A music producer is a person who manages and controls every step of the music production process, including composition, recording, artist performance, marketing, promoting, and several other activities. A music producer now has his job cut out for him as he is mostly responsible for the commercial success of an artist’s single or album.
The position of a music producer typically requires some significant musical skill sets because they are in charge of overseeing a tune until it is used in the final result. Depending on how big the task is, for example, the project may hire different people for different jobs, sometimes even a whole team to handle just one job like recording and another does mixing.
You will find yourself playing numerous different roles like the recording engineer, song writer, financial admin who takes care of financial deals, and most importantly the music coach. The steps one might follow to become a music producer are listed below. Since the position is a professional one, producing music well requires determination.
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How Do You Become a Music Producer in Nigeria?
The process to becoming a music producer is varied. Some people start out in the industry as sound engineers, record label executives, musicians, or graduates of music schools. The emergence of the internet, social media, and consumer-level recording technology has made it simpler for self-taught producers to pursue a career in production. There are several steps that any aspiring music producer can follow, regardless of their strategy.
Here are some steps you can follow to consider producing music in Nigeria:
1. Get a Formal Education in Music
For you to succeed in the music industry, having a musical education is necessary in addition to having a passion for music. You can enroll in a basic music school or music academy, which are likely to be located all over your region and essentially teach music as a profession.
This is more significant to a producer than it is to the artist themselves because the producer will be exposed to numerous musical skill sets and will need to know the technical phrases for words used in the industry. Or you can study it as a course at a university.
2. Register With The Copyrights Organization
Original music composed by musicians is referred to as intellectual property, meaning that it is a type of material produced by creativity, much like writing, drawing, etc. One must sign up for a free membership with a copyrights organization like
Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON). One merely needs to submit a COSON application, complete and sign it, and bring a legitimate form of identification to register.
By doing this, you will prevent anyone from stealing from you by claiming a work of yours as their own and you will facilitate the collecting of “royalties” for any musical composition you produced. Royalty is the commission you receive when your music is used in television shows, motion pictures, radio broadcasts, commercials, and other media.
Although it may not be essential to register because, according to local law, the owner of any intellectual property, including poetry, writing, music, and graphic designs, is the person who developed it. The benefit of registering with a copyrights organization is that they will function as middlemen between you and third parties and require you to list the music you generated with them.
3. Start a Recording Studio
Despite the fact that you may operate as a sole producer, where clients only contact you when they require your services, a studio of your own allows you greater control over the recording process, and the finished result will be more in line with your expectations. In addition to making more money that way, it is also where people look first to find music producers.
4. Attending Social Events
In this field, getting recognition from musicians and other professionals is crucial. Therefore, active participation in music-related events is required, including concerts, parties, and competitions where you can network with DJs, sound engineers, and representatives from record labels.
In order to satisfy your clients, you will undoubtedly need these contacts. For example, if you need to move the production process along by signing a client to a record label, calling them directly won’t be very helpful if you haven’t already met in person. Meeting these people will take you to a whole new level in the industry. Therefore, be sure to always have your business card ready before engaging in social activities.
5. Create music
You can make music no matter where you are in the process of becoming a music producer. Creating beats for other musicians, creating remixes of popular songs and sounds, or even creating your own unique music are all examples of this. To establish your brand, bring in artists, and provide prospects for projects, think about using social media to promote and share your work.
List of skills a music producer should have
Successful music producers have a variety of skills, such as:
The ability to read music: Being able to read music can improve your capacity to communicate with musicians.
Proficiency with multiple instruments: Learning an instrument can deepen your comprehension of musical ideas and assist you in producing your own music samples.
Music composition: A key component of music production is the creation and arrangement of music.
Pitch, melody, and rhythm: Understanding which sounds are in which key is an essential ability for producers and musicians.
Social media marketing: Using social media to market your work is essential if you want to succeed as a professional music producer and attract clients and collaborators.
Responsibilities of a Music Producer
These are a few of the tasks that a music producer is expected to perform:
• Overseeing recording sessions
• Guiding the artist through his career
• Supervising mixing of the audio or doing it himself
• Monitoring financial budgets
• Promoting the musician and music produced
• Signing an artist to a record label
How a Music Producer Earns Money
Here are some typical ways that music producers can make money:
• They accept gigs: This is particularly effective for individuals who have studios because people come to them to record their tunes and perhaps advertise them.
• They take a commission: Occasionally, but rarely, they get paid in advance regardless of the success of a song. After the song is realized, music producers typically collect a commission from each sale or purchase; hence, the more sales, the more money the producers make.
• They pick out artists: The well-connected, seasoned music producer, by which I mean one who has been in the business for a while and has a sterling reputation, scouts for artists they have heard on the radio, seen on TV, or participated in competitions. If they believe they have found someone new with a fresh talent who fits their musical preferences, they hire them, launch their careers, and then profit from commission.
In Review
Many people have the desire to work as a music producer. New songs are written by music producers, which are then played on the radio, in bars, and in films and TV programs all over the world. Although there are various ways to become a music producer, each one takes time and effort.
The sound of each song on an album is shaped by music producers, who also direct the album’s general vision. Producers who hire studio musicians, operate alone, or collaborate with performers all play different roles in each genre of music.
There is an economic side to the profession as well, as music producers frequently own and operate their own studios, market and sell their music, and provide mix and mastering services. Producers of music have the ability to write full songs, arrange music, mix and master pre-existing music, and sample it.
