Music production relates to any work carried out to produce sound as part of a particular project. Sound goes into thousands of projects yearly. Examples would be music found on the latest CDs, sound effects in a horror movie, sound associated with a live extravaganza or music cues on TV shows.
Since the production of sound is utilized everywhere from movies to TV and radio to the recording of CDs, there are a greater number of music production careers possible today than ever before. With the advances in technology, the industry keeps growing with even more utilizations coming into play like phone ringtones and games.
Careers & Salaries in Music Production
One of the top music production jobs is that of a producer. He is responsible for supervising all aspects of a recording process – from contracting background players to managing the budget. They also work with engineers in the mixing and recording process. A producer can help the artist in selecting songs that will be recorded and work with composers and record labels to produce the records. According to salary.com, the average salary for producers in June 2011 was $49,764.
A career as a recording engineer means the individual will operate soundboard and other electrical equipment when music is being recorded. The producers oversee the engineers to make sure they get the product they want. Additionally, the recording engineer fulfills the producerís and artistís desires. The engineer may also be asked to mix down the recorded track into the finished CD. Their average salary is around $54,030 per year.
A good stepping stone for entering music production careers is as an assistant engineer. An assistant engineer works in the studio and as the name implies is responsible for assisting the engineer. He helps with setting up of the equipment, recording tracks and mixing. According to Indeed, as of June 2011, the salary of an assistant engineer is approximately $30,000.
A studio manager is the person responsible for running the recording studio, and he may be a partial or full owner. A manager would be responsible for booking recording acts at the studio, scheduling engineers, promoting the studio, budgeting and supplying all necessary items required by a professional recording studio. Additionally, he is something of a diplomat, acting as a liaison between the engineers and artists to make sure everyone is satisfied. He also handles all the financial dealings. The average salary of a recording studio manager is $39,000, as of June 2011, according to SimplyHired.
The A & R administrator handles artist budgets, while projecting cost estimates, and his success or failure is determined if the budget is met or not. Such an administrator generally works with one or two studios to generate volume discounts for their clients. Additionally, they submit bills and purchase orders as needed. They work with A&R coordinators to chart the progress of an artist to make sure a record is released on the designated date.
Historically, this is one of the most prized music production jobs in any record company, and competition is fierce because many of the companies just promote from within. Like in most other positions, salaries vary for the post according to the size of the company and the experience level of the individual hired. Salary ranges from $27,000 to $65,000 per year.
Education & Training
Once the decision has been made to enter into a career in the music producing industry, one can select from a wide-ranging selection of college courses. Some individuals may prefer to get vocational training, while others prefer to get more academic instruction to achieve greater success. Due to the fierce competition in the industry, a large number of the more successful record labels are now more selective and require college degrees for the better paying positions. A vocational training or high school diploma may be sufficient for some of the entry level jobs; It must be remembered that promotions become more difficult without a college degree due to the level of competition.
Music production these days relies heavily on computer software and digital technology. So it is to the advantage of the potential music production job seeker to be fully trained in the use of the latest computer workstation and software. Additionally, the diversity of a college degree allows one to explore all the possibilities and find the most suitable path.
While the music industry is full of glamour and dreams of high paying jobs, one has to be realistic and remember that those jobs are very limited in numbers. A degree in recording or music will also come in handy for alternative careers, if one canít find a job in the music industry. While a degree is not the only road to success, it certainly helps in a competitive world of music production.