How JR Rotem Made the Biggest Hits of The 2000s

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The Hidden Genius Behind the Biggest Songs of the 2000s

JR Rotem helped define an era. From producing global hits for Sean Kingston, Rihanna, Jason Derulo, 50 Cent, Gwen Stefani, Iyaz, and more, his sound ruled the radio and shaped the 2000s. But behind the success is a deeper story about creativity, reinvention, and what it takes to last in the music industry.

In this conversation, JR opens up about:
* His breakthrough hits and early days in LA
* Working with rising artists before they blew up
* Building a sound that blended pop and hip-hop perfectly
* The pressures of staying relevant in a changing industry
* The art of sampling and simplicity in songwriting
* Why emotion always comes first in great music
This episode isn’t just about hit records. It’s about resilience, evolution, and finding your voice when the spotlight shifts.

Whether you’re a songwriter, producer, or just someone who grew up on these songs, this one’s for you.

This video is brought to you by Charles Schwab Investing Themes™, invest in what you believe in.

📘 FREE PDF: 15 Lessons from The Greatest Minds in Music Download now →

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Huge thank you to JR for his honesty and insight. This is one of the most open conversations I’ve had about what it really means to build a career in music. And thank you to everyone who helped me bring this episode to life.

Intro uses audio from this other interview with JR:

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0:00 - Teaser Trailer
1:22 - PleaseWelcome JR Rotem!
1:55 - Songs You May Know From JR Rotem
5:50 - How Many Songs Did JR Make Before His First Hit?
11:28 - How Has Being a Classical and Jazz Pianist Helped JR in Producing
15:25 - How JR Rotem Sees Himself Compared to Legends of The Past And Present
18:00 - JR's Dream to Play Piano For Dr. Dre
21:41 - After The Placement With Destiny's Child, Was There Pressure to Get Another Hit?
25:05 - What Was The Next Cut That Gave JR Confidence?
29:33 - Was JR in The Room with all the artists?
32:25 - The Truth About Sampling
38:07 - How Did JR Find Samples
41:17 - The Craziest Sample JR Has Done
44:43 - FREE PDF — 15 Lessons from Music Legends
46:06 - Did You Expect SOS To Be The Hit It?
49:25 - How JR Rotem, Evan Bogart, and Ryan Tedder Worked Together
51:17 - What Was It Like Working With Britney Spears?
54:10 - Beluga Heights
55:20 - Signing And Developing Artists
57:38 - Finding And Developing Sean Kingston
1:04:14 - The Songs JR Made For Sean Kingston Went To WHO???
1:08:50 - Story Behind “In My Head” And Jason Derulo
1:11:45 - The True Story Behind “Replay”
1:14:00 - How Did JR Rotem Develop Artists
1:18:12 - How Does Payment Work With Samples?
1:22:55 - How Much Pressure Is There After Already Having Repeated Hits?
1:34:47 - How Did “Centuries” by Fall Out Boys Come About?
1:40:00 - Working With Linkin Park
1:44:01 - How Has JR Adapted While Staying True To Himself?
1:49:07 - What Does It Mean To Be An Executive Producer vs A Producer?
1:51:55 - Do You Have To Live In LA to Be Successful in Music?
1:54:23 - Where Does The “JR” Producer Tag Come From?
1:55:24 - How Did “Fly” - Nicki Minaj Ft. Rhianna Happen?
1:58:28 - Why JR can not listen to my own music
2:00:27 - “Dangerously” - Charlie Puth 10 Years Later
2:03:09 - “Better In Time” - Leona Lewis
2:06:44 - JR’s Advice to The People That Want To Pursue Music As A Career
2:07:57 - Behind The Wall with JR Rotem