How Can I Help?
Hi, I'm David Penn.
For over a decade I've been deconstructing today's hits down to their foundational building blocks to understand what makes them so successful. Over the years I've developed a proven methodology for channeling creativity into commercially successful songs. I've used it to help thousands of songwriters and producers around the world, and consult with major labels and publishers. The tools I developed are also being used by prestigious universities such as Berklee College of Music, NYU, USC Thornton School of Music, Frost School of Music, and many others.
In the News
Below you will find some of my recently published articles and interviews.
Private Coaching
I would be honored to be a part of your musical journey.
In addition to lecturing at universities and consulting for major labels and publishers, I offer exclusive coaching spots for talented individuals who are committed to advancing their skills and achieving their goals.
To apply for a private coaching spot, please fill out this form.
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"The private coaching with David was was next level. What my song turned into was fantastic. It honestly exceeded my expectations, really great experience."
Omar Zulfi
/ Songwriter/Producer
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"David, the depth of your analysis, the techniques you covered, the practical tools you provided me with, I’m really honored and profoundly grateful for all I learned from you."
Patrick Gorce
/ Composer
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"David, it has really helped with our writing and arranging. The leap we have taken has led our music to be playlisted at the Yankees, Islanders and also MSG!"
Tyson Harding
/ Songwriter/Guitarist for Skyfever
Masterclasses Led by David Penn
These masterclasses provide actionable insight into the techniques that propelled today’s hits to the top of the charts. They've helped thousands of songwriters, producers and music industry professionals take their craft to the next level.
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Phenomenal! There was so much detail in every class, and each topic was presented in a clear and concise way. 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.
JULAPINK
/ Pop Recording Artist
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"These masterclasses reveal 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."
Jem Aswad
/ Executive Editor, Music at Variety
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"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."
Amy Sky
/ Recording Artist, Songwriter, Producer, 3x SOCAN-winning singer-songwriter
About David Penn
David Penn stands at the forefront of modern song analysis and analytics.
In 2010, he revolutionized the field by developing the "hit songs deconstructed" methodology, a groundbreaking approach for analyzing music that has since been dubbed as "music theory for popular music." His pioneering work led to the founding of Hit Songs Deconstructed, a platform that has become an indispensable resource for music professionals and academics alike. This methodology has been adopted by prestigious institutions such as the Berklee College of Music, Frost School of Music, and USC Thornton School of Music, among many others, underscoring its significance and widespread acceptance.
Penn's expertise and insights have been featured in podcasts and articles by esteemed publications such as Billboard, Variety, Music Week, BMI, Financial Times, and The Economist. He is a sought-after speaker, delivering guest lectures at leading universities like the Berklee College of Music, NYU, and the Frost School of Music as well as music industry events such as the Music Industry Association’s Music Biz, CD Baby's DIY Musician Conference, the Association for Popular Music’s annual conference, among others. He also conducts custom workshops for major labels and publishers such as Atlantic Records and BMG.
Beyond academia, Penn offers coaching to both emerging and established songwriters and producers, sharing his deep understanding of the craft and trends behind hit songs. His comprehensive knowledge of music spans all time periods and genres, making him a revered consultant for songwriters, producers, publishers, and labels alike.
Most recently, Penn co-founded ChartCipher, a platform that leverages AI to provide song analytics. ChartCipher delves into the compositional, lyrical, and sonic qualities of hit songs, offering real-time insights into the traits that propel songs to the top of today's most popular music charts.
Using the acclaimed Hit Songs Deconstructed methodology, Hit Songs Deconstructed provides a deep, strategic, technique-focused look at how today's most successful songs are crafted. The platform offers reports, interactive tools, data, analysis, and masterclasses that pull back the curtain on how today's hits are crafted and the elements that help them connect with millions. It keeps you in tune with the landscape you're writing and producing for and empowering you to apply this knowledge to your own music.
Today’s most successful songwriters, producers, and music industry professionals rely on Hit Songs Deconstructed to stay plugged into what’s driving today’s hits and capturing listeners’ hearts.
This unique approach is also being used at renowned institutions. Universities such as Berklee College of Music, USC Thornton School of Music, and many others are using Hit Songs Deconstructed materials in their songwriting, production, and music business programs to give students and edge for success upon graduation.
ChartCipher is a game-changing interactive platform that delivers deep, real-time AI-powered song analytics for the the compositional, lyrical and sonic qualities of songs across today's most popular music charts.
It's a new layer of data that has never existed before which, when combined with traditional analytics, unveils a whole new dimension through which to understand today’s hits.
ChartCipher helps you make more informed decisions from the executive level right down to writing and production, including:
- Single Selection: Understand which songs are best suited to release as singles right now.
- Collabs & Remixes: What styles are worth considering?
- Marketing: Where to place marketing dollars?
- Song and Artist Development: Leverage factual songwriting and production data to enhance communication and quantify gut feelings.
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"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."
Hilton Wright II
/ Billboard #1 RIAA Platinum & Gold winning songwriter & producer (Drake, Mike Posner, Big Sean,`black•𝘪𝘴𝘩)
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"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."
Jason Blume
/ Songwriter w/50 million album sales
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“I have been giving hit record analysis exercises to my students for years, but the level of depth in a single Hit Songs Deconstructed report is a full semester’s worth of information. My entire thought process as a producer, an engineer, a musician, and a songwriter are fleshed out in the pages of the HSD reports. It is such a great tool that I've integrating it into the songwriting and music production curriculums.”
"Prince" Charles Alexander
/ Grammy Award winning producer, audio engineer, recording artist and professor, Music Production and Engineering, Berklee College of Music