Patricia Wooster - Music Producer

Published in the United States of America by

Cherry Lake Publishing, Ann Arbor, Michigan

www.cherrylakepublishing.com

Content Adviser

Paul Farahvar, President and CEO, Shoeshine Boy Productions, Chicago, Illinois

Credits

Cover and page 1, iStockphoto.com/track5; page 4, V&A Images/Alamy; page 7, Tetra Images/Alamy; page 8, Alexey Fursov/Shutterstock; page 10, Aija Lehtonen/Dreamstime.com; page 13, AP Photo/Richard Lewis; page 14, Stepanov/Shutterstock; page 15, Lucian Milasan/Dreamstime.com; page 16, Arvind Balaraman/Shutterstock; page 19, auremar/Shutterstock; page 21, Brain A Jackson/Shutterstock; page 22, Yakov Stavchansky/Dreamstime.com; page 24, Pavel Losevsky/Dreamstime.com; page 25, Aaron Settipane/ Dreamstime.com; page 26, Lisa F. Young/Shutterstock; page 28, AP Photo/ Dan Steinberg

Copyright 2012 by Cherry Lake Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wooster, Patricia.

Music producer/by Patricia Wooster.

p. cm.(Cool arts careers)

Includes index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61080-133-1 (lib. bdg.)

ISBN-10: 1-61080-133-4 (lib. bdg.)

1. Music tradeJuvenile literature. 2. Sound recordingsProduction and directionJuvenile literature. I. Title.

ML3795.W575 2012

780.23dc22 2011001582

Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Please visit www.21stcenturyskills.org for more information.

Printed in the United States of America

Corporate Graphics Inc.

July 2011

CLFA09

A new bands dream is coming true as the musicians enter the studio with their instruments and get ready to play. The band is recording its first album after months of playing small shows. The audio engineer and the producer are in the control booth to record and adjust the sounds. The producer gives direction for each song and helps the band members create a vision for their album. He may ask them to speed up a song, take the pitch higher, or change the lyrics. He guides the musicians as they try to create a hit record. After the recording session, the engineer and the producer still have work to do. They use audio equipment and computers to make the recordings sound as good as they can.

One of the most famous and successful producers of all time is George Martin. In 1962 he began working with a group of four unknown musicians called the Beatles. The Beatles went on to sell more than 1 billion records and to become one of the most popular bands of all time. Martin encouraged them to try new sounds and music styles. He helped them to develop as artists and to push themselves forward with each album. During his career, Martin produced 19 number-one hit albums and 22 number-one hit singles in the United States. His production talent inspired many young people to enter the music business.

Today, technology plays a key role in the music industry. People download music from the Internet and store it on computers and portable devices. Musicians of all ages and skill levels can record their music and post it online for others to hear. People interested in music production can buy affordable home studio equipment and learn to record and mix songs. Technology is changing how music is heard and produced. Everyone has access to an audience through the Internet.

Josh Swade is a music producer and the owner of a small record label. He produces and markets new artists. When Swade was growing up, his father played the drums and was passionate about music. When I was in high school, I bought a pair of turntables and began to DJ at parties and events, Swade says. He decided to pursue a career in the music business.

LEARNING & INNOVATION SKILLS

Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. This invention was the main recording technology for many years. In 1925 the electronic microphone improved the sound quality of recordings. By the early 1980s, records were also available as cassette tapes and compact discs. Today, music can be downloaded from the Internet and carried around on a tiny music player.

In the past, people could only hear music on the radio, at a concert, or on a record purchased at a store. Most people only listened to music created by professional artists. Now anyone can record music at home and put it on the Internet. How do you think this affects the music industry?

Producers often play several roles in the music business. Some sign artists to recording contracts. Many are involved in songwriting and completing final masters of songs. They work closely with audio engineers, who use technology to enhance music and polish the final sound.

Some producers help their artists with public relations. They might arrange live performances or hire a director to make a music video. Producers might also decide on the best time to release an album, to make sure it sells well. They use branding to create public images for their artists. They also work with blogs, Web sites, and magazines to help get the word out. Some producers help artists with everything from musical direction to business decisions. Others work only on the musical side of things.

Most small independent production companies have fewer resources than larger companies. This means independent producers must take on many roles. Artists copyright their songs. This means other artists cannot record the same song without permission. Producers make arrangements with record companies, television producers, and movie companies to license songs. Some production companies provide music for video games, commercials, and animation. They may spend a lot of time in meetings trying to gain new business for their artists.

Music producers work with creative people. They meet new artists and watch current artists try new things. They do so many things that every day is different. How would you like to listen to a record you produced or see a concert you helped organize?

Producers work with a lot of musicians and might work on many projects at the same time. It is important for them to be flexible. Every client has different needs.

Marketing is a very important part of the job for some producers. They create marketing plans to help promote the release of a new album and spread the word about the artist. These plans cover publicity, promotion, production, touring, advertising, and budgets. Different people work on each part of a plan.