With the rise of hip hop and electronic music and the advancement of in-the-box music production technology, the music producer role (aka. record producer) and even the term“music producer” has evolved greatly. Today, it can take on anarray of different meanings.
As a consequence, the music producer's role can be difficult to accurately define. To many, it is confusingand misunderstood at best. At worst it can even be viewed with suspicion or distrust. One thing is certain: A musicproducer can take on many different roles, so the confusion surrounding the term comes as no surprise.
The Role Of A Producer in Music
A music producer job is to work closely with musical artists on defining, shaping and realizing the vision of musical projects.
They have to ensure the best possible outcome for the creation of musical recordings.
To achieve this, they are required to keep a good overview of all aspects involving the music production process.
From the creative and sonic intricacies of songwriting, arranging and recording, meeting deadlines and allocating recording budgets effectively, to resolving interpersonal tensions that may arise, a producer must navigate it all in favor of the outcome of the project.
The Music producer Description Of Roles and responsibilities
Depending on a project’s needs, the music producer roles and responsibilities will vary. Some or all of the following may be handled by them and/or their team:
Writing or co-writing: A producer may be involved in the actual songwriting process and help the artist complete unfinished song ideas, collaborate on new material or even be the primary songwriter for the project.
Song selection: They may help the artist select the most promising material for a project, as well as curate a selection that will form a cohesive and appealing body of work.
Pre-production: Before moving on to recording and final production, the producer is in charge of locking in elemental aspects such as tempo, key, feel, and song structure.
Instrumental and vocal recording/programming: When recording the material, a producer will work with the artist, sound engineers, and studio musicians to create appropriate vocal and instrumental parts and capture the best performances and sounds for them. Some producers play one or multiple instruments and might fulfill some or all of the session musician duties themselves. In the modern music realm, this is oftentimes replaced by or combined with a producer working on beat-making as well as synthesizer and sample-based programming and recording.
Personnel selection and booking: The producer is commonly in charge of hiring any personnel needed for the creation of the recordings. This may include the fitting studio musicians, recording engineers, mixing and mastering engineers.
Studio selection and booking: On the same token, the producer will select and book studios that are equipped to provide a comfortable working atmosphere for the artist and capture the desired sounds for the project.
Mixing and mastering: In the modern music production realm, it is also not uncommon for producers to have a heavy hand in the mixing and sometimes even mastering of their productions instead of outsourcing these parts of the job.
Budget and time management: Being the overseer of a music production also includes keeping an overview of the project’s deadlines and budget, scheduling sessions and allocating funds wisely.
Communication with label/management/investor: In case of a third party being involved or funding the recording, the producer serves as the middleman. They will try to ensure that both the artist’s creative vision and the third party’s requirements are fulfilled.
Conflict resolution: In the process of creating music, disagreements among collaborators are bound to arise. The producer will mediate and foster a productive and positive atmosphere in order to keep the process flowing smoothly.
Motivation and Inspiration: When the creative juices run dry, a producer may find ways to boost morale and inspiration by a variety of means.
If you want to learn more about the role of a producer in music, go check out the book "Unlocking Creativity" by the amazing music producer Michael Beinhorn.
Recaping The Role Of Producer in music
As you can see, a music producer may fulfill a diverse array of roles and responsibilities. From soft to hard skills, all of these roles may prove vital to the success of a production. Even though there are many cases in which artists successfully self-produce their music, it is clear to see why the majority of successful productions still utilize the services of an experienced music producer to define and realize their creative vision. Now that we have explored the potential roles a music producer may play in a project, we hope that you have gained some clarity on what to expect and look for should you ever consider working with one.
- Marko Fazio and David Contreras
Do you feel your music should sound better than it does? Are you interested in working with a music producer on your next release? Shout me a message, I want to hear about your music!
- Marko
About The Authors:
Marko Fazio is a music producer based in Los Angeles. With his company Elevate Music Productions, his mission is to bring singer/songwriters’ music and artistic vision to full potential.
David Contreras is a drummer and music producer based in Los Angeles who has performed with numerous artists locally and internationally. He is currently playing for the band Karmic for which he co-produces their first studio album