Hit Songs Deconstructed

Guaranteed to take your songwriting
and production skills to new heights. 

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Gain immediate access to 11 masterclasses with 40 hours of expert instruction, 60+ hit song analysis reports and Logic projects, a robust searchable technique database, hit song compositional analytics, trend reports, and much more.

Sign Up Today!

Hit Songs Are More Than Just Popular Tracks.


They’re a blueprint for what resonates deeply with audiences. No matter your musical style or genre, mastering the techniques behind today’s hits is essential to creating songs that truly resonate. 


There’s a reason top hitmakers rely on these techniques - they work.


For over a decade, Hit Songs Deconstructed has been analyzing hit songs and breaking them down to their foundational building blocks to reveal the elements that make them resonate with millions.


If taking your songwriting and production skills to new heights is a priority for you, this is your chance to gain unique insight into the "secret sauce" that helped so many of today’s hits become global sensations and apply it to your own music.


Ready to start channeling your creativity for success?

Here’s What You’ll Get When You Sign Up

Masterclass Library

Our masterclass library houses 11 acclaimed masterclasses designed to help you write and produce with a hit song mentality. 

You’ll uncover the proven principles, patterns, and techniques behind today’s top-charting hits—spanning melody, hooks, lyrics, rhymes, structure, arrangement, genre fusion, and more. 

Most importantly, you'll learn how to apply all the concepts and techniques to your own songs to make them catchier, more memorable, emotionally impactful, and primed for success.

  • Masterclasses: Totaling 40 hours, these masterclasses have helped thousands of songwriters, producers and music industry professionals take their craft to the next level.
  • Private Coaching: Your masterclass library purchase includes two bonus complementary private coaching sessions per year with David Penn, founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed.
  • Workbooks: Hit Songs Deconstructed has developed 13 exclusive workbooks to help guide you as you work on your songs.
  • Proprietary Interactive Song Deconstruction Tools: These tools, developed by Hit Songs Deconstructed, help you break down your song’s melodies, optimize your hook arrangements, analyze your narrative components, and fine-tune your rhyme schemes—all to maximize the impact and emotional connection of your song.

Your Masterclasses

The 5 Pillars of a Hit Song 

Start your journey with The 5 Pillars of a Hit Song, where you'll uncover the foundational elements that consistently appear in today’s top hits. This masterclass covers everything from melody and hooks to lyrics, rhymes, structure, and arrangement. (3 hours)

Decoding Hit Song Melodies

Once you've watched The 5 Pillars of a Hit Song, take a deeper dive into hit song melodies. The most memorable, hit-worthy melodies all use specific techniques and follow specific patterns—ones that top songwriters use to craft repeatable magic. This masterclass breaks down hit song melodies using recent, real-world case studies, so you’ll know exactly what makes them work. (2 hours)

Decoding Hit Song Hooks 

This masterclass builds on Decoding Hit Song Melodies and takes a deep dive into hooks. A compelling hook can literally be the difference between an overlooked song and a career-defining track. This masterclass will provide you with exclusive tools and insights to supercharge your hooks and channel your creativity into songs that can compete at the highest level. You'll discover the signature patterns behind today’s most infectious hooks—both vocal and instrumental—and learn the powerful hook techniques behind today’s most unforgettable vocal and instrumental hooks through real-world case studies from recent chart-topping songs. (4 hours)

Decoding Hit Song Lyrics and Rhymes 

This masterclass explores what makes hit song lyrics connect deeply with audiences — and the specific techniques that create emotional impact and keep listeners engaged from start to finish. From dynamic wordplay to immersive storytelling to purpose-driven rhyme schemes and more — this masterclass will teach you how to make every word count. (4 hours)

Mastering the Rewrite 

As the saying goes, genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. While a unique spark might initiate a song, it’s the meticulous rewrite process that gets your song firing on all cylinders.

Mastering the Rewrite is a comprehensive, intensive masterclass designed to teach you how to objectively assess one of your original songs. Using our proprietary tools, you will evaluate every aspect of your song for strengths and weaknesses and refine your melodies, hooks, lyrics, and arrangements for maximum impact.


