8 Do’s & Don’ts of Music Production
Like any industry, the music business comes with both a fair share of unique challenges to overcome and ample opportunities to succeed. But if you're new to the game, it can be difficult to know how to navigate it. To help you put your best foot forward, our UnitedMasters A&R team compiled a list of the top do’s and don’ts for emerging producers to guide them on their way to success. Consider this a training manual to help you avoid rookie mistakes and focus on what matters most.
4 Do’s of Music Production
1) Learn the industry. Emerging producers should be students of the game and take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow. That means reading up on the business and craft of music production. Specifically, new producers should study music publishing, Public Performance Rights Organization (PROs), sync, licensing, music theory, and masters so that you’re equipped to manage your music business. Don’t know where to begin? Browse our blog and YouTube to help you get started.
2) Treat your brand like a business. To separate yourself from other producers you must manage your brand like a business. A fully realized and consistent brand image will allow you to generate revenue outside of production and help you cut through a crowded industry. Your producer name, producer tag, social media, and overall online persona should all be cohesive. What do you stand for? What is your point of view? Your brand should tell your unique story in an easy to digest way so fans can identify with who you are as a producer and as a person. For more on how you can turn your brand into a business, check out our conversation with Murda Beatz’ manager, Cory Litwin.
3) Promote yourself on social media. It’s imperative that producers maximize their visibility on social media to build a fan base. There is no magic formula for going viral, but consistency is the name of the game when it comes to building a following on social. Promote important milestones like new beat drops and collabs, and give a glimpse into more personal areas of your life so fans can connect on a deeper level. Focus on promoting content on social channels that people use most often like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat.
Then, try promoting your music on emerging social platforms to give you a better chance at being a first adopter of the next big app. Who knows, the next Twitch or Discord could be on the verge of going mainstream. You’ll want to make sure you’re on the ground floor when that happens.
4) Always collaborate. As a new producer, collaboration comes in many different forms, from sharing drum kits to getting artists to lay reference vocals. By constantly collaborating, you can up your chances of securing placements and building much-needed relationships that you can call on later in your career.
4 Don’ts of Music Production
1) Don’t underdeliver on commitments. For new producers coming up in the industry, the last thing you want to do is burn bridges before your career gets off the ground. To ensure that you stay in the good graces of the movers and shakers within the industry, be sure to follow through on any promises you’ve made. You should aim to be the producer who always delivers, conducts themself professionally, and remains true to their word. That way colleagues, collaborators, and artists know they can count on you and consider you for their next big project.
2) Don’t forget to give proper credit. Intellectual property theft and lack of proper accreditation runs rampant within the music industry. Do not be a part of the problem. If you collaborate with another producer and sell a beat you created together, make sure to give your collaborator the proper credit. In the end, it’s all about the golden rule. Treat your collaborators how you would expect to be treated.
3) Don’t overlook up-and-coming artists. Emerging producers sometimes focus too much on working with high-profile artists who can provide the immediate credibility they need to quickly ascend the ranks. However, in doing so, producers often overlook working with an artist that is at a similar stage of their career and miss opportunities to produce a breakthrough record like Lil Nas X and YoungKio’s “Old Town Road.” On that particular record, both artist and producer were at the beginning of their careers and took their talents to number one on the U.S. Billboard charts. That kind of breakout success is difficult to predict, so we recommend producers work with artists based on their talent and not what stage they’re at in their career.
4) Don’t cut corners. In the music industry, if something seems too good to be true, it usually is! Don’t spam your loops and melodies to “fake” industry email chains you buy from online forums. That is the quickest way to become a canceled producer before you even get your shot. A lot of the recipients on these lists are real people who work in the industry, but spamming them is not the best way to get their attention. Nothing beats hard work, networking, and constant promotion, so avoid the easy way out whenever possible.
These pro tips can save you from mistakes, help you cultivate quality relationships, and guide you as you build your career.
