Justin Tranter

Early life

Justin Drew Tranter was born and grew up in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. They have three older brothers. Tranter says that they experienced bullying during their youth, which caused them to be transferred from the Lake Zurich public high school to the Chicago Academy for the Arts after a semester. While studying musical theater at the Academy, they started the AIDS Benefit, an annual show run by students to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. Tranter graduated in 1998. Following this, they studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Along with songwriting, they also took classes in business management. While at Berklee, they founded Musicians with a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education.

Musical career

2002–2004: Career beginnings

Tranter released their debut studio album Scratched in 2002 and followed it up with their second studio album Tear Me Together in 2004.

2004–2014: Semi Precious Weapons

Main article: Semi Precious Weapons

In 2004, following the release of Tear Me Together, Tranter formed the band Semi Precious Weapons in New York with fellow Berklee graduates Cole Whittle, Dan Crean, and Aaron Lee Tasjan; Tasjan was later replaced by Stevy Pyne. The band's debut studio album We Love You was released in 2008 and the band subsequently opened for Lady Gaga on her Monster Ball Tour from 2009 to 2011. Semi Precious Weapons released two more albums, You Love You (2010) and Aviation (2014), before disbanding in 2014. While still part of Semi Precious Weapons, Tranter moved to Los Angeles and signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music in 2012 to write songs for other artists.

2014–present: Focus on songwriting

After signing with Warner Chappell, Tranter began working with artists such as Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Hailee Steinfeld, Fifth Harmony, and Fall Out Boy. In December 2015, Tranter was named one of the "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015" by Rolling Stone for their songwriting contributions to the pop charts of that year. Tranter frequently collaborates with Julia Michaels and multiple songs co-written by the pair have appeared on Billboard charts; two such tracks, Gomez's "Good for You" and Bieber's "Sorry", topped the Mainstream Top 40. Tranter and Michaels also teamed up to co-write Gwen Stefani's third solo studio album This Is What the Truth Feels Like (2016). Tranter has since written for artists ranging from Britney Spears and Demi Lovato to Imagine Dragons and Linkin Park. Their songwriting work on Michaels's song "Issues" earned Tranter a Song of the Year nomination at the 2018 Grammy Awards.

Tranter has worked on music for film and television. They co-wrote the song "Home" performed by Nick Jonas for the soundtrack to the animated film Ferdinand (2017), which earned Tranter a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song at the 2018 ceremony. They also co-wrote "Hindsight", the end title song for Billy Eichner's film Bros (2022). Furthermore, Tranter was an executive producer and songwriter for the soundtracks to the Hulu film Happiest Season (2020), Billy Porter's directorial debut Anything's Possible, the Netflix film Purple Hearts (both 2022), the Paramount+ Grease prequel television series Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (2023), and Larin Sullivan's film The Young King.

Tranter was nominated for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical at the 2024 Grammy Awards for their work on songs by Reneé Rapp, Måneskin, Marisa Davila, Baby Tate, Talk, and Miley Cyrus. At the 2025 ceremony, Tranter received their second Song of the Year nomination for Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe!", which they co-wrote with Roan and Dan Nigro. The three had previously collaborated on the track "My Kink Is Karma" from Roan's debut studio album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess (2023).

Advocacy

Tranter's activism began in high school at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where they created the annual AIDS Benefit to raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. This was followed by Musicians with a Mission, a scholarship fund for LGBT youth education that Tranter founded while attending the Berklee College of Music.

Tranter flew to Orlando to help in the aftermath of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. They also co-wrote and co-organized the release of the charity single "Hands" to raise funds for Equality Florida's Pulse Victims Fund, GLAAD, and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida.

In February 2017, Tranter joined GLAAD's National Board of Directors. During the GLAAD Media Awards of that year, Tranter raised $123,000 for the organization by auctioning off four individual songwriting and recording sessions. Each year, Tranter hosts an in-person Spirit Day concert to raise funds for GLAAD's efforts to support LGBT youth. The fourth annual event in 2022 raised $400,000.

