Becoming a Music Producer: Finishing Touches / Getting Money

So you're done with the song and ready to let the artist hear it? That's great, but as far as letting the artist "have" the track or letting the artist leave the studio with the track, some business must be handled first. First things first, if you're getting paid to produce the song, MAKE SURE YOU GET PAID FIRST! By no means should you release the song rights over to the artist without having payment first. This is a common mistake many new producers make when it comes to dealing with the business side of things. Sure producing is fun, but make sure you get paid for you're time and effort.

The business side of things is what can take the fun out of producing a lot of times. More and more producers get cheated out of payment or royalties when it comes to the songs they produce, don't be one of them. Make sure that if you were guaranteed a certain amount of money or other form of payment, you get it. Don't release anything without payment! The business of music can turn best friends into worst enemies when it comes to money. If you are producing for fun, give the artist the track. If you are producing just to get your name out there and don't really care about the money, give the artist the track. But if you were promised money and it's in writing get what you deserve all of it.

Being a producer is just like any other job, you have to work hard at it to be the best, and when you're the best your tax bracket will move up. Meaning if you do a great job on all the songs you produce, don't set the same fee, go up. Sure other producers might charge a little less, but artist go for quality and the name of a producer when picking who to work with.

When you make a song for an artist you are basically making a song for you. This is a chance for not only the artist to get exposure but for you to get exposure as well. Truth be told, fans listen to the lyrics of the artist, but it's the production and beats that get the fans hooked. Lyrics would be nothing without good beats and production to follow up behind it. Bottom line, to be the best producer you can be it takes patience and practice, learn the game by jumping head first into it and you'll see the rewards are great!