Beat Makers vs. Producers

Many unsigned artists do not know the difference between a beat maker and a producer. While some artists who may not have lots of experience working in multi-million dollar studios, the sound that an artist needs to attract major followers and gain a buzz from record labels is essential when recording music.

The first thing that an artist should ask is, what is a beat maker? A beat maker is a person who sales you a track. Yes, this may sound like a very plain and simple definition but some artists do not know the advantages and disadvantages of working with a “beat” maker. A beat maker’s primary goal is to sell you music that he/she has created to make money and/or to get a buzz for him/herself, should others recognize your work as a talented artist. Once the track is sold to you as an artist the beat maker usually has no other purpose or function. If the track that was created was to your satisfaction, you have just made an even exchange of monetary funds (perhaps several hundred dollars) for a product, nothing more or nothing less. Most upcoming artists unfortunately spend too much time searching and paying for beats instead finding a great sound for their music. Some beat makers actually prey on amateur talent, especially if they have the capability to record or engineer the artist during studio time. Some signs of a beat maker getting over on such artists include purposefully prolonging studio time with high hourly fees, no feedback during recording, or rushed studio sessions, which leads to very poor music!

All “good” artists know that a producer is key to making a hit record. This is also something that the major labels know. For this reason alone, record companies are willing to spend hundreds of thousands or perhaps millions of dollars on production. A good producer to an artist is what a director is to an actor. A producer is more like a coach! Most producers do make tracks but there is a major difference in their function. A producer knows if the sound and energy an artist is giving on a track is going in the right direction or if it needs to be changed. For example, if certain tones should be inflected in the voice, if words need to be tweaked (added or taken away), if choruses (also known as hooks) are catchy and strong! Good producers can also help the artist define their style and great chemistry between the artist and producer will set the platform for future hits for the artist. There are also some producers who don’t create music but know what sounds good on a record and what elements are needed to make a hit. Most successful artists record with producers who have a great track record and they understand that quality music is way better than quantity, or having a large catalog of songs without hits!!!

So whether you are an up and coming artist or signed to a major label pick your “directors” wisely. In the competitive game of music you need a person to guide your music and a great producer is the main ingredient to building a successful song!!!! Good luck!!!!!

This post was reprinted with permission from the Lounge Report. Please visit their site!