCF
Angry UK Chart Fan
A huge difference when a post is written professionally. Madonna has no Excuse for that Ridiculus looking Tweet !!!
NA
Nick Atkinson
Two of the greatest living pop songwriters of all time, finally collaborating. This is EPIC! I cannot wait to hear what they come up with. Madonna has posted a bunch of 'in the studio' posts over the last year, including with her son David Banda. Some of her finest past songs were created in relatively short creative sessions. At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she drops a whole new album before the tour this year. As I've always said "Your best work is always ahead of you.." I'm pretty confident Ms Ciccone still has a few fresh club bangers & epic power ballads to come...
Linsey Hamilton
Legend in his own mind, more like.
C
Cloudbuster
She's a legend whether you like it or not.
AB
Andrew Brown
Madonna problem now is not her music but her age. Despite many good tracks since 2009 more mainstream radio stations choose to ignore her music, why, radio 1, age. If the same tracks were by someone under 25 no problem. Example Greg James 10 minute take over pick anything but not that track its before..... Ageism on public choice enough said.
NN
Nu No
Partly true - but despite those songs were pretty good (and would all have been TOP 5 Hits if sang by any pop star under 30yo) they were never as good as some of Madonna biggest megahits (Like a Prayer, Vogue, Frozen, Music or Hung Up - among others). Let's not forget that Madonna left Warner Music and her new label wasn't putting much effort as Madonna contract was with concert promoter Live Nation and the record company would not get much back on their money.
Max Martin and Madonna are literally the 2 most successful songwriters of all time in global charts (and despite not charting a TOP 10 in UK since 2009 she did chart TOP 10 hits in many other European countries during the 2010's decade - "Girl Gone Wild" was #04 in Italy, "Masterpiece" was #01 in Russia or even 2019 "Medellin" was #07 in Belgium and #04 in Portugal).
In 2022 Madonna remix of "Frozen" by sickick was even #01 in Turkey Official Airplay Chart during 4 weeks! The song was also in French Official Charts during 14 weeks and despite only peaking #64 was certified gold. Madonna only promotion for this song were the music video and some social media posts!
She is back to Warner Music that knows much better how to market Madonna new music in order to get them to be hits everywhere so if her co-written/co-produced Max Martin single is out you better believe it that this song will much probably be Madonna equivalent to Cher "Believe". This may give Madonna not only another TOP 10 Hit but a new #01 in UK.
AB
Andrew Brown
I don't disagree with any of the points raised, but my initial point was mainly aimed at the UK market. The remix of Medellin for example was outstanding but largely ignored by UK radio. I hope you are correct with the future collaboration and will be interested who adds it to the playlist at the time.
de Sascha
What about Elton John?
I hope she'll chart again?
It really feels like she's blocked whatever she releases.
George
Elton John is a man, this is the difference here. He has been very successful indeed with his latest releases. I wish the same could be said for our beloved M. I think her albums have been top quality, but unfortunately do not get enough recognition outside of her die-hard fan base.. Madame X really should have got more appreciation. In my opinion, all fo her more recent albums should have made No.1 in the UK, instead, having to settle for No.2 and No.3 for 'Finally Enough Love' (which was very disappointing IMO).
Simone Teason
Not a chance in mate. This record is guaranteed NOT to be a number 1. That's laughable. Do you realize this guy doesn't even write most of his stuff. He just produces - his collaborators - Dr Luke, Sia, Shellback, Bonnie McKee etc - do most of the work.
Beth Kenning
He's not one of the most successful ''songwriters''. That's an insult to songwriters. He makes tracks, and instrumentals and other people write the melodies over the top. Check out the never-ending writing credits on ''his'' songs. He's a terrible musician.
de Sascha
I always wanted her to work with him. I was wondering if she releases new music just before her global tour in July.
Looks like she's going to release a new single before her tour(?)perhaps a little surprise album(I doubt it?).
Let's see...
Beth Kenning
Why. He's a talentless hack that doesn't even write his own songs. He makes tracks and other people write the songs over them.
C
Cloudbuster
And here's another Jake alias. It's as clear as day.
JO
Jens Olesen
This really is beyond existing!
Simone Teason
I wish it didn't exist. Madonna will never get a hit single off the back of this bloke. She must be sooooo desperate. She said in the past she'd never work with people who've worked with everyone else. Pathetic. His ''music'' isn't even written by him, it's written by his collaborators.
C
Cloudbuster
Oh, I wonder who this could be. Sounds like another Jake alias.