Talk:Record producer

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[edit] Notable record producers

Would anyone feel terribly hurt if I completely revised the list of notable record producers which concludes this article? Two halves 06:19 Feb 17, 2003 (UTC)

Depends on what you do with it. There's a definite falling off after the first dozen names, but that's what always happens to Wikipedia lists, unfortunately. John Hammond practically invented record producing and invigorated popular music for 40 years; some other guy produced albums for Radiohead. Ortolan88

The number of things which I think would appropriate to do with the list is three: 1. Completely remove the list, as I see a great dislike for lists among some Wikipedians. 2. Keep the list, but remove the annotations. If someone is notable, it is already likely that there is (or should be) an article on that person. Annotations are not a good substitute for an article, IMHO. 3. Keep the list as is, and let someone else worry about it.

Direct your opinions below. Two halves 05:46 Feb 22, 2003 (UTC)

I'd say keep a list of some kind on the page. It could certainly be narrowed down a little though, if it bothers people (I've only heard of one of the last four names listed, for example.) People like Hammond, Sam Phillips, Buddy Holly, George Martin, Phil Spector, T-Bone Burnett, and a few others should be listed I'd say.. they are certainly some of the most famous record producers in music history. I think they're worth pointing out to the poor soul that doesn't know what a record producer is. -Jazz77
Lists are a useful form of organization in an on-line reference work. They perform an indexing function. If you see a reference to record producer in one place, it helps you find other record producers. The lists are much more useful if they are annotated, particularly if there is no article on the person. Also, the annotation helps gauge the relative impact of the person. They aren't meant to substitute for the article, but if there is no article, they help.
The only drawback is that less important people clutter up the lists. See List of novelists for an example. On the other hand, where would you go to find a novelist? If you went there, you'd at least know whether there was an article, what language they wrote in, and, if annotated, a little snippet of something about them.

I love lists, even if it means that they get long. The only method of control is to find a list from some outside body, the Record Producers Hall of Fame, and use that as the source of the list. See List of songwriters/temp2 and its talk page for some efforts along these lines. Ortolan88 06:07 Feb 22, 2003 (UTC)

First, a big thank you to all who commented. For O., I completely agree with you that lists are a useful form of organization in an on-line reference work. I have edited a couple of these lately (punk cities and power-pop bands). I should have mentioned a fourth option to move the list of notables to its own article, which would help with the length problem that over 125 years of recorded music is likely to produce. I also agree that there needs to be some standards to what will go on that list, otherwise producers who are known, but not necessarily notable, like Kenny Laguna or Martin Hannett, or those you don't associate with record production (like Joan Jett or Geddy Lee) will make the list. Two halves 06:40 Feb 22, 2003 (UTC)

Just to throw another wrench in the machine, the line between the producer and the recording artist is blurry in some fields (i.e. electronic music and hip hop). Tuf-Kat

I think the list is un-save-ably POV and should me moved here. See Talk:String quartet. We do have List of record producers. Hyacinth 05:54, 13 May 2004 (UTC)

Perhaps it should be a short list of 'historically important' record producers. That is, a producer who's work changed the way music was/is produced. EG George Martin, Phil Spector. Iain 00:44, 4 Sep 2004 (UTC)
Hmmm... How about Quincy Jones? This is not a "special wish" of mine, then I would have added few more, but this is definitely someone that has influenced music in a big way, had great comercial success in the past and is still a big figure/icon in the world of music. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Cocaine42 (talk • contribs) 17:20, 27 January 2007 (UTC).

Hello. I would find it helpful if the roles of executive producer, producer and assistant producer were clarified. Thank you.

[edit] Removed

See also: rap production

A common mistake is that the definition of a producer changes when it comes to rap music. People tend to define a 'rap producer' as 'guy who made the beat'. This is incorrect! The definition of a music producer DOES NOT change depending on genre! The confusion occurs because many rap music composers are wrongly credited as "producer" when their only contribution was the composition itself. There is a misconception in the rap world that says if the producer didn't actually play the instruments in the beat, he isn't really a producer. A producer is and does what has already been explained in this page. Most rap producers, including Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri, among others produce their recordings the traditional way, by supervising a team of musicians.

I removed the above as there is no rap production article and the paragraph about it is in the wrong tone and appears to be arguing with assertions never made. Hyacinth 19:26, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Citations

What needs to be cited? Hyacinth 20:41, 17 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Mixing?

