Possibly an IntelliJ question, is there a way to specify the root package name? I noticed if I have at least 1 class in the root and set the package to the name I want, then new files added there or sub directories automatically get the correct package name. Problem is if there are no classes in the root (only other sub-packages) then new files created in those don't get the correct package name and defaults to "package dirname" instead of "com.blah.modulename.dirname"

perhaps a file at root containing only

package com.blah.modulename

?

I did do that which seems like a weird workaround, figured it would be able to use something like a line in the build.gradle

In IntelliJ you can set the root package via the UI by going into Module Settings, selecting the source folder and editing it (ringed in red here):