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Bruno Mars is One of Pop's Most Reliable Hitmakers. Why?

Bruno Mars is One of Pop's Most Reliable Hitmakers. Why?

New York Times02-05-2025
Earlier this year, Bruno Mars became the first artist ever to amass 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify. But unlike many of his peers, Mars has paved a path to pop stardom without cultivating a devoted fan base, maintaining a consistent aesthetic or building a world around his music. Instead, his career has been defined by his reliability as a chameleonic hitmaker.
Shaad D'Souza, a contributing music critic for The New York Times, dives into three of Mars's most recent hits — 'Die With a Smile' with Lady Gaga, 'APT' with Rosé and 'Fat Juicy & Wet' with Sexyy Red — and notes how each collaboration reveals a distinct pop persona.
The New York Times Audio app is home to journalism and storytelling, and provides news, depth and serendipity. If you haven't already, download it here — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter.
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