| Generally, the first thing that springs to mind when | | | | what you do best, which is writing and/or performing |
| you need to record a song, is to make enquiries with | | | | great songs!Since this kind of arrangement may not |
| local recording studios. However, studio charges are | | | | be costing you anything, it is worthwhile trying a few |
| generally based on an hourly rate that is often more | | | | different producers to see whose ideas and style of |
| than your day job pays you.Once you've saved | | | | production gel best with your own view of yourself |
| enough money for this excursion, there are then | | | | and your sound.All producers have their own unique |
| further worries. Unless you are a regular visitor to | | | | style, just as you, as an original artist, have yours. |
| recording studios, you may not quite know what to | | | | This "sound" can be heard throughout all their |
| expect. You may not be able to communicate your | | | | productions with various artists. Look for a style that |
| ideas for your sound clearly to the engineer, who | | | | seems complimentary to your own. In other words, |
| really only understands technical jargon.As the hours | | | | don't use a Hip-hop producer to make your records if |
| tick by, you will be under the stress of wondering if | | | | you are a Country artist!Many good producers have a |
| you'll be able to complete your project before your | | | | wide range of musical skills, and may also be able to |
| money runs out. Artists under stress don't generally | | | | write lyrics, compose melodies, write arrangements, |
| perform well, but you won't hear this because you'll | | | | or even play various instruments, such as guitar, |
| be out there performing, instead of listening to the | | | | piano or drums. All of these skills can be utilised to |
| performance.If you have also hired musicians in for | | | | give your recordings an extra edge at minimal, or no |
| the session, you'd also better be a good personnel | | | | extra cost.Finally, now that you are off to find your |
| manager. The longer they have to sit around waiting | | | | own producer, here are some things to avoid...Don't |
| to be told what to play and how to play it, the more | | | | rely on pictures of their studio, and lists of top quality |
| it is going to cost you!It is in your best interest to | | | | recording equipment to tell you how good they are |
| use a studio that is the best you can afford. But | | | | as a producer. Any piece of specialist equipment can |
| have you taken the above problems into | | | | be hired if necessary. A good producer can produce |
| consideration? Have you planned out your time in the | | | | radio-ready recordings on even the most basic |
| studio in the fullest detail? Do you know enough | | | | equipment, whereas a poor producer, will not achieve |
| about the multitrack recording process to know | | | | such good results on even the best and most |
| exactly what tracks your song needs? Are you, or | | | | expensive equipment.Don't sign with a producer who |
| your band rehearsed enough to play every track on | | | | doesn't make samples of their previous work |
| its own, and in perfect time with all the others in the | | | | available to you. You need to know what experience |
| arrangement? Can your drummer play to a click | | | | they have, and get an idea of the audio quality and |
| track? Or do you have detailed drum parts already | | | | styles that they can produce.Don't sign with a |
| programmed for your songs? Have you written | | | | producer who comes solely from a DJ background. |
| detailed score sheets for all the session musicians? | | | | These producers specialise in remixes of existing |
| Do you know what kind of sound they need, and | | | | records, or "beats", not in the creation of a new |
| what style to play in? Have you already tried out | | | | artist's unique sound, or a recording from |
| various mix ideas and sound effects at home, and | | | | scratch.Don't sign with a producer who specialises in a |
| know how to explain these ideas to the engineer?If | | | | genre of music that is totally different to yours ... |
| not, you will most likely end up with a recording that | | | | Unless you want to change your style to that new |
| isn't quite what you expected. And it will have cost | | | | genre!Don't sign with a producer who has no |
| you a small fortune! At best, you will get a good | | | | creativity or commercial flair of their own. You don't |
| recording that sounds something like you thought it | | | | want a producer who is just going to record |
| would. But does it sound original to you? Has it | | | | everything exactly as you already have it, just to |
| captured your unique sound, and conveyed the | | | | please you. A good producer will see things that you |
| essence of what you are as an original artist? Does it | | | | have missed, and will add hooks and sounds to your |
| convey the emotion of the song correctly to the | | | | songs that will attract new listeners, and interest |
| listener?There is another way to approach the | | | | from music industry professionals.Don't sign with a |
| recording process that will solve all the above | | | | producer who is asking you to assign publishing rights |
| problems, and could even get you a professional | | | | to your songs. You want to be free to sign your |
| recording made for FREE!All the above jobs are part | | | | songs to record companies or publishers who may be |
| of the work that is generally done by a PRODUCER.A | | | | able to do more for you in the marketing or |
| producer is someone who has the experience to | | | | promotion of them. Once you assign the copyright of |
