The word producer gets thrown around a lot in the music field. The rap and hip-hop world have added to the confusion. I’m going to attempt to clear that up. In my opinion there are three main types of music producers:
The Classic Music Producer
Think Rick Rubin, Quincy Jones, Phil Spector. These guys are musical geniuses. They are the turd polishers of our industry. The classic music producer can play instruments, arrange parts, get you to sing in key and create a hit. Usually when a band gets signed, the record label assigns a music producer. Their job is to make sure your album sounds great and there is at least one hit on it.
The Executive Producer
Think David Geffen, Clive Davis, Ahmet Ertegun. Some of these guys might be able to play or sing a little, but their job is really to make records and careers happen. They are great at finding a new band or performer. They match the artist with a good music producer and magic happens (or sometimes maybe it doesn’t!). The executive producer looks after the business interests of the record label and makes money for the “suits.” Without them, there simply is no business. They keep it all rolling.
The Beat Producer
This is where the confusion from the rap and hip-hop world comes in. Rappers come into my studio and tell me about their “producer”. What they really mean is their “beat producer.” Rappers need beats so they have a producer to make their beats. Don’t get me wrong, a beat producer is a hugely important role. They can make or break a song just like the vocalist can. I just think it’s important to make the distinction. Of course, there are producers that do it all: Kanye West, Eminem and Dr. Dre, for example. But when most amateur rappers talk about their producer, it’s the guy who makes the beats.
There are many other types of “producers” in the entertainment business too, but in the music realm these three types are all you need to know! However, most likely, for the time being, you are producing your own music.
