I have wondered this for years. What exactly does the "producer" of a CD do? Do they front the money for the project? Do they write the songs? I never got a full understanding of what their job is. Does anyone know?

In the music industry, "record producer" designates a person responsible for completing a master recording so that it is fit for release. In earlier days, record producers bore the title of A&R men, for Artists and Repertory, which gives a clearer picture of their function: controlling the artists and choosing the material.

In the first part of the 20th century, the record producer's role resembled that of a film producer, in that the record producer supervised recording sessions, paid technicians, musicians and arrangers, and sometimes chose material for the artist. By the 1960s, record producers took a more direct role in the musical process, including arranging, engineering the recording, and even writing the material. Through it all, record producers have had a strong influence, not only on individual careers, but on the course of popular music.

Thank you

Simply put, Producers just about do EVERYTHING when it comes to crappy pop

Prince however does it all..

"A&R" stands for Artist & Repertoire, not repertory. Today, an A&R representive is responsible for scouting new artists and, in many cases, helps develop the artsit after they have been signed to the label. They also act as an artists primary contact at the label and often play a role in determining how the artist will ultiamtely be marketed.

Producers often do much more that oversee the mastering of a recording, although they are responsible for the final recorded product. Producers often help decide which songs to record, how to record it, what mucicians to use and what instrumentation. In the world of Rap, dance music electronica, etc., producers often generate the music itself.

Today's pop artist have no real talent they are manufactured by the major record label the major label's poster child of the week so they are more than any other entertainers are in need of producers. ala Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Nelly, and having "Don King"like producers such as PDiddy doesn't help either.
[Edited 12/27/04 8:02am]

Stax said:

You got it.

The person sitting at the board who coaches the singer when they are recording the vocals gets producer credit. This is why Puff Daddy has alot of production credits, for instance.

Producer = The DreZone

'dre

My understanding is that a record producer's relationship to an album is analogous to a film director's relationship with a film. They don't necessarily write the material (screenwriter, songwriter) or record it (photographer, recording engineer), or perform it (actors, singers, musicians) but they ultimately supervise the overall feel/sound/vision of it. They determine what material to use, what arrangements to use, what musicians to use, what sequences to use etc., and what recording techniques, effects, and sound qualities to use. I personally have little respect for an artist who doesn't produce their own material. Calling a singer or musician an "artist" when they don't write and or produce their own material, is like calling an actor who doesn't direct or write his own movies a great filmaker.
[Edited 12/27/04 15:08pm]

jacktheimprovident said:

Good analogy.

Basically Quincy Jones, Dr. Dre...

Today's definition in R&B is the person who writes the music, or lays the tracks as they like to call it. They'll do the lyrics too if the artist doesn't.