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How to Become a Music Producer

Jeremy Alves | March 14, 2020

Being a music producer can be one of the most exciting jobs in the music industry. You get the chance to work with a variety of artists on projects of all kinds and oversee the creation of many records. As a music producer, you’ll get the chance to work on the creative side of music production, as well as the business side, giving you the chance to be involved in the making of the record from beginning to end. Unfortunately, breaking into the music industry and becoming a successful music producer can be difficult. But with hard work and determination, and by taking the right steps, you can make your dream a reality. Keep reading below for some important steps to take in order to become a music producer.

1. Thoroughly Understand Music

Understanding music theory will allow you to help your artists produce the best music possible. The best way to do this is to learn an instrument (or more than one!) as this will formally educate you in music theory and give you a deeper understanding of music itself. In addition to this, you can read books and do independent research. Work hard to make sure you understand what makes a song work and how to make them stronger. Listen critically to song after song to increase your knowledge and understanding of how the music is structured and what makes the song sound good.

2. Learn engineering and mixing sills

While this is not the only path to success as a music producer, most of the top producers have some background experience in engineering or mixing. This experience allows you to fully understand how the different elements of a song work together sonically. Once you have this knowledge, you will have a much stronger understanding of music and be better prepared for when you are sitting in the producer’s seat. As a producer, you will be making decisions about how the track will ultimately sound, so it is crucial that you know what you are talking about!

3. Get an Education

Although there are no set educational requirements for becoming a music producer, having some formal education in a related field is important. Consider education in music production, music business, or other related topics. Education on topics of copyright law, marketing, or artist management can be helpful as well. You want to have a full understanding of the industry you are going to be working in if you want to be successful!

4. Build a Network & Collaborate with Others

Collaborations allow you to create new connections, as well as learn some valuable skills. Collaborating with others helps you to learn how to work well with other people and share ideas, as well as how to compromise. You can also build your own brand and leverage the audience and fan base of other artists by working together.

Collaborations also help you to build relationships with people who work and think like you, which is crucial in the music industry. Being successful in the music industry relies heavily on who you know and the relationships you have with people in the industry. Take any opportunity possible to connect with other artists or producers as the more people you know, the more opportunities for work you will find. Throughout each job you have, work on building positive relationships with those you are working with, as you never know when these connections will come in handy! In addition to opportunities for work, network connections provide opportunities for growth. Connect with those who are higher up in the industry than you, as they have more experience and will be able to teach you things that will help advance your career!

5. Build your portfolio and get your work out there!

The more music you have worked on and the more genres you have experimented with, the more equipped you will be to help an artist produce their own track! Play around with creating different mixes at home, and then upload them to YouTube, Soundcloud, or other online platforms. No one can hire you if they do not know that you are producing music! Social media has made it easier to gain exposure, so harness that power. Connect with other people online to get feedback, and then continue working on your projects to build your repertoire and improve your skills!

There is no set path to becoming a music producer, but these tips will help to push you in the right direction! The most important thing is to remember to work hard and constantly continue improving your skills, so that you become an even more valuable asset to everyone you work with!

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