How to Become a Music Producer

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever wanted to be like Dr. Dre, Mozart, Max Martin, Kara Dioguardi Jay Orpin, Jordan McMurray, Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes, Lauren Alexander or David Banner? Then this article is for you.

Steps

1. Learn how to play multiple instruments, learn how to read sheet music, master tempo's, perhaps even write your own music.
2. Learn how to use a soundboard. Learn how to use multiple computer programs. Create some beats, and don't only write for one genre. Try doing punk, ska, rock, rap, r&b, country, funk, jazz, and the likes. The more genre's you do, the more broad your horizons, the more clients you can have.
3. Start networking. Create business cards. Tell your family and friends you're producing music. Post bulletins around your neighborhood. You will get clients in no time, if your prices are reasonable. Charge cheaply per hour, or per song. Do you have a cousin who is a great singer? A uncle who has a niche for playing the tuba. Produce them, but remember usually keep family and business separate.
4. Get an internship at a production company. Sure, its tough work, but you might get some free time in a real recording studio. Soon you might be more trusted and earn a paycheck.
5. Go to college. Get a degree. If music production doesn't work out, you have something to fall-back on. Sound engineering, or something to do with business would be a good choice.
6. After you receive a good income, you could save up, and start your own studio with your clients that you have gathered all this time, or can continue your job with a production company.
7. Never stop loving music. Don't lose interest, and don't give up if you love what you're doing.

Tips

• Have fun with it, don't make it too stressful.
• Never think you are too good for a client. Take every client that calls you, or comes in through the door.
• Nothing is ever impossible. If you work hard and practice anything is possible, keep working for it.
• Try practicing with friends.

Warnings

• You won't get enough money to live off of in the beginning, so you can work a full-time job, and produce in your spare time.
• You never know how much money you will make in a year. One year you might make $40,000, the next year you might make $50,000.
• Producers make two things: Music and Sacrifices.

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Beats in Fruity Loops 8 and Reason 4
• How To Become a Hip Hop Music Producer

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A publisher is like a record label, the 800 pound gorillas like EMI or SONY/BMG or a guy like me who purchases hosting and a domain name out of my own pocket to upload my own music.  Publishers include everyone and everything that handles administration, marketing, and A&R - like the producer.  Remember how a $250,000 advance gives the recording artist a $4,000 net income from a semi-successful record?  This is due to the publisher's power.  They sign the artists with bunk deals that figure in inflated estimates.  If the album flops, the publisher takes their cut which is before the artist's.  Successful artists with a good track record can maybe squeeze the publisher out of 50% of the publisher's share.  New artists with no track record could have their number cut in half in favor of the publisher, who is racking up the overhead to record the artist, market, and replicate the artist's estimated number of albums for sale.  Out of all royalties paid by the media users, the pie is split up, but first collected by the PRO (performing rights organization).  The PRO distributes the shares 50/50 between Publisher(s) and Songwriter(s), which are then distributed based on the deals negotiated.

Aren't you glad you are an unsigned, independent musician?  Seems like everybody's out to get you to take advantage of your sweet nectar.  No worries, just always exude caution before signing up for one of those "deals" we all have heard about.  If something seems too good to be true, it most often is not true.  I've always wondered what it would be like, though to actually be signed with a major 1200 pound gorilla and be working with them in their hierarchy.  Would it really be like Tracy Morgan in 30 Rock?

ASCAP Career Development