What does a Music Producer do?
Music producers work with artists and recording teams to shape the creative direction and execution of a recording project. Depending on the project, they may help develop songs and arrangements, plan sessions, select collaborators, guide performances, make technical and aesthetic decisions, manage budgets and schedules, and oversee work through mixing and mastering.
At a Glance
Some producers begin their careers as working musicians, songwriters, or arrangers, doing production work on the side to hone their skills and build a portfolio. Others start out as recording engineers—such as Nigel Godrich, who was on Radiohead's 1994 EP, My Iron Lung. He had so many innovative ideas that as a result he was elevated to producer for the band's 1997 masterpiece, OK Computer. Advancement means working with more prominent artists for bigger fees, starting a studio or label, or becoming an in the music business.
Many aspiring producers intern or apprentice with an established music producer as a production assistant—handling details such as scheduling, emailing, setting up and breaking down gear in the studio, and assisting in sessions. In addition to gaining experience, production assistants are in the position to make key relationships and connections with engineers, studio personnel, and artists—the very people who can give an aspiring producer a career break.
- Arranging
- Recording
- Mixing
- Budgeting
- Good ears (detail, nuance)
- Electronic production
- Sample libraries
- Networking
- Leadership
- Collaboration
Making a record is a great undertaking, a team effort invariably filled with highs, lows, and the unexpected. The best producers not only understand how to make a record sound good but also how to manage interpersonal relationships amid a complex creative undertaking.
Music producers lead varied and unpredictable work lives. Schedules also hinge on a project's needs—whether the songs require extensive preproduction, for example—and budget.