Tranter is also a supporter of Mercy for Animals and stopped eating meat in 1994. They are an advocate for fairer payment of songwriters in the music streaming era.

On November 17, 2019, Tranter was honored with the ACLU of Southern California's Bill of Rights Award for their activist work as "an outspoken and powerful voice for the LGBTQIA+ community, diversity, the climate crisis, arts education, animal rights, and ending gun violence".

Personal life

Tranter is bisexual, gender nonconforming, and non-binary. They have stated that, with regard to pronouns, "they/them/theirs is what I relate to the most".

Other ventures

Tranter's jewelry company, Fetty, grew out of necklaces they designed to sell as merchandise for the Semi Precious Weapons shows. Fetty sold at retailers such as Urban Outfitters and Barneys. The designs typically feature hearts and weapons. In 2008, Tranter designed a limited-edition sneaker for DKNY.

Tranter is the founder and CEO of Facet Records and Publishing, which looks after a roster of artists, songwriters, and producers.

Television and film appearances

In 2008, Tranter appeared as a guest on the E! cable network show Chelsea Lately. In December of the same year, they served as a coach on the MTV reality show Made, in which they helped a young girl transform into a "rock star". In 2010, Tranter and their fellow Semi Precious Weapons members had cameo appearances in Lady Gaga's music video for "Telephone". In 2012, Tranter was interviewed for the documentary feature film Jobriath A.D. about rock musician Jobriath.

Awards and nominations

Discography

Solo

• Scratched (2002)
• Tear Me Together (2004)

Semi Precious Weapons

Main article: Semi Precious Weapons#Discography

• We Love You (2008)
• You Love You (2010)
• Aviation (2014)