We highly recommend completing The Five Pillars of a Hit Song, Decoding Hit Song Melodies, Decoding Hit Song Hooks, and Decoding Hit Song Lyrics before taking this masterclass. (9 hours)

Max Martin Hits Deconstructed 

From Britney to Ariana, Justin T to Justin B and beyond, Max Martin has crafted countless chart-topping hits for A-list artists for over two decades. Max Martin Hits Deconstructed takes a deep dive into the melody and hook-writing techniques behind one of the most prolific hitmakers of all time.


Using the the Hit Songs Deconstructed methodologies to analyze over 50 of Max Martin’s Hot 100 top 10 hits going back to 2010, this masterclass provides unprecedented insight into Martin’s most effective melody and hook writing techniques used to hook the listener in, leave them wanting more, MAXimize the chorus, and much more. (3.5 hours)

Taylor Swift Hits Deconstructed 

It goes without saying that Taylor Swift is a master when it comes to the art of storytelling. Her lyrics are intriguing yet easy-to-grasp, personal yet universal, and always compelling. Her melodies are irresistibly catchy, featuring expertly crafted, highly infectious vocal and instrumental hooks that linger long after the music stops.


Taylor Swift Hits Deconstructed explores how this iconic singer-songwriter has evolved over the course of her career and provides unprecedented insight into the masterful songwriting techniques Swift and her A-list collaborators used to craft her 50 Hot 100 top 10 hits. (4.5 hours)

Balancing Artistry with Commercial Appeal 

This masterclass provides you with unique insight into how to achieve success and longevity in today’s competitive music scene while remaining true to your own unique artistry.


Using in-depth case studies, we explore how recent, diverse artists such as Billie Eilish, Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and others have continuously evolved to stay relevant and ahead of the curve, all while maintaining their signature sound and a cohesive image and persona. (2.5 hours)

Master the Art of Genre Fusion 

Becoming proficient in genre fusion can help you expand your creativity and create innovative songs that connect and resonate with listeners on a profound level. But beyond that, strategically incorporating diverse genres and influences into your songs is also a savvy business move in an ever-competitive industry. It can help you:

  • Push the limits of your creativity
  • Broaden the reach of your music
  • Expand your opportunities for collaboration
  • Increase your marketability
  • Heighten audience connection and engagement

(1.25 hours)

Decoding Hit Song Melody and Hooks 

The concepts covered in this masterclass are similar to our most recent masterclasses but with different case studies. (3 hours)

Decoding Hit Song Lyrics and Rhymes 

The concepts covered in this masterclass are similar to our most recent masterclasses but with different case studies. (3 hours)

The Hit Songs Deconstructed Platform

(Complimentary 3-Month Subscription Available to new subscribers only.)

While the masterclasses offer hands-on instruction, the HSD platform enhances your learning experience by providing you with a continuous stream of hit song analysis, trend reports detailing what's driving the hit song landscape, and interactive tools to help you refine and optimize your songs.

  • HITTRAXX: This searchable database houses a treasure trove of hundreds of highly effective songwriting and production techniques drawn from Hot 100 top 10 hits. Filter by technique type and save techniques you want to revisit. This comprehensive collection is the perfect tool to help you continuously sharpen your songwriting and production skills and infuse your music with techniques that are currently dominating the charts. New technique case studies are published every other week.
  • Hit Song Deconstructed Reports: Learn from the masters and discover the craft shaping songs into worldwide phenomena! Each 100+ page report contains 10 robust sections, with segments published every two weeks. Plus, you'll also gain immediate access to a library of 60+ reports.
  • Hit Song Logic Project Templates: Reverse engineer today's hits! Every report includes a companion Logic project template, comprised of empty MIDI regions, which provides you with a visual roadmap for how the song was written, arranged, and produced.
  • The IMMERSION Database: Round out your toolbox with compositional analytics for today's most successful songs. Trends are visualized with graphs and tables with each data point linking to a list of the corresponding songs.
  • Trend Reports: In-depth reports providing a comprehensive breakdown of the trends driving the Hot 100 top 10.

What People Are Saying About Hit Songs Deconstructed

Hilton Wright II

Billboard #1 RIAA Platinum winning

songwriter & producer (Drake, Mike

Posner, Big Sean, black•𝘪𝘴𝘩)

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

Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music at Variety

"Hit Songs Deconstructed reveals so much detail about things you might never have noticed before in hit songs, but are right in front of you. They go beyond identifying what works and explain WHY it works."

