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How could a producer get his/her track out there and bought by a record label/singer/rapper

I am currently a freshman in high school and I have had an interest in music for a while and I will consider a music producer as a future career. #music-production #music #music-production #music-business #business

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Jake’s Answer

It is always great to have big aspirations. Making it into the music industry is far-fetched but not impossible! I got my accounting degree and now work as an auditor, but I still make music on the side! It is all about getting your name out there so someone in the industry sees you making waves. Make an EP or a song and then market it as best as you can! Professional music artists always ask for people to send music to their Managers so be on the look-out for that. Keep making music and reaching out and something is sure to come out of it. I messaged a bunch of professional music artists and they have even responded and listened to my music! You can do it, you just have to be persistent!

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Amy’s Answer

I don't work as a professional producer but I do write music, and I have a number of people I know that do this for a living. (That's why I focused on having a day job and doing music on the side.)


I won't lie: it's hard. It means getting noticed and hustling like nothing else. :) A lot of your work might never get picked up, but you gotta keep producing. It sounds like you want to make the tracks that people want to sing over or collaborate on.


First, music production. Learn Ableton: that's the industry standard now. Lots of people like FL Studio, Cubase, or other digital audio workstations (DAWs). Learn about EQ and songwriting. I like listening to the Switched on Pop podcast and searching YouTube. If you're in the Bay Area (your profile says Oakland) there is an Ableton User Group that meets like once a month. (Shameless plug: I run a monthly electronic music producers meetup.)


Second, get out there. Publish on your Instagram, your SoundCloud, your YouTube. Produce, produce, produce. Get some albums up on BandCamp.


Third, and probably most importantly, hustle for network. This can be really scary. Going from bedroom producer to actual performing artist/collaborator is hard. But you have to build that network. Get your friends to like/share your tracks. Go to meetups. Do remix competitions---I used to Beatport ones where they give you separate "stems" of vocals/percussion/bass/etc. Publish often. If you are old enough you can go to shows and bars and stuff and do open mic, or hang around DJs, or hang around the "green room" area. Volunteer at shows and conventions. Talk up your skills and your producer game. Collaborate online and with your friends. 99.5% of the work most people won't see, but there's the chance that 0.5% is that Kendrick Lamar that notices you and thinks you do good work and invites you to collab.


Good luck!


EDIT: oh, one last thing, and it's a big one: "SAY YES." A LOT. Taking all the opportunities that come your way (until you can have the luxury of being discerning and saying "no") is how you make it happen.

Amy recommends the following next steps:

Learn to make music, make it as polished as you can, make your signature sound
Publish your work like nothing else
Network, network, network
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Step 3 (again)
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Nir’s Answer

In order to get noticed by a record label you have to already have a small loyal fan base. Nowadays a record label will never pursue someone on talent alone, they have to have proven themselves in their local town/city. In practice this might look like having 10,000 followers on instagram or millions of plays on a SoundCloud track. I know it seems impossible because how do you get famous with the label if the label won't pick you up without being famous. The truth is that it is very very very difficult and that's why so few are able to achieve it.
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