Whitney Phillips Reflects on Songwriting Session with Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande

Whitney Phillips is reflecting on the pivotal moment in her career.

The songwriter, known for her work with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, and John Legend, shared with Us Weekly that cowriting the 2020 single “Stuck With U” alongside Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber marked the result of years of dedication.

“It was my first Zoom session ever,” Phillips recounted at the Netflix Summer Break in Santa Monica on July 17. “We were just a week into the pandemic and thought our careers were about to come to a standstill. We logged into this new platform called Zoom, which felt completely strange, and in a week, that song was recorded by Ariana and Justin. Another week later, it was released, and soon after that, it reached the number one spot globally.”

“Stuck With U” was the second collaboration between Bieber and Grande, and it marked their third debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Phillips mentioned that the song’s rapid success fundamentally altered her perspective on the music industry.

“This song transformed my view on songwriting; it opened my mind to endless possibilities,” the songwriter noted.

Phillips is now channeling her songwriting talents into the television arena with her new Netflix show, Hitmakers. Produced by Adam DiVello, the creator of Selling Sunset, the reality series features Phillips alongside 11 other songwriters as they create hits for some of music’s biggest icons. Joining her are Sevyn Streeter, Jenna Andrews, Tommy Brown, and more.

“It’s a group of 12 exceptionally talented and diverse writers coming together to showcase the creative process of generating great songs,” Phillips explained about the show, which premiered on Thursday. “[There is a need for] a high standard in songwriting and presenting your authentic self, while also daring to innovate and believing in your ability to bring that idea to life.”

Though Phillips collaborates with many top talents in the industry (she describes Gomez as “just as sweet and kind as she appears”), there is still one artist she wishes to work with.

“Rihanna!” Phillips declared when asked about her dream collaboration. “I can’t provide any other answer. We need that album. I own all the Fenty products and I’m just waiting for Rihanna.”

All six episodes of Hitmakers are now available to stream on Netflix.