Move over,Jack Antonoff.There’s a new (or legendary) producer inTaylor Swift’s recording booth.Max Martin, hitmaker to the stars, is taking charge of Swift’s highly anticipated new album,The Life of the Showgirl.Announced on July 11, 2025, Swift’s twelfth album will be her first since Redwithout longtime collaborator Antonoff, who’s reportedly busy creatingSabrina Carpenter’s new record,Man’s Best Friend. While this isn’t Swift’s first time teaming up with Martin, the timing feels different.
With Swift at the height of her cultural influence, switching producers is more than just a creative change. A new Swift era is upon us. And withMartin’s proven ability to churn out timeless pop anthemsthat resonate across generations, there’s little doubt the result will be unforgettable. AsBackstreet BoyHowie Doroughrecently put it duringtheir Las Vegas residency, “[Martin] helped us create our legacy and the soundtrack to our lives.”
Max Martin Is Responsible for the “May” Pronunciation in *NSYNC’s “It’s Gonna Be Me”
Martin’s clutch on the pop industry can be traced to the mid-1990s, specifically after working with the Backstreet Boys on their 1996 debut album. But one moment that stands out in the producer’s career can be traced back to*NSYNC’s 2000 smash, “It’s Gonna Be Me.” Topping the Billboard 100, the song is legendary not only for its commercial success, but also forJustin Timberlake’sunusually exaggerated pronunciation of “me” as “may.”That minor note, originally requested by Martin, would later fuel one of the Internet’s most memorable memes.
In a Hot Ones interviewwith the now grown-up men of *NYSNC, Timberlake recalled that he had sung the line normally until Martin insisted otherwise. “He was like, ‘No, it’s may,’”JC Chasezadded thatMartin and his team demonstrated the delivery themselves, shaped by their Swedish accents. Although Timberlake was initially reluctant to take the chance, seeing it as a bit illogical, the “may” pronunciation eventually stuck. Martin’s note would serve as the genesis ofthe famous Tumblr meme. First uploaded by user amyricha in January 2012, the meme became so popular that in April 2014, former presidentBarack Obamaposteda picture of himself with Timberlakewith the caption, “It’s gonna be May.”
“The Life of a Showgirl” Marks Martin’s First Time Working with Taylor Swift Since 2017
Havingfirst met when Swift was 21, the two only started working together on the 2012 albumRed. With fellow producerShellbackon board, the three of them worked on songs such as “22", “I Knew You Were Trouble”, and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”Redproved to be a crucial turning point for Swift,marking her genre switchfrom a darling country singer into a future pop artist. Since then, Martin has been involved in some of Swift’s most important projects. Continuing her pop rebirth, Martin worked on singles like “Black Space” and “Style.” The divisive 2017 albumReputationwould serve as their last collaboration untilThe Life of a Showgirl.
The Life of a Showgirlis scheduled for release on Friday, July 18, 2025. Fans will be able to stream the album on digital platforms. Physical editions on vinyl, compact disc, and cassette are currently available for pre-order. Whiledetails of the new albumhave not been released yet, per the tracklist,Carpenter is set to appearon the album’s title track. Check out the tracklist below forThe Life of a Showgirl.
Between Two Beatles Legends: The Secret Behind Max Martin’s Greatest Hits
Over the years, Martin has remained a favorite among modern pop stars. By March 2024, Martin had officially stacked up 27 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits under his belt, either as a writer or co-writer. That list includes mega-hits like Swift’s “Shake It Off,”The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” andKaty Perry’s “Roar.” WithAriana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)”reaching number oneon the Billboard Hot 100 chart on July 12, 2025, Martin breaks his tie withJohn Lennonfor the title of second-most No. 1s for a songwriter in chart history. Martin still has a long way to go before reaching number one. The only person still ahead of him isnone other than Lennon’s bandmate,Paul McCartney. The bass guitarist currently sits at the top with 32 chart-toppers.
Martin often insists that he’s not sitting in the studio to push out chart-toppers. His focus is more on making sure the people in the room are happy with the result. Still, with all his hits considered, he has a gift for turning songs into mainstream gold. Part of that comes down to his approach, whichhe shares with MusicRadar:“If you have a song that feels pretty catchy, you might not make it 15 minutes long - you make decisions to make it user-friendly, so to speak.”
But even the most experienced songwriters like Martin have their best inspirations out of the blue. Ashe recalls the makingof the Backstreet Boys’ 1997 single “As Long As You Love Me…,”Martin had the melody, verse, chorus, and lyrics come out of nowhere while he was on the subway.Since it was the era before cellphones, Martin had to dash approximately 200 meters to the studio so that he wouldn’t forget what was in his head. Such is the nature of music, creativity strikes when you least expect it.
