Record Production

1. Record Production MUM 2700 Music Business 1Professor Calle

2. Producer Responsibilities • Maximizing the creative process - choosing good songs, creating quality arrangements, bringing out the best in all involved, overseeing the process from start to finish. • Administration - scheduling, budgeting, filing contracts, etc.

3. Producer Types • The complete producer: • Qualified to handle all aspects of production including: • Technical • Creative • Budget

4. Musician/Engineer Producer • This type of producer will oversee one or multiple recording sessions of a project. • Typically, these individuals posses specialized skills in a specific area of the production process such as tracking vocals, rhythm sections, strings or horns.

5. Artist Producer • A self-producing artist. • Usually controls the creative process of the production and out-sources the technical and budgetary responsibilities.

6. Executive Producer • Raise money or funds the production. • Oversee the entire production but usually have a limited creative roll. • Record company presidents are often listed as executive producers.

7. Co-Producers • Individuals who share in the production process. • These folks can be experts in the creative, technical or budgetary aspects of production but can’t complete the process alone due to funding or other deficiencies.

8. Points • Producers are usually issued an advance and then earn royalties. • Superstars - 2 to 5 points or more. • Midlevel - 1 to 3 points • Beginners - 0 to 1 points

9. Starting out • Producer is hired by an artist. • Producer works for a flat fee. • Producer will try to enter into a royalty bearing agreement with the artist in case the artist is signed by a record company. • Artist will shop the production.

10. Climbing the Ladder • If a producer’s work becomes commercially successful (it sells), then record companies may hire the producer directly. • At first, much of the work will be “work-for-hire” • Eventually, producer will demand royalty points and receive them.

11. Advances • New producers - $0 - $3,500 per track. • Midlevel - $3,500 - $5,000 per track • Superstars - $10,000 - $15,000 per track • Jam & Lewis - $150,000 per track

12. Production Steps • Determine the artist • Find the appropriate material • Budget & scheduling • Create a high-quality production representative and unique to the artist and genre. • Meet all deadlines

13. Superstar Recoupment • Superstars such as Quincy Jones, David Foster and Phil Ramone are only responsible for recoupment of their production advances at the combined rate. • They typically do not have to recoup the recording costs and earn royalties quickly.

14. Midlevel Recoupment • These producers earn royalties from record one after recoupment of the entire project’s recording costs at the combined rate. • These producers earn royalties slower than superstar producers.

15. Low level Recoupment • These producers are paid from record one after recoupment of the entire recording cost at the net rate. • These producers take longer to earn royalties than all other producers.

16. Royalties • Assume the following: • Recording costs $120,000 • Producer advance $10,000 • Artist royalties .50 cents per CD. • Producers royalties .10 cents per CD • Net rate = .50 • Combined rate = .60

17. Calculations • Record sells 200,000 units. • Recording costs $120,000 • 200,000 * .50 (net rate) = $100,000 • Deficit of $20,000 • Producer is not owed royalties.

18. Calculations 2 • Record sells 240,000 units. • Recording costs $120,000 • 240,000 * .50 (net rate) = $120,000 • Recouped

19. Royalties • 240,000 * .10 = $24,000 • Advance $10,000 • Producer royalties owed • $24,000 - $10,000 = $14,000

20. Contracts • As a producer always make the record company responsible for payment. • Artists typically recoup later than producers and thusly will not have money to pay the producer.