Khaliq Glover

Grammy Award Winning Recording Engineer (We Are the World, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera),

"I’m going on 40 years of working with top-level artists and you have made me understand even better all the things I’ve learned over the years working with them. Thanks much for all you do."

Sandy Chancellor

Songwriter,Warner Chappell

"We're not just learning how to craft a song, but also how to infuse it with elements that are current and appealing to listeners now. It's about understanding the pulse of popular music to create work that is both authentic and relevant."

Lyburn Geldenhuis

A&R/Producer/Songwriter/Mixing Engineer

"Making hits songs consistently is not just about talent and the occasional fluke. There is a science to the art of making hit music. Hit Songs Deconstructed empowers you with the knowledge and equips you to write songs intended to chart with more intent and less chance."

Dr. O

Producer (Young M.A., Chris Brown,
Lil Wayne)

"Spot on with the analysis and relevant to any composer, songwriter, or producer in the game now."

Why Hit Songs Deconstructed?

Proven Methodology

Our approach is not only trusted by songwriters, producers, artists, labels, and publishers, but prestigious institutions like Berklee College of Music, NYU, and USC Thornton School of Music that are using Hit Songs Deconstructed materials in their songwriting, production and music business programs.

Success Stories

Join thousands of songwriters, producers, and music professionals from around the world who used Hit Songs Deconstructed's tools to elevate their craft and achieve greater success.


Comprehensive Resources

A complete suite of masterclasses, detailed reports, compositional analytics, checklists, workbooks, and interactive song analysis tools are at your fingertips—everything you need to take your craft to the next level and make informed, strategic songwriting, production, and business decisions.

Sign Up Today!

Gain immediate access to a power suite of exclusive tools, masterclasses, reports, checklists, templates, and more that you won't find anywhere else – all designed to help you take your songwriting and production skills to the next level, cut through the noise, and craft songs that truly resonate with listeners everywhere.

Masterclass Library

  • 11 Masterclasses totaling 40 hours
  • 2 x Private Coaching Sessions
  • 12 Workbooks
  • Proprietary Web-Based Interactive Tools to Optimize Your Songs

3-Month Subscription to the Hit Songs Deconstructed Platform
(Available to new subscribers only.)

  • The HITTRAXX Technique Database with new bi-weekly techniques delivered to your inbox.
  • Library of 60+ Hit Song Deconstructed Reports with new segments published bi-weekly .
  • Library of 45+ Logic Projects with new projects released with each new report.
  • Hit song compositional analytics for the Billboard Hot 100 top 10.
  • Trend reports that keep you in tune with how the hit song landscape is evolving.
  • And more!

Kory Fulton

Performing Artist

"The masterclass has been instrumental in my learning and creative processes. The knowledge given was vast yet digestible. The team was passionate, professional and dedicated to helping me understand and apply all of the material.


I would HIGHLY recommend this masterclass to anyone who is serious about making music."

JULAPINK

Pop Recording Artist

"This masterclass was phenomenal. There was so much detail in every class, and each topic was presented in a clear and concise way. They provided examples of everything discussed and did not skip over any questions. I am now able to look at my own work and apply the techniques necessary to making a song that will better compete with hit songs. 


Thank you, HSD!! I highly recommend taking their classes."

George Haughton

Educator/Songwriter

"These are not just songwriting
tips and tricks; these workshops are
a masterclass in hit songwriting.

I would HIGHLY recommend this masterclass to anyone who is serious about making music."

Nick Lehman

Chief Strategy & Digital Officer, ASCAP

"ASCAP aims to provide members with a multifaceted toolchest to augment their craft and their careers. Hit Songs Deconstructed is a cutting-edge service that can support our members' creative process with in-depth data and analysis of current songwriting techniques."

Jason Blume

Songwriter w/50 million album sales

"As a songwriter, an important part of my job is to analyze what works in successful songs. By identifying the tools that were employed in hits, writers can incorporate them into their own songs--using techniques that have proven successful--while putting their own spin and unique creative angle on them. HSD does the research for me."

Jay Rodriguez

Grammy nominated musician, film composer,

producer, arranger (Prince, Elvis Costello,

Miley Cyrus)

"This was one of the most thorough, well-presented and thought-out master classes on pop writing I have ever experienced."

About HSD founder and your masterclass instructor, David Penn

David developed the "Hit Songs Deconstructed" methodology in 2010, which revolutionized how popular music is analyzed. This led to the creation of Hit Songs Deconstructed, which is now widely used by songwriters, producers, labels and publishers.