| hear, not just the music, but the essence of what | | | | your songs to someone, they have exclusive rights |
| you are as an original artist.A producer will know | | | | to them for the duration of your contract, or even |
| instinctively when you have made the perfect take, | | | | for perpetuity! All a producer needs from you, is your |
| and will get you onto the next stage of the process | | | | written permission to record your songs, and perhaps |
| without having to waste studio time playing back | | | | sell their recordings or release them on their own |
| every take first.A producer will have your whole | | | | label. If so, make sure you get at least the statutory |
| sound in glorious 3D in their head before a single note | | | | mechanical royalties (currently 6.5%) from these |
| is played.A producer will have the technical knowledge | | | | sales!Don't sign with a producer who only works with |
| to know how to translate every part of the process | | | | one set of musicians. Although many have their own |
| to something the engineer can understand.A producer | | | | preferred set of "in-house" session musicians, there |
| has a long list of business contacts who he can call | | | | will be times when your music wont be suited to the |
| upon at short notice to add whatever is necessary | | | | way these musicians play. Make sure that your |
| to make the sound you need ... Session musicians, | | | | producer has a wide range of musical contacts to |
| arrangers, writers, synth programmers, track editors, | | | | draw from.Don't sign to a producer who promises to |
| equipment rental companies, etc.Sounds expensive, | | | | make your song into a hit record. Even if the |
| doesn't it?Not necessarily!Although some producers | | | | producer has already produced several hits, there is |
| will charge a flat rate for the job of perhaps several | | | | no guarantee that your song will be a hit. Marketing |
| thousand pounds (or dollars). Many work from their | | | | gurus and sales teams make hit records, not artists |
| own studios, with their own "in-house" session | | | | and producers!Finally, some producers may ask you |
| musicians for a royalty plus expenses. Therefore, | | | | to sign an exclusive contract for a certain time period |
| they become somewhat like a "record company". | | | | (perhaps 1-5 years). These producers must also be |
| They will produce a recording for any artist they see | | | | "song-pluggers" or "promoters" who need to protect |
| potential in, in the hope that their recording will | | | | their interest in you whilst they are working to get |
| eventually be signed to a major label and make | | | | you a deal with a major label, using the recordings |
| money. Of course, in these instances, you will still | | | | they have produced. Before signing any exclusive |
| have to pay for the studio and session musician | | | | deal, always have the contracts looked over by a |
| costs.Sometimes they will even do the whole job for | | | | lawyer specialising in the music business. Make sure, |
| FREE, or for a minimal flat rate to cover expenses. | | | | by examining the production company's track record, |
| How can they do this? Well instead of taking a | | | | that their promise of a major deal looks likely to |
| royalty from your advance or sales, they take | | | | happen within that time period. You don't want to be |
| ownership of the copyright in the sound recording | | | | wasting five years of your life whilst your best songs |
| they make. This is fair, because, after all, they put a | | | | are sitting on someone else's shelf, doing nothing!If |
| lot of their own money and special skills into the | | | | you are a country music writer, you can go to a |
| making of it. So what do you get in return? Of | | | | Nashville demo studio and get amazing sounding |
| course, you get full use of the recording for your | | | | recordings using top country music session musicians. |
| promotional needs!Furthermore, many producers with | | | | If you are only pitching songs to that specific |
| their own studios, now also have their own record | | | | market, that is great, but every recording they |
| label. Wobbly Music is one such producer. Whilst you | | | | produce sounds like the last.If, on the other hand, |
| are looking for a recording or publishing deal | | | | you think your music has wider appeal, or you are a |
| elsewhere, or whilst promoting your record as an | | | | performing artist yourself, you will want to be |
| independent artist, your producer will have the right | | | | noticed in the crowd across a wider marketplace. |
| to sell the recording (from which you, as the artist or | | | | You need to accentuate the part of your sound that |
| composer, will be paid royalties) in order to try and | | | | is unique to YOU. A good producer will be able to |
| recoup their losses and profit from this mutual | | | | recognise that which is unique to you, and will make |
| deal.There are now a great number of producers | | | | sure that your recordings take advantage of |
| doing deals similar to this. It means you can have a | | | | that.Lynn Monk has experienced over 30 years in the |
| demo made, or release your own recordings for little | | | | music business as a musician, concert sound & lighting |
| or no money up front, whilst still retaining the | | | | engineer, DJ and record producer; and is now the |
| freedom to sign with whoever you wish, or remain | | | | proprietor of Wobbly Music. An indie record company |
| as an independent artist. So in effect, you will have a | | | | dedicated to supporting the "Mature Independent |
| record deal working for you to earn extra royalties in | | | | Artist". |
| the background, whilst you concentrate on doing | | | | |