Featured appearances

Soundtrack appearances

References

References

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2. Barlow, Eve. (June 24, 2021). "Justin Tranter: the ''Hits'' Pride Special Interview".
3. Martins, Chris. (October 2, 2018). "School of Pop: How Justin Tranter Became the Man Behind (Almost) Every Song You Love".
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7. (February 22, 2017). "Justin Tranter (Los Angeles, CA) (February 2017-Present)".
8. Browne, David. (August 5, 2010). "Inside Lady Gaga's Monster Ball, Summer's Biggest Tour".
9. Michelson, Noah. (January 24, 2018). "Pop Hitmaker Justin Tranter Is Taking No Prisoners On His Rise To The Top".
10. Garibaldi, Christina. (November 4, 2015). "This Rocker Has Been Writing All Of Your Favorite Pop Songs". [[MTV]].
11. (December 28, 2015). "20 Biggest Breakouts of 2015".
12. Coscarelli, Joe. (July 8, 2014). "How an Unlikely Duo Became the Hottest Songwriters in Pop Music". [[The New York Times]].
13. Feeney, Nolan. (March 18, 2016). "Gwen Stefani: How Making My New Album Saved My Life".
14. Daly, Rhian. (August 8, 2017). "Julia Michaels says she has a 'hard time listening to' the song she co-wrote with Linkin Park".
15. Lynch, Joe. (November 28, 2017). "Grammys 2018: See the Complete List of Nominees".
16. Kaplan, Ilana. (November 30, 2022). "Jake Wesley Rogers on his Elton John cosign and the best advice he got from Justin Tranter".
17. Exposito, Suzy. (November 27, 2020). "'My dream come true': How LGBTQ history was made with the 'Happiest Season' soundtrack".
18. Pener, Degen. (July 14, 2022). "Billy Porter Spotlights Trans Coming-of-Age Story in Directorial Debut 'Anything's Possible'".
19. Grobar, Matt. (September 27, 2021). "'Purple Hearts': Netflix YA Pic Adds Chosen Jacobs, John Harlan Kim & More To Cast, Sets Justin Tranter & Sofia Carson As Songwriters".
20. Petski, Denise. (January 31, 2022). "'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies': Paramount+ Prequel Series Sets Cast As Production Begins".
21. Ravindran, Manori. (October 21, 2022). "Michael Shannon, Barbie Ferreira, Kiersey Clemons to Star in Drag King Drama 'The Young King'".
22. "2024 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Full Nominees List {{!}} National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.com". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
23. Najib, Shafiq. (February 2, 2025). "Grammys 2025: Winners list".
24. Garcia, Thania. (December 6, 2024). "'Good Luck, Babe!': How Chappell Roan's 'Karaoke Song for the Ages' Became the Soundtrack to a Generation of Situationships".
25. Kaufman, Gil. (April 2, 2018). "Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds' LoveLoud Festival 2018 Lineup: Zedd, Mike Shinoda, Grace VanderWaal & More".
26. Wilker, Deborah. (July 6, 2016). "Britney Spears, Pink, Selena Gomez Join 'Hands' for Orlando: How the All-Star Song Came to Life".
27. Frankel, Jillian. (February 10, 2017). "Hitmaker Justin Tranter Joins GLAAD's National Board of Directors: 'I'm Using the Success I've Had to Help Other People Shine'".
28. Crowley, Patrick. (May 17, 2017). "GLAAD Media Awards: Songwriter Justin Tranter Raises $123K With Auction for Studio Sessions".
29. Moayeri, Lily. (October 20, 2022). "Justin Tranter Welcomes Billy Porter, Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds for Fourth Annual 'Beyond' Benefit; Raises $400,000 for LGBTQ Youth".
30. Snedegar, Mike. (January 24, 2025). "How Justin Tranter Is Fighting for Songwriters Like Chappell Roan".
31. Daw, Stephen. (November 18, 2019). "Justin Tranter Celebrates ACLU Award Win With Pal Selena Gomez: See the Sweet Post".
32. Nunn, Jerry. (April 21, 2010). "Semi Precious Weapons' Justin Tranter on Gaga, Chicago".
33. Masters, Jeffrey. (January 21, 2020). "Songwriter Justin Tranter: "My Femininity Is So Important To Me"".
34. Aswad, Jem. (June 2, 2021). "Hitmaker Justin Tranter on LGBTQ Advocacy, Allyship: 'Without Marginalized People, Music Is Gonna Get Really Bad'".
35. US. (April 21, 2009). "Fetty's Pricey Line Gets Drastically Cheaper For Urban Outfitters".
36. Newman, Sabrina. (February 7, 2008). "StyleHive Sneak Peek: Justin Tranter's Exclusive DKNY Sneaker Line".
37. Wass, Mike. (June 10, 2022). "How Justin Tranter's Facet Records and Publishing is Transforming the Music Biz From Within".
38. Voss, Brandon. (December 3, 2008). "Big Gay Following: Chelsea Handler".
39. "MTV MADE: Rock Star. Season 9, Episode 30". [[MTV]].
40. Vena, Jocelyn. (February 12, 2010). "Beyonce, Lady Gaga Are 'Magical' In 'Telephone' Video, Semi Precious Weapons Say". [[MTV]].
41. Crowley, Patrick. (June 12, 2017). "Justin Tranter on Homophobia In the Music Industry & Why Halsey Is 'The Realest of the Real Deal'".
42. Hiler, James. (November 25, 2013). "'Jobriath A.D.,' Documentary on 'The True Fairy of Rock and Roll,' Acquired by Factory 25".
43. Doyle, JD. "Outmusic Awards Data".
44. (May 10, 2017). "Warner/Chappell Named Music Publisher of the Year at BMI Pop Awards".
45. (May 8, 2018). "Mark Ronson Receives the BMI Champion Award at the 66th BMI Pop Awards".
46. (November 16, 2019). "2019 Bill of Rights Dinner".
47. (November 10, 2023). "Grammy Awards 2024: The Full List of Nominees".