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Why do Music-producers make so much money?
what are the steps that they've done to become who they are
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3 answers
Kevin Greenlees, MAcc
Accountant, Financial Analyst, Automations Developer
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Kevin’s Answer
Most do not. To be fair, there are music producers who work with top-tier artists and earn income that's in line with that kind of profile, but for every producer who works with Taylor Swift there are countless more who work with independent artists and earn a much more modest income.
I appreciate you taking the time to answer this.
Israel
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
The Music producers that make the most money are the ones that are the most commercially successful.
This usually means that they have been behind hit records.
There are different types of producers. Some producers are composers and creators of songs; some are more akin to arrangers (they make musical changes to songs that are already written or are in the process of being recorded) ; others may not make any contribution to the song at all in terms of its creation but may act more as a consultant (suggesting changes or ideas or sounds).
There are of course many producers who do elements of some; each or all of the above.
Why the most successful make the most money is because they will have built up a track record of producing hit records and/or albums.
In much of today's music (especially most billboard 100 singles) the producer behind a record may determine if the record is a hit or not.
This is especially true of genres such as Rap/Hip Hop, Pop and RnB.
These musical styles rely heavily on the nature of "the track" this is usually the "beat" or musical elements in the track.
Many songs in these genres will often start with the drum beat, bass and other elements of the track before the vocals are conceived or recorded; ("the groove"). In Hip Hop for example, rappers will insist on hearing the best "beats" of a successful producer and select those that they like the most and/or they believe have the most hit potential to record their raps to.
Producers also benefit from being paid for every record they sell. There are complicated reasons why this is. What should be understood from this (without going into detail) is that most other people in the creative process (especially recording artists) are required to pay everyone involved out of their budgets before they make any money themselves by selling their records. Producers are paid as soon as the record is made regardless of sales. Usually they are paid a high upfront fee before the record is even out and then royalties on every record sold on release. It isn't unusual for the most successful producers to charge 6 figure sums per track upfront.
If a producer is behind a lot of hit records, this will almost always result in a higher demand for their services. They normally will have established a recognizable sound that most listeners hear and know. Many will know it is them even if their name is not mentioned on the song though at times it has been a trend to say the producer's name on a track almost as a sign of authenticity or branding to say "the record is from the same people who brought you other hit records" (!)
When a successful producer's sound is "in" or fashionable most well known artists (lead vocalists) will want their music even if it often means completely changing the style or image the singer might have been known for previously.
This is because the association with a hit producer can help many successful artists have more hits. Everyone usually wants to be involved in something or with people that are considered "hot" musically or have the magic touch.
There are many steps that a budding producer can take to become successful like the producers that have had hit records and that they admire. At its core, a budding producer needs to build up lots of experience in recording studios working with lots of artists.
If they continue to do this and are successful, the level of artist they work with will keep going up a level.
If a producer keeps delivering great music for the artists they work with at every level then they will just go higher and higher until they reach the top.
Think about 3 records that you like a lot. Ask yourself what you like about them. Do they have similar elements? Who is the producer behind the records?
Find 3 producers who's music you like. Learn about their life story. How did they become successful?
Make it a goal to produce music and work with at least one recording artist this year. It could be a friend or someone you know.
Download a Digital Audio Workstation to your computer. Experiment with it. Learn how to record music with it.
Seek advise from career professionals on the options available to you to explore a career in being a producer.
This usually means that they have been behind hit records.
There are different types of producers. Some producers are composers and creators of songs; some are more akin to arrangers (they make musical changes to songs that are already written or are in the process of being recorded) ; others may not make any contribution to the song at all in terms of its creation but may act more as a consultant (suggesting changes or ideas or sounds).
There are of course many producers who do elements of some; each or all of the above.
Why the most successful make the most money is because they will have built up a track record of producing hit records and/or albums.
In much of today's music (especially most billboard 100 singles) the producer behind a record may determine if the record is a hit or not.
This is especially true of genres such as Rap/Hip Hop, Pop and RnB.
These musical styles rely heavily on the nature of "the track" this is usually the "beat" or musical elements in the track.
Many songs in these genres will often start with the drum beat, bass and other elements of the track before the vocals are conceived or recorded; ("the groove"). In Hip Hop for example, rappers will insist on hearing the best "beats" of a successful producer and select those that they like the most and/or they believe have the most hit potential to record their raps to.
Producers also benefit from being paid for every record they sell. There are complicated reasons why this is. What should be understood from this (without going into detail) is that most other people in the creative process (especially recording artists) are required to pay everyone involved out of their budgets before they make any money themselves by selling their records. Producers are paid as soon as the record is made regardless of sales. Usually they are paid a high upfront fee before the record is even out and then royalties on every record sold on release. It isn't unusual for the most successful producers to charge 6 figure sums per track upfront.
If a producer is behind a lot of hit records, this will almost always result in a higher demand for their services. They normally will have established a recognizable sound that most listeners hear and know. Many will know it is them even if their name is not mentioned on the song though at times it has been a trend to say the producer's name on a track almost as a sign of authenticity or branding to say "the record is from the same people who brought you other hit records" (!)
When a successful producer's sound is "in" or fashionable most well known artists (lead vocalists) will want their music even if it often means completely changing the style or image the singer might have been known for previously.
This is because the association with a hit producer can help many successful artists have more hits. Everyone usually wants to be involved in something or with people that are considered "hot" musically or have the magic touch.
There are many steps that a budding producer can take to become successful like the producers that have had hit records and that they admire. At its core, a budding producer needs to build up lots of experience in recording studios working with lots of artists.
If they continue to do this and are successful, the level of artist they work with will keep going up a level.
If a producer keeps delivering great music for the artists they work with at every level then they will just go higher and higher until they reach the top.
Kevin recommends the following next steps:
Thank you for the advice.
Israel
Thomas O'Shea
Music Producer, Composer, Live Sound Engineer, Musician
118
Answers
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Honestly? We don't. The producers that make the most money just have the most connections and know how to work under pressure. They also take EVERY job. For example Illmind did work for the Moana movie and the Hamilton musical. He did production for things that are not exactly in his expected corner. The most successful just grind grind grind. The least successful treat their music as a 9-5.
I have a "day job" that is really a night job and then most nights come home and either work on my solo work, beats for artists I'm connected with, or music for sync licensing to be in movies, tv, or other media.
All I'm saying is if you're wanting to do music for the money- then turn away now before the industry hurts you. If you want to do music cause you love it- be prepared for late nights, and missed opportunities with friends because you decide to work instead.
I have a "day job" that is really a night job and then most nights come home and either work on my solo work, beats for artists I'm connected with, or music for sync licensing to be in movies, tv, or other media.
All I'm saying is if you're wanting to do music for the money- then turn away now before the industry hurts you. If you want to do music cause you love it- be prepared for late nights, and missed opportunities with friends because you decide to work instead.