Hitmakers RedOne, Alex Da Kid and Ari Levine to discuss their work at Times Music Producers Roundtable on Saturday

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If one were to list the breakout hits of the last two years, a few songs would rise to the top: the massive chart killers of Lady Gaga (‘Alejandro,’ ‘Bad Romance,’ ‘Poker Face’), Eminem’s ‘Love the Way You Lie,’ Cee Lo Green’s ‘Forget You’ and B.o.B.’s ‘Nothin’ on You’ and ‘Airplanes,’ among others.

Those songs have one thing in common -- well, at least one we’re interested in right now: Three of the hitmakers responsible for them will take part in the first Los Angeles Times Music Producers Roundtable on Saturday at the Grammy Museum at L.A. Live. Just in time for the Grammys, producers Alex Da Kid (Eminem, B.o.B.), Ari Levine of the Smeezingtons (Cee Lo Green, Bruno Mars) and RedOne (Lady Gaga) -- all of whose songs have been nominated this year -- will sit down with Los Angeles Times pop music critic Ann Powers for an hour-long conversation about their work, today’s trends in music and the business of hitmaking.

Although producers are by definition the silent partners in the creative process, their role in guiding the landscape of popular music is crucial, and while the artists get their kudos onstage during performances, the producers remain in their windowless recording studios creating the magic. The Los Angeles Times Music Producers Roundtable will offer a rare opportunity for these artists to chime in on the art of the hit song in 2011.

The event is free to the public, but reservations are required. To learn more about getting a ticket, check out the announcement at the Awards Tracker blog.

-- Randall Roberts