Producers from all walks of life at one point in time or another have all came across the same revolutionary contradiction when it comes to working with artists: how do I sell my beats and for what price? This inquiry may come about simply because the creator has been working diligently for a surplus amount of time and expects a return on their investment. Other than that, the need for money is a result of chasing after doing what you love for a living. Most people in this industry would agree so in this article, not only will we be giving pointers about how you can "make it rain" in the studio, but we will be discussing key reasons why working with and supporting producers is the best decision for your music career.
Youtube made its mark on the internet in 2005 and the art of making music has never been the same since. Weather you aspire to be a world class chef or the next Timbaland, Youtube has videos to teach literally anyone no matter what their skill level is. You could even go as far as to say that colleges are competing with the ever-growing platform. There are pro and cons about it but the bottom line is that no one has an excuse to not learn how to do what they love, even if it means they are only average. The difference between one artist and another really comes down to how much time they put into their craft. This is the first and most important reason producers should get more credit than they're given. The amount of time it takes to make a beat can vary from 10 minutes to 3 days! In retrospect, the beat-making process can appear to be effortless, however, the tools needed and patience necessary to develop a sound true to yourself takes a special kind of individual. To put it metaphorically, think of how long it takes to make a plate of food at a restaurant. You place an order, the server communicates to the chef, you wait 20 minutes, and BOOM! your food is there. After you finish the meal, you are required to pay for it. The same applies to beats depending on who the producer is. You might have a request for a certain sound that you can deliver the best on. After the producer "cooks up" the sound, you're ready to record and might have made your first hit single! To be a chef, you have to have the right technical skills and tools to produce the right product and then be paid accordingly.
Of course we can't assume that all chefs are worth the amount of money they're asking for so how can you trust that the exchange is worth it? Let's refer back to our chef metaphor. If you place an order, the chef is going to assume whatever you asked for is your acquired taste. If you walk into a Chinese restaurant and order pasta, the employee will probably look at you like you just fell out of the sky. The chef will only be skilled in whatever that restaurant offers so dining with them when you have a craving for Italian probably won't be your best bet. Working with producers is the same way. Some may reach out to you on a first name basis because they know what kind of genre you cater to while others might shove their beat tags and snippets down your throat. (Click here to learn 6 best websites to sell your beats online.) Not everyone will be out for your best interest, of course, so finding the right producer to work with might be a matter of trial and error. On the other end of the spectrum, producers should be advised that the best way to sell your beats is having face to face interactions with clients. A gathering at your studio solely for the purpose of showcasing your beat-making skills is one of the most effective ways to sell your beats genuinely and with purpose. As not every beat works for one artist, not every artist is worth a producer's time. Make sure whoever you are trying to work with is serious about what you are offering and has plans in mind to take their music to the next level (whatever that may be).
Having access to producers online is the quickest way to get a song put out. All you have to do is either reach out to the producer or pay through the website where you found the track to be able to record on it. These days, the process is even more simplified with downloadable beats. You know those videos with the big font title stating "FREE BEAT FOR DOWNLOAD" on Youtube videos? Yeah. We've all been there. This isn't meant to be shade at those people who decide to go that route, however, over time you will find that you're really not the only one hopping on those instrumentals. Most beats with those titles have a bunch of tags either throughout the song or at the beginning and end. Recording songs with beat tags is definitely not a bad thing especially if it's done tastefully. There's plenty of ways to create your own beat tag to help identify your beats more readily. In the case of music artists, this has the potential to make or break the quality of your music. Be mindful of how the producer represents themselves on a beat or when they interact with you. If you find how they do business is unprofessional or careless, you should probably reconsider working with them. On the other hand, if they are talented and enthusiastic about not only what they do but what you do, the chemistry in the music will show considerably. This will also determine weather or not the price they are charging for their music is really reasonable. The average price for a lease could run anywhere from $30-$100 and exclusives $150-$50,000 (yes, seriously). Understanding quality in music production is the key to knowing what your comfort level is when it comes to working with others and where your skill level is at this point in your career.