Today, a majority of music producers are now freelancers, with the vast majority of new hires being employees.
A growing number of producers are making more money and working in more challenging environments.
However, not all producers are looking for the top jobs in the industry.
Here are some tips to help you land those next big job.1.
Find a job with an established reputation and track record.
A number of music producer careers have a proven track record, with more than 20% of those hired making money for more than 10 years.
“The first thing you have to understand is that if you are a new hire, you’re going to make less than you would at a company that has a lot of years of experience,” says David Breslauer, a producer and producer education coach at Studio X. “There are a lot more people out there that have a lot to offer and a lot less to lose.
That’s where the pay is good, and there’s a lot that’s on the line.”2.
Look for jobs that offer a competitive salary.
If you’re looking for a new job that pays more than $50,000 a year, look for one that pays $50-100k a year.
“You need to look for a job that has proven that you can make more than a $50k a month,” says Bresling.
“A lot of times you can get into that kind of position in the beginning, but as you get older and you get more experience and you start to lose that $50K a month, then it’s really tough to get into.”3.
Don’t let a lack of experience fool you.
“There’s always going to be some people who have experience but it’s a good thing to look out for,” says Steve Breslow, a music producer and author of the book Music Production for the Modern Job.
“If you don’t have experience you’re probably not going to have a good enough reason to work for the company you’re applying for.”4.
Be flexible.
“It’s really important to remember that the bigger you are, the less time you’ll be able to dedicate to the job,” says Aimee Johnson, a production director at Dazed Records.
“It’s also important to understand that a lot people can do a lot and a little.
It’s really up to you to decide how much you can do and how you’ll do it.”5.
Look beyond the title.
If the music business is not for you, don’t go into it thinking that the music industry is for you.
“Some people think the job is the answer to all your problems, but if you can’t be the person you want to be, it’s not the right place for you,” says Johnson.6.
Make sure you have a background in the field.
A lot music producers don’t know what they’re doing.
“As a producer, you need to be able and willing to step away from what you’re doing,” says Gary Johnson, the head of creative and business development at Noodle.
“That means knowing where you want the job to take you and what the job isn’t going to look like, but also that you’re not the only person who needs to get the job done.”7.
Make time for family.
“You want to give yourself time to spend with your family,” says Mandy Johnson, founder of Bambino Productions.
“Make sure that when you’re gone, you have time to get back in the game.”8.
Choose a job where you’re comfortable.
“The music business has changed dramatically in the past 20 years.
A lot of the things that you are used to now are changing and changing quickly.
You’re going through the transition from the old model of being a solo artist to the new model of working with other people,” says Chris Johnson, managing director at Crave Records.”
A lot people look at music production as a way to make money and they think it’s going to go on forever, but it doesn’t.
It could be a career.
It doesn’t have to be,” says Joe Cottrell, managing partner at the music and radio division of Verve.
“At Verve, we are always looking for new people to join our team and help us grow.
We also look for artists who have an understanding of our business and how we’re going about our business.”9.
Take some time to work out the kinks.
“We have an artist program, and we like to give artists time to learn and to have their voices heard,” says Mike Fennelly, the director of business development for Soundcloud.
“We’ve also found that the best way to help them get a better understanding of how the music is made is to give them a job and then teach them how to do it themselves.
We have an artists program and it’s pretty flexible.”10. Be sure