Hit Songs Deconstructed is also being used by prestigious institutions such as Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton, NYU, and many others and has been featured in Billboard, Variety, Music Week, ASCAP, among others.

David also uses this methodology in his one-on-one coaching as well as to create custom workshops for major labels such as Atlantic Records and publishers such as BMG.


Amy Sky

Recording Artist, Songwriter,
Producer 3x SOCAN-winning
singer-songwriter

"I was blown away. So thorough and insightful- a great blend of theory and art. Not only was David's presentation incredibly detailed and meticulously researched, but he is a terrific communicator and had authentic and respectful interaction with the students. Very unique experience."

Patrick Gorce

Composer

"David, the depth of your analysis, the techniques you covered, the practical tools you provided us with, and the level of professionalism of each masterclass. I’m really honored and profoundly grateful for all I learned from you."


Tyson Harding

Songwriter/Guitarist
for Skyfever

"David, I want to thank you for Hit Songs Deconstructed. It has really helped with our writing and arranging. The leap we have taken has led our music to be play listed at the Yankees, Islanders and also MSG!"


Ready to make your mark? 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who should sign up?

Songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals who want to elevate their craft, stay relevant, and gain a competitive edge in today’s highly competitive music scene.

What do I get when I sign up?

When you sign up you get immediate access to:

  • The HSD masterclass library
  • Proprietary workbooks
  • Interactive song analysis tools
  • 3-Month subscription to the HSD Platform

What is the basis for Hit Songs Deconstructed data, analysis and masterclasses?

Hit Song Deconstructed reports, techniques, analytics and masterclasses focus on Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hits.

How often is your database updated?

Our database is updated weekly as new songs enter the Hot 100 top 10 to ensure that compositional analytics are always up to date.

Are you compositional analytics powered by AI?

No, we do not use any form of AI to analyze the songs in hour database. It is all done manually using our proprietary methodologies to ensure accuracy.

How are masterclass materials conveyed?

Hit Songs Deconstructed masterclasses feature a combination of audio examples, graphs, charts, commentary, and, in some cases, Logic Pro sessions to illustrate principles and techniques.

Active listening exercises are at the core our masterclasses, so make sure you watch the masterclasses with high quality audio/headphones.

What do the private coaching sessions entail?

To gain a thorough understanding of the core concepts we teach, you'll need to complete the first four masterclasses: The Five Pillars of a Hit Song, Decoding Hit Song Melody, Decoding Hit Song Hooks, and Decoding Hit Song Lyrics and Rhymes. Once you've completed these, you can sign up for your two one-hour private coaching sessions. While not required, we highly recommend combining your coaching sessions with the Mastering the Rewrite masterclass to work on one of your own songs.

For how long will I have access to the masterclasses?

As long as you have an active subscription, you will continue to have access to the entire masterclass library, including new masterclasses as they are added.

What knowledge of songwriting and music theory is required?

A solid foundation in the basic craft of songwriting and music theory is highly recommended.

Do you offer free trials?

No, we do not offer free trials. To help you make an informed decision, we offer detailed descriptions of our platform and masterclasses, sample reports and logic projects to showcase the depth and quality of our analysis, and testimonials from our satisfied subscribers. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to contact us.

What is your cancelation policy?

You can cancel your renewal at any time.  However, all subscriptions require an annual commitment. If you are on a monthly payment plan, your subscription will be canceled at the end of your one-year subscription period.

A Personal Note from David Penn

Hi, I’m David Penn, founder of Hit Songs Deconstructed and your masterclass instructor.


Music has always been my passion, and nothing gives me more joy than helping talented creatives like you unlock the secrets behind today’s biggest hits.

For over a decade, I've been deconstructing hit songs down to their foundational building blocks to understand what makes them so successful. Throughout this journey, I’ve developed specialized tools and a unique approach to songwriting and production that not only enhances your creativity but also delivers tangible results. Now, I’m excited to share these tools and techniques with you!

I guarantee that by watching all the masterclasses in the HSD Masterclass Library and using the tools we provide to apply what you learn to your music, you’ll experience a significant leap in your songwriting and production skills - and in your creative output.

Ready to start transforming your musical ideas into hit-worthy songs?


Let's get started!

With gratitude,

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