Is it common for the producer to oversee mixing and mastering (or alternatively, is it rare for a producer not to be involved in the mixing/mastering) but rather for the artist and the mixer dealing with the mixing with the producer having only been responsible for the recording session alone? TheHYPO 16:31, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

  • I think that's the type of question that might vary greatly depending on the producer. In my experience a lot of producers are also the sound engineers and tend to either work the sound desk themselves or alongside the artist. However, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that there are also many producers with a far more detached approach. --Monofiopia 04:41, 23 November 2006 (UTC)
  • A producer almost always supervises mixing and mastering. I haven't heard of one who wouldn't. I have a personal bias against producers who are just business managers/schedulers. I think they should have experience as either musicians or engineers too. Many of the better ones are actively involved in most steps of the production process. Often, especially in mastering, the producer will defer certain decisions to the mastering engineer, as mastering engineers have very specialized and often esoteric knowledge. Anyway, as far as music goes, Monofiopia's comments reflect my own experience. When it comes to film or TV producers supervising post production audio though, all the rules change.Littlerubberfeet (talk) 22:36, 5 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] malicious entry???

In the section "The evolution of the role of the producer" I came across the following statement:

signing new artists to production contracts penis

???

Looks like the word "penis" is uncalled for here...

therefore removing it.


Hello, Good point. It probably meant "peanuts" or, no money. Still not a good definition worth of inclusion, so good edit. Don't forget to sign your name next time, though. Have a nice day. Evinatea 19:32, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Producer as Puppetmaster?

Stumbled across this article and just wanted to clarify something.

The article as it stands makes it sound like the producer is a sort of puppetmaster, controlling the musicians and just using their musical abilities to produce what they (the producer) wants. Surely that can't be the case - the musicians must act as co-producers of their own work, most of the time (except your manufactured Britney-types perhaps), no? I certainly hope the musicians have a lot of say in the production of their own music, anyway...

So, yes, assuming that I'm correct, I think the article needs to make it clearer that producers would normally work with the musicians to produce albums etc instead of making them sound like they always completely run the show with the musicians as their minions. 136.186.1.188 03:22, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

Not true. Producers are like puppet-masters. There was an article online by a underground producer stating this (can't find it online now). In fact, they are like puppet-masters, when it comes to forms of electronic music (hip-hop, R&B, pop, ect). Anyone who knows anything about Brittney Spears knows that she knows nothing about programming or playing music, yet she has multiple albums all crediting her as being the "artist" of those songs, yet always crediting producers and writer for everything involved with the song. Puppet-master producers is mainly aimed towards forms of electronic music. Acoustic music, on the other hand, is different. Your statements are true when it comes to acoustic music, but I remember reading an article from this underground producer a few years ago and it was in reference to electronic music producers. The article actually gave credit to acoustic artists for actually playing their own music. 65.35.108.237 22:23, 27 May 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Producers and modern recording technology

That is a load of crap. Everybody is a "producer" now. The term IS defined, and just because people are embarassed to be called musicians doesn't mean that the words are becoming synonymous. I'm sure one of the wanna-be "producers" wrote that nonsense to show his friends that he is defined as a producer because Wikipedia says so. I need to remember my login and think of a disclaimer to add to that nonsense.

  • I agree. Producers are basically like a temporary member of the band, and they are there to bring new arrangement, recording, and songwriting ideas to the table. Everyone isn't a producer. --Kgroover 13:07, 4 September 2007 (UTC)

--well I disagree with kgroover, a producer is to album as film director is to movie. I think thats the analogy. I think the whole section should be deleted unless, a reasonable citation can be found and I don't think there is. It is likely a 16 year old kid, who "composes" beats with fruityloops who added the entry.68.17.155.97 (talk) 06:17, 28 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Original Subject" tag

I'm confused as to why it's there. The content contained therein is totally factual. It's absolutely true that the proliferation of affordable recording software has changed the definition of the record producer. Given that, I don't understand the tag.

I disagree the change in the use of the terminology is more directly related too the fact that some noted producers of hip-hop artists, (many of which are artists them selves) take more active role in the recording process. Particularly concerning the song's arrangement, they may go as far as composing melody. As a result many lay people think that a producer is a musician involved in the song writing, or more particularly to be truthful many people, mostly laymen think anyone who makes beats, or controls a recording session (Which is often the engineer) is a producer. In the context of the record production industry, producer has been a fixed term for decades. The term hasn't changed use professionals in the audio industry. You can pickup sound on sound, mix, music tech, computer music, recording, all magazines that have extensive articles on use of the very music software mentioned in this article, none of those magazines call the actual use of that software producing. 68.17.155.97 (talk) 06:30, 28 November 2007 (UTC)