Producers can’t keep their supporting creatives around them, which makes the production business seem harder than it already is. All of this is because producers aren’t running the business side of their production business; they are just creating. I know people don’t teach this stuff and it’s more of an in-studio conversation. But if you want to level up your production game, we’re going to have to level up your business game.
Music Producers Don’t Run Sessions Anymore
There aren’t as many producers running sessions as much as they used to, and this is causing a bottleneck with other creatives. Because producers aren’t getting into studios, there is no business being taken care of. The business is left to the artist to handle. Artists don’t understand how producer budgets, splits, and credits are supposed to be divided when they are just starting in the business. This causes major issues down the line.
When the Budget Isn’t Regulated…
Traditionally, producers are issued a budget, and that production budget is supposed to cover all costs incurred for the production of the composition to be recorded. The knight in shining armor for self-producing producers is songwriters. Songwriters are the first hired by many producers and are often neglected in the production budget. Secondly, session musicians are supposed to be paid from this budget, and depending on the record label, the studio and engineer are supposed to be paid. However, it is traditionally the producer's job to make sure the label gets the invoice for the production costs. It’s still in modern-day contracts, so clearly, the ball is being dropped!
Why Are Producers Not Reporting the Budget Properly?
Most producers see it as an opportunity to run off with the money because they never had it. They don’t know the karma of doing good business. If you do good business with your team, they will stick around, and if they are good, it's going to be easier for you to scale your production operations because you have the credit of making sure everybody is straight.
When Credits Aren’t Reported
On top of budget regulation, the credits are supposed to be reported back to the label from the producer. It is the producer's job to ensure all splits are done and all credits are collected. Nowadays, you hear producers say, “I don’t want to talk about splits; it kills my vibe.” However, it's their responsibility traditionally to handle this job. Now you see artists, songwriters, managers, and assistants trying to get this job done.
But Bigger Artists Don’t Even Want the Little Producer in the Studio!?
I hear you, and I know most of you sell your beats online in hopes of getting them placed. However, this is far from the truth, and when it comes to production, many artists want to be guided in the studio with constructive criticism. When you are new, it would be in your best interest to let someone more experienced help you run the session in the studio for your first 2-3 times, and then you can take the wheel after that.
Bro, I’m Only Getting $1,000 for the Track!?
Sell to bigger clients. However, if you have other musicians that helped you create the track, you should still pay them a piece. This will develop a good rapport amongst your creative connections and will actually bring more opportunities to you by the good deed alone. After all, it is only $1,000, right?
Most New Creatives Don’t Even Have a PRO for Me to Do Splits
You can always register their name and put in NS for no society upon registration. This will hold their percentage without holding up your registration process.
This will help you out big time!
If you're a music creative or executive looking to build your label or publishing company in 60 days or less, with a step-by-step foolproof process, Grab the 60-Day record label course and get it done today! You gain the ability to get real funding, prevent yourself from getting screwed contractually, and keep the middleman out of your pockets. Click the link below to get started right now! If you’re skeptical grab the free guide, "10 Ways to Increase Your Record Label Profits," a free split sheet comes with the download!
Taking Care of Your Creative Staff as a Producer…
Will not only increase opportunities for you as a producer, but it also gives you the experience of actually running a business. On top of that, if you invoice people properly, you will make their heads spin since they aren’t seeing this in the business anymore because this is a lost art.
Winging It on Your Production Business…
Causes you to lose connections and most of all money. Splits that take forever to be submitted get lost in the sauce, and nobody gets their money.
Conclusion
If you ever wanted to become a better producer, you now have some keys to level up your business of doing music. Taking charge of the business aspects of music production not only improves your reputation but also secures your financial future. By properly managing budgets, reporting credits, and ensuring fair splits, you’ll build a reliable network of creatives who trust and respect you. Embrace these responsibilities, and you’ll find yourself growing not just as a producer, but as a successful music entrepreneur.
Comentários