🎶 What About Music Production? 🎶
- Romain Raynal
- Apr 13, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 27
Following my previous articles, which have provided you with keys to professionalize your music productions, I will explain today the role and origins of this profession. Let’s try to better understand this multifaceted and sometimes blurry profession.
What does “producere” mean?
The producer, also called artistic director, is in a way the project manager for the creation of an album or recorded work. They are responsible for having a global vision of the project, connecting the various participants, choosing the studio, etc. They are involved in stages such as artistic direction, musical arrangements, recording and programming of instruments, vocal coaching, mixing, and even mastering. They are the thread that connects all the steps and generally act as the link between the artists and the record labels.
Psychologist, visionary, technician, entrepreneur, the role of the producer differs depending on the individual, their skills, their tastes, and the desires of the artist or record label with whom they work. That’s why it is difficult to find a uniform definition.
Etymologically, “producer” comes from the Latin producere, which means “to guide” or “to lead forward.” Thus, they are the engine of the project, bringing their vision to the universe of an artist or band. Some producers, like Brian Eno (U2, Coldplay), have been recognized for their avant-gardism and influence in the music world. Others, such as Clive Davis (Whitney Houston, Janis Joplin) are known for discovering talented artists, or for being geniuses in sampling, like Daft Punk or in Hip Hop, like Dr. Dre ou Timbaland.
Often confused with the “financial producer,” these are, however, distinct roles. Attached to a label or record company, their role is to manage finances and ensure the project’s profitability. The two roles often work together, managing artists, each with their own specialty, finance or music. To complicate matters, some individuals play both roles, such as Quincy Jones (Michael Jackson), who was involved both musically and financially.
With production tools constantly evolving, new waves of producers regularly emerge, and with them, a plethora of artists. In the end, no producer is like another. Let’s still try to understand what unites them by looking at the origins of this profession.
Music Production Through the Ages:
To find the origin of the producer role, we must go back to the dawn of the 1950s with the emergence of recording studios. Initially, the producer’s role was to ensure the smooth running of orchestra recordings. But quickly, equipment evolved, and some producers stood out by trying new approaches and experimenting with technology in its early stages.
Among them was George Martin, Among them was George Martin, a classical music producer at the helm of Parlophone, looking for new talent to add to his catalog in an emerging style of music: rock’n’roll. It was then that he crossed paths with the Beatles, whom he initially deemed “OK, but not great.” However, their humor and intelligence eventually convinced him. After a reshuffling of the band, a close collaboration took place, during which nearly 190 songs were recorded, including 27 number one hits. Considered “the Fifth Beatle,” he became, in turn, a mentor, arranger, and sound engineer. George Martin even accompanied them in their experiments with Indian music on the album Sgt. Pepper’s.
The arrival of samplers in the 1980s ushered in the first hip-hop producers, also known as beatmakers. In the 1990s, electronic music emerged with a new movement, the French Touch, which produced groups like Air and Daft Punk. More recently, computers have offered many possibilities, and artists like Skrillex or Petit Biscuit have leveraged new tools to create new musical trends.
The Producer Spectrum:
Upon reading this article, you may notice it’s hard to draw a typical profile. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of various producer archetypes, and I’ll try to describe them for you.
The Technician:
The geek of production, behind his screen and machines, he may spend hours perfecting the sound of a snare drum. Always on the lookout for new ways to create and evolve his music, he leaves nothing to chance. His ultimate goal is to achieve “the sound.”
Some examples: Nicolas Godin (Air), Grimes, Brian Eno, Nigel Godrich
The Multi-Instrumentalist:
A jack-of-all-trades, he plays all instruments, sings, directs the music videos, and some even go so far as to create the choreography. He has a clear vision of what he wants to do and how he’s going to do it. He is often the artist for whom he produces, though he sometimes devotes time to collaborations.
Some examples: Prince, Charlie Puth, Dave Grohl, Björk
The Visionary:
Somewhere between a businessman and a music producer, he is a visionary, a talent scout. Sitting in the shadows at the back of the studio, if he’s silent, it’s because he’s analyzing. He’s there to guide the artist and push them to exceed themselves. Less involved in the technical aspects, his vision of the music industry and his flair make him a talent spotter.
Some examples: Rick Rubin, Clive Davis, Jimmy Iovine, Linda Perry
The DJ, Producer, Remixer:
In addition to lighting up the dance floor, some DJs, by creating original remixes, have become talent producers. Known for their flair, they will discover an unknown acapella and turn it into an international hit, propelling careers.
Some examples: David Guetta, Ellen Allien, Calvin Harris, Avicii
“Bankable” Producers:
Over time, certain producers have established a solid reputation by signing commercial successes, and for an artist, collaborating with them means guaranteed success.
Among the most influential producers in the music industry are names such as Timbaland, Dr. Dre and Mark Ronson, qui ont chacun marqué leur époque avec des productions innovantes et ont lancé la carrière de nombreux artistes.
Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Zachery Mosley, had a prolific career in the 1990s and 2000s, producing songs for artists like Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, and Nelly Furtado. His signature sound, characterized by heavy beats and bold arrangements, was widely imitated and helped define the sound of hip-hop and R&B during that period.
Dr. Dre, on the other hand, is another legendary producer who launched the careers of artists like Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and 50 Cent. His trademark style, defined by deep bass and soulful samples, has been one of the most influential in the history of rap.
Mark Ronson, a British producer, achieved immense success in the 2000s by producing albums for artists like Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, and Bruno Mars. His eclectic style, blending funk, soul, and rock elements, made his productions stand out in an often uniform musical landscape.
By collaborating with renowned producers, artists can ensure maximum exposure and a certain guarantee of commercial success. Additionally, working with a famous producer can provide credibility and validation in the eyes of listeners and music professionals, offering artists greater visibility and legitimacy, contributing to their success.
The Rise of Home Studios:
Recently, “bedroom producers” like Finneas (Billie Eilish) have demonstrated that they can take the charts by storm and win Grammys by producing and recording entire albums in their bedrooms. Additionally, many beatmakers have managed to score major hits from their home studios.
Indeed, it’s now possible to equip yourself with professional tools at home and produce music “on a budget.” I’m preparing a big article on “everything you need to produce an album from A to Z.”
By acting as mutual influences, current musical trends highlight music produced in home studios.
The emergence of bedroom producers is shaking up the music industry, often placing the music recorded in luxury studios second.
Coupled with streaming, which has drastically divided artists’ earnings, it also forces them to produce a lot and regularly. This significantly limits budgets and time allocated to an album.
Moreover, for many artists, it’s very comfortable to be able to work in a calm environment without the pressure of making costly recording sessions profitable, with a team of technicians. That’s how Stromae recorded his latest album entirely at home, taking as much time as he needed. In fact, only the mixing was done in the studio.
Through these few lines, I hope you can better discern the contours of this profession, and who knows, it may have sparked a vocation in you. If that’s the case, I invite you to read these articles that will give you keys to evolve your music productions.
Feel free to comment and share on your social media and stay connected—more articles are coming soon!
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