The Record Producer
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There is no definition as to who can, or can’t, be a Record Producer, in reality anyone can. During his 35 years within the Music / Entertainment industry, the Author has witnessed some of the most unlikely candidates not only enter into Record production, but also succeed on an unbelievable scale. From Club DJ’s to Promotion people, Radio Presenters to Music Publishers, A+R people to Songwriters, Studio Engineers, Artists who have produced other Artists, and Music industry personnel who could not tell the difference between an ‘A’ flat and a Furnished flat!

The Music / Entertainment industry must surely be the only business in the world where all the rules can be openly broken, where all the guidelines can be stepped outside, where both the rules and the guidelines become subjective and open to ridicule! But to be fair, it should be highlighted that there is an unwritten ‘Code of Conduct’, the knowledge of which is only obtained by a learning curve and experience within the industry, and if adhered to will ensure longevity and respect within a most wonderful and exciting working environment.

As in most areas of the industry, Record Producers would normally specialise in their own particular personal taste in music. Why? Because they feel it! And it is this ‘feel’ that they endeavour to get across in their Productions. In understanding their own particular preference in music they would also heavily identify with the audience and the Record buying public of the artists that they Produce, but the really successful Producers also have an uncanny knack, or gift, of more often than not, in choosing the right songs or material to Record.

Successful Record Production continually obtains a very high position on the ‘hit and miss’ list, the reason being that, as in anything creative, sometimes it works and other times it simply does not. You can take the greatest act into the studio, with the most fantastic song, you commence the Recording, but somehow, it just doesn't work, the chemistry is just not there, it lacks ‘the feel’, no matter what you try, no matter how many studio tricks or effects you use, it just doesn’t have it! How much has this cost? Don’t ask! Then at other times, the throw away track, the ‘lets try this and see how it works’ type track, Recorded in a matter of minutes, sometimes turns out to be the most successful track the act has ever Recorded or will ever Record again!

The once long-standing rule in the industry of "when you have a successful formula, stay with it", has now passed. Artists and their Management’s have had to become as fickle as their audiences, being forced to do so by rapidly changing trends. Therefore, being placed under tremendous pressure to make each new release so much different from the last and this results in them changing Producers and Songwriting teams constantly in an effort to remain successful for as long as possible. Although this can be detrimental in terms of Artist Development and career longevity, when you are a participant within an industry of this nature, you are dictated to by current day events and they have to be adhered to if you are to stand any kind of chance in continually succeeding within such a competitive atmosphere.

Record Production must rate as one of the most unstable and highest risk factors of the whole industry, but if you really want to explore this as a career, you will find your own way, others have!

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