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Record Producers - What Do They Do?:
A record producer is an individual working within the
music industry, whose job it is to oversee and manage the recording
(i.e. "production") of an artist's music. A producer has many roles
that may include, but are not limited to, gathering ideas for the
project, selecting songs and/or musicians, coaching the artist and
musicians in the studio, controlling the recording sessions, and
supervising the entire process through mixing and mastering.
Producers also often take on a wider entrepreneurial role, with
responsibility for the budget, schedules, and negotiations.
Independent Record Producers:
An independent producer will be employed by a band, or the label
on the band's behalf, in order to gain a particular sound or in
order to gain from the producer's reputation. The producer and the
band will then go into a studio to record. The producer's fees will
be separate from the studio rental fees. The producer will usually
oversee the recording sessions as well as the mixing and the
mastering of the recordings, but make sure this is made clear before
the work starts, and that the overall fee is agreed.
In House Record Producers:
An in-house producer works in a particular studio, and his fees
will usually be included in the cost of renting the studio, although
they may also receive "points." Studios can often be keen to retain
in demand producers as they can provide a major reasons for artists
to come to the studio. Some producers, such as grunge pioneer Steve
Albini in Chicago and lo-fi producer Kramer own their own studios.
When booking a studio if you want to work with a particular in house
producer, make sure that they are available and booked in for your
session.
How Do Record Producers Get Paid?:
Most producer will be paid a flat fee/advance for their work.
Some will also receive points - a percentage of the dealer price of
a record and/or a share of the profits made from the recordings.
It's common for producers to receive both. A producer may work for a
reduced up front fee in exchange for some points, or may secure a
fee plus points, if they feel their production will be important to
the record's success. Initially some producers may work for free to
build up work but top producer can be very well paid. If you're
involved in the songwriting process, you can expect royalties on top
of your production fees.
How Do I Become a Producer?:
Traditionally producers begin work as engineers in studios, or
sometime as session musicians, gained experience in the studio
environment. Then they begin working as an in-house producer until
they gain a reputation. As Danger Mouse's story shows these days a
producer can start working from their bedroom, however studio
experience is very valuable to a producer. As a producer you'll
probably be working with a studio engineer, but you'll be expected
to know your way round a mixing desk. Working at your production
skills in the bedroom is a good way to start, and try and gain work
experience at a local recording studio.
Record Producer Contracts:
As with all aspects of the music industry, contracts are
important, not least because they let everyone knows where they
stand and what is expected of them. An engineer may feel that
they're 'producing' the session - the band may not. A band may
expect the producer to oversee recording, mixing and mastering but
the producer may be only be expecting to work on the recordings.
These issues, along with fees and point are more easily discussed
before recording begins, and a contract can clear up any
misunderstandings.
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