Matt Squire is a multi-platinum producer, engineer, and songwriter who has bridged the worlds of heavy music and mainstream pop. He produced the breakout debut album for Panic! at the Disco, *A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out*, and has worked with a string of influential rock acts including Underoath, The Used, All Time Low, and The Amity Affliction. His discography also includes major pop artists like Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez, and Kesha, showcasing a versatile approach to production and a deep understanding of melody and songwriting.
In This Episode
Producer Matt Squire sits down for a killer conversation that’s as much about the future of the music business as it is about making records. He kicks things off by tracing his path from the DC hardcore scene to LA pop sessions and back to his Maryland studio, sharing a fascinating take on how the DIY, direct-to-fan ethos of his youth basically predicted the modern music industry. The real deep dive, though, is on the nitty-gritty of streaming royalties. Having been on Capitol Hill lobbying for change, Matt gets deep into the weeds on the Music Modernization Act, breaking down why the current system is so flawed. He explains the complexities of variable royalty rates and lays out a clear, tech-based solution: a transparent data standard that gives creators the leverage they’ll need against future distributors like AT&T and Verizon. On the creative side, Matt discusses his philosophy of helping an artist achieve their own vision, his process for finding the best ideas, and the importance of setting impossibly high standards, sharing what he learned about meticulous melody writing from working alongside Max Martin. This episode is a crucial look at the intersection of tech, business, and creativity.
Products Mentioned
Timestamps
- [3:18] Matt’s story of moving to LA and back to Maryland
- [5:50] His background in the DC hardcore scene and how it shaped him
- [9:05] How the DIY hardcore ethos predicted the modern music industry
- [11:13] Why the current music industry is better than the “old days”
- [15:58] The music industry’s mistakes in reacting to Napster and the shift from artists to songs
- [19:11] How Steve Jobs and the iPod changed the focus away from sonics
- [23:14] The complexities of streaming royalties and the Music Modernization Act
- [27:06] The technical solution: sharing transaction files and creating a data standard
- [31:30] Why streaming royalty rates are so complicated
- [34:06] Institutional barriers: gatekeepers’ fear of transparency
- [37:32] The future of streaming: AT&T and Verizon as distributors and the need for data leverage
- [42:43] His startup, True Stream, as the “SoundScan for the digital age”
- [48:31] Shifting his headspace from heavy music to pop
- [50:13] His creative process: throwing out 10 ideas to find one good one
- [52:50] His role as a producer is to help bands achieve *their* vision
- [54:21] The creative dynamic behind Panic! At The Disco’s first album
- [57:19] Why he considers himself a producer first and a reluctant writer
- [1:02:49] The challenge of keeping the vibe right on long, epic album productions
- [1:07:33] What separates successful artists: having incredibly high standards
- [1:08:38] Learning about meticulous melody writing from Max Martin