Music producer

Music producers are responsible for acquiring music to be published. They listen to demos of songs and determine whether they are good enough to be published. Music producers oversee the production of records. They manage the technical aspects of recording and editing.

The following job titles also refer to music producer:

pop music producer
producer
vocal producer
rock music producer
recording engineer and arranger
record producer
chill-out & lounge music producer
sound recording engineer and arranger
dance music producer
music publisher

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as music producer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Music producer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to music producer.

producer
radio producer
video and motion picture producer
disc jockey
book publisher

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of music producer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of music producer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of music producer.

Musical instruments: The different musical instruments, their ranges, timbre, and possible combinations.
Musical genres: Different musical styles and genres such as blues, jazz, reggae, rock, or indie.
Musical theory: The body of interrelated concepts that constitutes the theoretical background of music.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.
Financial jurisdiction: Financial rules and procedures applicable to a certain location, whose regulatory bodies decide on its jurisdiction

These skills are necessary for the role of music producer.

Manage budgets: Plan, monitor and report on the budget.
Manage staff: Manage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the workers to meet the company objectives. Monitor and measure how an employee undertakes their responsibilities and how well these activities are executed. Identify areas for improvement and make suggestions to achieve this. Lead a group of people to help them achieve goals and maintain an effective working relationship among staff.
Liaise with financiers: Liaise with people willing to finance the project. Negotiate deals and contracts.
Develop professional network: Reach out to and meet up with people in a professional context. Find common ground and use your contacts for mutual benefit. Keep track of the people in your personal professional network and stay up to date on their activities.
Identify music with commercial potential: Identify if music has commercial potential or not by listening to demos. Make a decision based on your expertise and market trends.
Assess financial viability: Revise and analyse financial information and requirements of projects such as their budget appraisal, expected turnover, and risk assessment for determining the benefits and costs of the project. Assess if the agreement or project will redeem its investment, and whether the potential profit is worth the financial risk.
Negotiate with artists: Communicate and negotiate with artist and artist management about prices, terms and schedules.
Implement strategic planning: Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.
Perform market research: Gather, assess and represent data about target market and customers in order to facilitate strategic development and feasibility studies. Identify market trends.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of music producer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Sales activities: The supply of goods, sale of goods and the related financial aspects. The supply of goods entails the selection of goods, import and transfer. The financial aspect includes the processing of purchasing and sales invoices, payments etc. The sale of goods implies the proper presentation and positioning of the goods in the shop in terms of acessibility, promotion, light exposure.
Musical notation: The systems used to visually represent music through the use of written symbols, including ancient or modern musical symbols.
Accounting techniques: The techniques of recording and summarising business and financial transactions and analysing, verifying, and reporting the results.
Audiovisual products: The different types of audiovisual products and their requirements, such as documentaries, low budget movies, television series, records, CDs, and others.
Types of audiovisual formats: Various audio and video formats, including digital.
Audio editing software: The various software for editing and generating audio, such as Adobe Audition, Soundforge, and Power Sound Editor.
Marketing principles: The principles of managing the relationship between consumers and products or services for the purpose of increasing sales and improving advertising techniques.
Audiovisual equipment: The characteristics and usage of different tools that stimulate the sight and audio senses.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of music producer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Plan marketing strategy: Determine the objective of the marketing strategy whether it is for establishing image, implementing a pricing strategy, or raising awareness of the product. Establish approaches of marketing actions to ensure that goals are achieved efficiently and over a long term.
Implement marketing strategies: Implement strategies which aim to promote a specific product or service, using the developed marketing strategies.
Hire background musicians: Hire background vocalists and musicians to perform on the record.
Manage sound quality: Perform sound checks. Set up audio equipment for optimal sound output before as well as during performance. Regulate the volume during broadcasts by controlling the audio equipment 
Promote music: Promote music and participate in media interviews and other promotional activities.
Operate an audio mixing console: Operate an audio mixing system during rehearsals or during live performances.
Assess sound quality: Assess the recorded sound and music. Make sure it conforms to specifications.
Record multi-track sound: Recording and mixing audio signals from different sound sources on a multi-track recorder.
Coordinate activities in audio recording studio: Monitor the daily operations in a audio recording studio. Make sure that persons involved in recording studio activities can produce the desired quality of sound according to customer specifications. Ensure the material is maintained and available.
Use audio reproduction software: Operate software and equipment that transform and reproduce digital, analogue sounds and sound waves into the desired perceivable audio to be streamed.
Edit recorded sound: Edit audio footage using a variety of sofware, tools, and techniques such as crossfading, speed effects, and removing unwanted noises.
Supervise sales activities: Monitor and oversee the activities related to the ongoing sales in the shop to ensure that sales goals are met, assess areas for improvement, and identify or solve problems that customers could encounter.
Convert different audiovisual formats: Ability to use specialised software to convert data from one audio and/or video format to another.
Supervise sound production: Supervise the creation of sound and decide which music and sounds to use for the movie and theatre production.

2654 – Film, stage and related directors and producers

 

 

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References

1. Music producer – ESCO