Industry news & advice blog

Working with a music producer (other than the in-house studio producer at your local recording studio) is something you may think is reserved for the established bands & musicians, or those newly –signed bands & artists who can rely on their record label to hook them up with a worthy and experienced name. But this really isn’t the case.

Unsigned bands can and should definitely seek out a great producer to work alongside for many great reasons. A music producer will help you get the sound and recording you want, and will be able to bring fresh ideas and knowledge to your project. Plus there are many great aspiring record producers out there who are looking to gain experience themselves, so joining forces with an unsigned band they are passionate about can be hugely beneficial for both parties involved. There are even some established producers who are happy to work with the right emerging band, as long as what you’re doing excites them.  Ultimately, it is important to choose a producer that you work well with and they must be enthusiastic about your material in order to develop your sound.

You can check out a comprehensive list of music producers (both established and starting out) as well as producer management companies in The Unsigned Guide. Our producer listings are searchable by genre which will help you pinpoint contacts who specialise in your musical style. We also had a chat with the Music Producers’ Guild (MPG) for a bit more information about the benefits of working with a producer, plus some great tips for those aspiring record producers out there.

So what does MPG do?
The Music Producer's Guild represents the interests of record producers, music recording engineers and mixers, and anyone else involved in the production of recorded music in the UK. The MPG website features news, articles, blogs, advice and links to other interesting websites.

How do they actively represent producers/production companies?
By creating an environment within which individuals can exchange ideas and experiences, and learn from others, the MPG aims to bring members together in order to encourage communication. The MPG organises events and meetings where opinions and ideas are expressed and shared.

It is not a political organisation, or indeed a union. It's more of an enlarged forum where any issues affecting members are discussed and debated, often passionately. These issues range from producer fees, recording techniques, choice of microphone pre-amps, to illegal file-sharing.

I am an aspiring producer – how can MPG help me and is it worthwhile becoming a member?
Joining the MPG provides entry into a community of individuals with various levels of expertise and experience in the recording industry. We can all learn from contact with others. Many MPG members have been making records for over 20 years, but still find that they are learning new techniques from those who are just starting out.

I am in an unsigned band – what is the importance of working with a producer to record my demo?
Most producers are interested in making masters, i.e. commercially released, and ultimately successful, recordings.

They are looking to develop working relationships with new artists, but they tend to prefer that these relationships become more long-term than simply producing a demo, which is, after all, only a stepping stone to the wider ambition, i.e. success in the recording industry.

There are many examples of great working relationships between artists and record producers, e.g. The Beatles & George Martin, Michael Jackson & Quincy Jones, Seal/Frankie Goes To Hollywood & Trevor Horn, The Smiths/Blur/Kaiser Chiefs & Stephen Street .

It is important for new artists and bands to try to learn as much as possible, and as quickly as possible, about the process of recording music, so as to fully develop their ideas, and realise those ideas in their recordings. The best person to help them in this process is the record producer, who will have spent years refining his or her talents, skills and experience.

I am in an unsigned band – how do I go about finding a suitable producer?
There is a section on the MPG website - The Members Directory. This is the "hub" of the website, and enables artists and bands to make direct contact with producers, engineers and mixers. You can search under genres and specific skills to find the producer that's right for your music.


Do you have any advice you can offer to aspiring producers and unsigned bands alike?
For producers I would say join the MPG - it's the only organisation in the UK that specifically represents music producers. It will bring you into contact with many others in the same position as yourself, and allow you to benefit from their experiences.

As far as tips for unsigned bands…be determined - there's a tremendous amount of competition out there, and you have to be single-minded in your ambitions if you really want to achieve success. An experienced music producer will help you to develop your music, and increase your chances of making an impact.