History

Troy’s career in the music industry began in 1981, when he joined his father, Ed Germano, at The Hit Factory’s West 48th Street location in New York City. He experienced the business from the ground up, starting in the tape library while in grade school in 1975 and eventually becoming Executive Vice President in 1984. The seminal recordings from these studios were Steve Wonder’s album, “Songs In The Key Of Life” and John Lennon’s “Double Fantasy.”

The studio moved in 1981 from its longtime location on West 48th Street to Broadway and 54th Street, the former home to Bell Sound.  These studios were known as The Hit Factory Broadway.  The histroric recordings from this location were Paul Simon’s “Graceland” and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s album “Born In The USA.”

The studios added another location, The Hit Factory Times Square, on West 42nd Street in 1987.  These studios are where Hip Hop became part of the mainstream clientele. The major recordings done here were Billy Joel’s “Storm Front” and Neil Young’s “Freedom” album.

The Hit Factory expanded to England in 1989 through a joint venture with Sony’s CBS Records U.K., at the site of their famed CBS Studios. The Hit Factory London operated with great success through 1993.  The major recordings from these studios were Sade’s album “Love Deluxe” and The Rolling Stones’ “Flashpoint.”

In early 1993, Troy designed and built the state-of-the-art rooms that would become the hallmark of The Hit Factory’s new headquarters, located on West 54th Street and Tenth Avenue, The Hit Factory Headquarters. Well known albums recorded at this location include Michael Jackson’s “HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book 1” double album and The Notorious B.I.G.’s album “Ready To Die.”

In 1999, the Germano’s expanded their recording facilities yet again, purchasing the historic Criteria Recording Studios in Miami.  These studios were known as The Hit Factory Miami.  The seminal album recorded there was Michael Jackson’s “Invincible.”

He assumed the Chief Executive Officer position in 2000 during the early stages of the Criteria Miami project.  In 2001, Troy completed the design and re-construction of the Miami facility. By 2002, the number of music studios under his supervision had grown to sixteen recording/mixing rooms, six mastering suites and six writing rooms between New York and Florida.

The 2003 TEC Award for Studio Design was awarded to him for New York’s new Studio 6.

In 2003, Troy completed the design and build of the initial recording studio for New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music.

In 2004 and 2005, he organized and purchased concerts for The Sazka Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, including a sold-out R.E.M. show with 15,000 plus in attendance.

In 2004, Troy completed the design of ABKCO Records and Films’ in-house studio at their new location on Fifth Avenue.

Red Bull North America contracted his company Studio Design Group in the fall of 2005 to design and build their new recording studio in Santa Monica, California. This project was completed in October 2007.

The 2008 TEC Award for Studio Design Architect/Acoustician was awarded to him for the Red Bull North America Studio.

In 2008, a new era began, with the New York opening of Germano Studios | The Hit Factory, located in the downtown Noho district.  This private, boutique, two room recording and mixing facility focuses on records and film work.  Groundbreaking recordings include Lady Gaga’s album “Born This Way” and John Legend’s “Love In The Future.”

In 2013 and 2014, Troy was hired by the Universal Music Group shortly after it acquired EMI to oversee the expansion, studio design and operations of Abbey Road Studios London and Capitol Studios Hollywood.

In 2016, he completed the design of the acoustic public space for the Samsung Marketing Center of Excellence in the Meatpacking District in Manhattan.

In 2018, The Hit Factory trademark, logo & IP ownership returned to Troy Germano

Waves and Germano Studios released their first plug-in collaboration in 2022, the Nx Germano Studios control room monitoring simulation. (Nx Waves link on the navigation bar)

Germano Studios changed its name back to The Hit Factory in 2023 and is now the only “Hit Factory” or “The Hit Factory” recording studio in the world.

Since 1975, The Hit Factory studios have been a part of over 150 Grammy Awards, including 10 album of the year Grammys, 3 Academy Awards for best original song, 25 RIAA Diamond Awards as well as the studios earning over 500 gold & platinum albums and singles for worldwide sales achievements.

49 years later the studios continue to work with the best artists, bands, songwriters, musicians, producers, mixers and engineers in the world.

The roster of artist’s who have recorded at the studios is a veritable who’s who of the music business:

