Cheiron's roots trace to 1986, when ten Swedish DJs founded SweMix as a remix service, initially distributing unauthorized bootleg remixes for underground dance clubs. Among them was Dag Krister Volle, who performed under the name Denniz PoP. When nightclub owner Tom Talomaa invested in proper equipment, musicians began seeking out the collective's services. In 1992, Danish label Mega Records sent Denniz a demo tape from an unknown band called Ace of Base. The song "Mr. Ace" didn't impress him at first, but after repeated listens he remixed it, renamed it "All That She Wants," and watched it become an international phenomenon. That same year, creative differences split SweMix. Denniz and Talomaa launched Cheiron, named for the wise centaur of Greek mythology.

Cheiron's next pivotal moment came from failure. In 1993, Talomaa agreed to release the second album by a Swedish funk metal band called It's Alive. The record flopped completely, but the band's vocalist, Karl Martin Sandberg, caught Denniz PoP's attention. He invited Sandberg to work as a songwriter, eventually hiring him as an in-house producer and renaming him Max Martin. "I didn't even know what a producer did," Martin later recalled. "I spent two years day and night in that studio trying to learn what the hell was going on." Their first collaboration, "Wish You Were Here" by Rednex, reached number one across Europe in 1995. The apprentice had arrived.

From 1996 to 2000, Cheiron operated as a joint venture with Zomba Group, and the hits came relentlessly. The Backstreet Boys' debut album featured "Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)," which went platinum and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Robyn's "Show Me Love" cracked the Billboard top ten. In 1998, Cheiron worked simultaneously with NSYNC, 5ive, Boyzone, and Bryan Adams. The Backstreet Boys' "Millennium" album became one of the best-selling records of all time. Britney Spears returned for "Oops!... I Did It Again," which became the fastest-selling album by a female artist. Westlife scored back-to-back UK number ones with "If I Let You Go" and "Fool Again." Max Martin won ASCAP Songwriter of the Year three consecutive times.

Denniz PoP never saw Cheiron's greatest triumphs. Diagnosed with stomach cancer in November 1997, he died on August 30, 1998, at just 35 years old. Max Martin took over as director, but by the end of 2000, the studio announced its closure. "Cheiron was created with the intention of having fun, making a few hits and not getting too serious about it," Talomaa and Martin wrote on the company website. "We feel the 'hype' of Cheiron has become bigger than the studio itself and it's time to quit while we're ahead." The team scattered: Martin and Talomaa formed Maratone, others started A Side Productions and Location Songs. The Kungsholmen building is now owned by Roxy Recordings. But the Swedish pop formula Cheiron invented, with its soaring melodies, layered harmonies, and irresistible hooks, continues to dominate radio playlists worldwide.