What Does a Music Producer Do?

Music Producers work in a recording studio, managing the entire music production process for various musicians. They’re typically responsible for handling the recording budgets to ensure artists stay within the necessary spending limits during their session. They’ll also coordinate with Musicians and Recording Engineers to create compositions, lyrics and melodies that customers will enjoy listening to.

Many Music Producers discover talented artists and negotiate contracts with them on behalf of the studio. They’ll develop the overall vision and direction for the project and will relay this information to the musicians and recording studio employees. Music Producers also help Audio Engineers mix and master the music effectively.

Music Producer Skills and Qualifications

Music Producers need a distinct set of talents. Your job description should include skills relating to the music production process, from songwriting to song distribution. The most important skills for a Music Producer are:

• Musical talent and experience, typically gathered from the Music Producer’s past experiences as a musician
• Strong technical knowledge of music and recording
• Networking and interpersonal skills (required for meeting key people in the industry)
• The ability to operate studio equipment and use sound editing software
• Management skills
• Familiarity with the latest industry developments
• Attention to detail and an excellent ear for music (required for analyzing all the elements of a musical piece and identifying flaws in the production process)
• The ability to give productive feedback and the mental fortitude to receive negative feedback

Music Producer Education and Training Requirements

While there are no official educational requirements for Music Producers, success in this role requires creativity, vision and deep musical knowledge. Most Music Producers have bachelor’s degrees in either music or the science of music. They also have in-depth practical knowledge of music that has been acquired through past work as a musician. Though some Music Producers are largely self-taught, extended education and practical training in sound engineering, recording equipment and all aspects of playing and recording music are usually required.

Music Producer Experience Requirements

Because music production is a competitive field, aspiring Music Producers usually need to be creative to acquire the necessary experience for the job. While working as a musician will give someone the knowledge and experience necessary to deal with other musicians, the technical aspects of the job can usually only be acquired by working in a music studio. Some Music Producers learn the trade by operating their own recording studios. Working as a volunteer in music studios or production companies or at an entry-level role at music events and festivals are also good ways to get experience.

Job Description Samples for Similar Positions

Music production involves many professionals with different roles and responsibilities. If this Music Producer job description doesn’t fit your needs, check out these other job description samples for related roles:

• Producer
• Video Producer