The Rolling Stones, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, David Bowie, Paul Simon, U2, Peter Gabriel, Talking Heads, Neil Young, Karol G, Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Notorious B.I.G., Adele, Mary J. Blige, Sade, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, U2, Keith Richards, Post Malone, Doja Cat, Eric Clapton, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Seal, Whitney Houston, Kendrick Lamar, Luther Vandross, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Bonamassa, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, The Eagles, Sting, Blondie, John Mellencamp, Robert Palmer, Julio Iglesias, TLC, Luciano Pavarotti, Donna Summer, Foreigner, Aerosmith, Squeeze, Bryan Ferry, Pete Townshend, Mick Jagger, Coldplay, Brian Wilson, Lauryn Hill, David Byrne, Debbie Harry, Billy Idol,  The Cure, Crowded House, Tears For Fears, Tina Turner, Eurythmics, Hall & Oates, R.E.M., Meat Loaf, Patti Smith, Destiny’s Child, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, DMX, Joe Jackson, Pat Metheny, Donald Fagen, Natalie Cole, Diana Ross, Nelly, NSYNC, Kool & The Gang, Will Smith, Cameo, Miley Cyrus, Laurie Anderson, Robbie Robertson, Christina Aguilera, Glenn Frey, Anita Baker, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Village People, Little Steven, Julian Lennon, Jay Z, Paul Carrack, Jennifer Lopez, Billy Squier, Santana, Eric B. & Rakim, Michael Bolton, Dr. John, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Cliff, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, George Benson, KISS, Carly Simon, Huey Lewis & The News, Peter Frampton, Yo-Yo Ma, Peter Wolf, Curt Smith, Maxwell, Bee Gees, David Lee Roth, Malcom McLaren, Bad Company, Slick Rick, J Balvin, Wynton Marsalis, Travis Scott, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Arianna Grande, Jon Batiste, John Legend, The Weeknd, Rihanna, Bon Jovi, Justin Bieber, The Killers, Josh Groban, Frank Ocean, Kanye West, Mark Ronson, Lil Uzi Vert, One Direction, Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry, Tiesto, Sara Bareilles, J. Cole, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, 50 Cent, Nas, T.I., Big Sean, IAM, Meghan Trainor, Rod Stewart, Michael Buble, Dream Theater, Jimmy Buffett, Rob Thomas, Ellie Goulding, One Republic, Maroon 5, A$AP Rocky, T-Pain, Bad Bunny, Kygo, Sheryl Crow, Logic, Shawn Mendes, Al B. Sure!, Diplo, Pharrell Williams, Megan Thee Stallion, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Kid Cudi, Matisyahu, Chance The Rapper, Ferg, The Strokes, Roddy Ricch, The Kid Laroi, Lewis Capaldi, Kali Uchis, Jack Harlow, Heavy D, Lil’ Kim, Fat Joe, Rod Wave, Beartooth, Bjork, Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Miles Davis, B.B. King, Boz Scaggs, Jerry Seinfeld, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masakela, Eladio Carrion, Peso Pluma, Sebastian Yatra, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Andrea Bocelli

Over the years, many of music’s top producers, mixers and engineers have worked at The Hit Factory, including: Steve Jordan, Chris Lord-Alge, David Foster, Thom Panunzio, Bob Clearmountain, Bruce Swedien, Nile Rodgers, Chris Kimsey, Don Was, Mark Ronson, Roy Halee, Malay Ho, Kenny Laguna, Jimmy Iovine, Al Schmitt, Niko Bolas, George Martin, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Humberto Gatica, Phil Ramone, Kenta Yonesaka, Alan Moulder, Prince Charles Alexander, Kevin Shirley, Dave Tozer, John Shanks, Toby Scott, Rich Travali, Carl Glanville, Paul Falcone, Bart Schoudel, Ray Bardani, Ryan Tedder, Walter Afanasieff, Brian Garten, Robert John “Mutt” Lange, Tom Dowd, Tane Sheesh, Aubrey “Juice” Delaine, Eric Thorngren, Tony Maserati, Jesse Shatkin, Dave O’Donnell, William Orbit, Pat Dillett, Blake Slatkin, Jody Klein, Pierre deBeauport, Trackmasters, Mick Jones, Tom Lord-Alge, Gregg Alexander, Jordan “Boots” Asher, Chris Jedi, Mario McNulty, Ido Zmishlany, Fabian Marasciullo, Wyclef Jean, Mark Hudson, Scott Harris, Evan Blair, Rodney Jerkins, Babyface, Teddy Riley, Don Smith, John Petrucci

25 RIAA Diamond 💎 Awards:

• Stevie Wonder  “Songs In The Key Of Life” 10 million 💎
• Bruce Springsteen  “Born In The U.S.A.” 17 million 💎
• Billy Joel  “Greatest Hits Volume I & Volume II” 23 million 💎
• Michael Jackson “Bad” 11 million 💎
• Adele “21” 14 million 💎
• The Notorious B.I.G. “Life After Death” 11 million 💎
• Whitney Houston “The Bodyguard (soundtrack) 18 million 💎
• Mariah Carey “Daydream” 11 million 💎
• Lauryn Hill “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” 10 million 💎
• Celine Dion “Falling Into You” 12 million 💎
• Santana “Supernatural” 15 million 💎
• Meat Loaf “Bat Out Of Hell” 14 million 💎
• TLC “CrazySexyCool” 12 million 💎
• Titanic (soundtrack) 11 million 💎
• Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band “Live 1975 – ’85” 13 million 💎
• Whitney Houston “Whitney” 10 million 💎
• N SYNC “No Strings Attached” 11 million 💎
• Celine Dion “Let’s Talk About Love” 11 million 💎
• Kenny G “Breathless” 12 million 💎
• John Legend “All Of Me” (single) 14 million 💎
• Justin Bieber “Baby” (single, featuring Ludacris) 12 million 💎
• Travis Scott “Sicko Mode (single, featuring Drake)” 10 million 💎
• Maroon 5 “Moves Like Jagger” (single) 10 million 💎
• Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (single) 10 million 💎
• Mariah Carey ” All I Want For Christmas Is You” (single) 14 million 💎

You can read more about the history of The Hit Factory studios at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hit_Factory

Photo credits: Roger Farrington, Glen Craig, David Rose, John Romeo, Stevie Wonder/Jeff Beck photographer unknown

Additional photo credits: Robert Wright, Dave King, Michael Vecchio, Jane Rose, Troy Germano, Max Hein, Zeph Colombatto, Kevin Mazur, Thomas Falcone, Brendan O’Neill