David May – Mastering the Soundtrack of Global Hits
German music producer, songwriter, and intellectual property specialist David May was born in Poland on September 9, 1976. With nearly 25 years of experience in the music industry, he has gained international acclaim for his productions, collaborations, and performances in the pop and dance music scenes. Coming from a lineage of renowned Polish artists, May’s passion for music was ignited at an early age. He received extensive classical training at a music school before relocating to Germany, where he earned his Matura—equivalent to an A-Level—with a focus on music and mathematics. Subsequently, he studied sound engineering at a private school in Zurich, successfully graduating with a diploma. His achievements as a musician, producer, and mastering engineer are a testament to the skills he developed throughout his education.
“Superstar,” David May’s 2009 breakthrough single, became an iconic piece of dance music and catapulted him to worldwide stardom. The German dance company Kontor Records released the song, and in US & Japan the Rolling Stones Record company ABKCO, which catapulted May to stardom as it peaked at number one on iTunes Germany (At that time, iTunes was the only valuable distribution channel.). The US, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, and England are just a few of the countries where his songs have topped the charts. On the Japanese charts, his further projects have peaked *1 four times, and it has made it onto the Billboard Dance Top 10 in the United States. Not only that, but he’s a multiple Grammy winner and holder of numerous Gold Records.
Flo Rida, Keri Hilson, Lil Wayne, Pitbull, Bruno Mars, Snoop Dogg, Zedd, Akon, and a long list of other international artists have collaborated with May during his career. Collaborating with artists such as Armin van Buuren, Sean Tyas, and Dave202, his projects have covered a wide range of genres. Producing anthems for huge events like the Street Parade—which draws over a million people—and contributing to trance and dance productions under the pseudonym David Prodygee earned him Gold Awards. In addition to his own successful work, he has produced albums and singles with European musicians like Katrina and the Waves, Taylor Dayne, and Laura Branigan.
Aside from his work as a solo artist, May has also played a key role in a number of notable productions. His 2013 remix of Jam & Spoon’s “Right in the Night” remained at the top of the DDP charts for eleven weeks running. Several of his albums and songs, including PPM City and Retro, were certified number one thanks to his collaborations with house DJs like Mr. Da-Nos and Sir Colin. DJ Antoine, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo, and Snoop Dogg are just a few of the musicians that May has produced remixes and tunes for.
Beyond his production work, May has significantly impacted the music industry. His extensive involvement in music and intellectual property rights includes collaborations with ETH Zürich and others to develop cutting-edge methods for managing digital content and administering music rights. One notable initiative is his focus on tokenizing music and video rights, as well as “real-world assets”, which seeks to bridge the gap between the music and digital industries using the blockchain infrastrucutre. May further showcases his innovative approach to the evolving music landscape through his patent portfolio, which encompasses topics such as digital asset innovation and content rights.
The ability to combine May’s classical music skills with current production techniques has been a consistent theme throughout his career. His ability to write music that captivates listeners of all musical tastes has brought him renown as a mastering and mixing engineer. Some of his notable works include songs like “This Is My Love,” which features Bruno Mars and was produced May for artist Gold 1. Another one is his 2023 reproduction of “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It” which he reworked together with Snoop Dogg and reached in the UK Club Pop Charts at number one.
May’s impact on the music industry has only grown stronger with his latest endeavors. To commemorate the 35th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s “Liberian Girl,” he produced a fresh rendition of the song in 2024, featuring B. Howard. The song was in the Top 50 of the US Airplay charts for more than five weeks, blending traditional and current influences.
With his impressive discography, groundbreaking collaborations, and innovations in music rights management, David May has cemented his status as a visionary in the global music and technology industries. Inspiring generations to come, his groundbreaking work has shaped the future of music distribution and production by uniting tradition and innovation.