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What does a Music Producer do?

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted Expert
Michael Neal Ph.D.
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Music producer responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real music producer resumes:

  • Manage custom-built media duplication arrays, printers and packaging systems (VHS, CD, DVD).
  • Manage the QA process including test/debug cycles and platform compliance/compatibility testing.
  • Produce award winning Samsung short as part of a highly successful integrate campaign.
  • Post audio for multimedia productions including mixing, ADR, Foley and scoring.
  • Design and produce high-level PowerPoint presentations for large-scale corporate events and key stand-alone projects.
  • Operate production board for high school basketball and baseball games without managerial supervision.

Music producer skills and personality traits

We calculated that 18% of Music Producers are proficient in R, Audio Engineering, and Music Production. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Time-management skills, and Creativity.

We break down the percentage of Music Producers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • R, 18%

    Directed and supervised intern s. R e c ruited and coordinated volunteers for semi-annual membership drive to ensure financial success.

  • Audio Engineering, 14%

    Experienced in audio engineering, putting out a completed quality product for the public and promotion through social media.

  • Music Production, 9%

    Managed music production company's day-to-day operations.

  • Pro Tools, 8%

    Conducted recording sessions complete with Pro Tools LE and created instrumental tracks and audio sampling with Reason.

  • Mac, 5%

    Guy Gerber Provided technical assistance to software and hardware solutions including Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

  • Music Videos, 4%

    Created, produced, and directed a short film and music videos to accompany my upcoming album, Days of Youth.

"r," "audio engineering," and "music production" are among the most common skills that music producers use at work. You can find even more music producer responsibilities below, including:

Leadership skills. One of the key soft skills for a music producer to have is leadership skills. You can see how this relates to what music producers do because "directors instruct actors and help them portray their characters in a believable manner." Additionally, a music producer resume shows how music producers use leadership skills: "maintained strong and stable client relationships and provided ongoing leadership to artists and production staff. "

Creativity. This is an important skill for music producers to perform their duties. For an example of how music producer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "because a script may be interpreted in different ways, directors must decide on their approach and on how to represent the script’s ideas for the production." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a music producer: "experienced handling multiple projects at once, managing release schedules, developing concepts and creative direction. ".

Communication skills. A big part of what music producers do relies on "communication skills." You can see how essential it is to music producer responsibilities because "producers and directors must convey information and ideas clearly in order to coordinate many people to finish a production on time and within budget." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical music producer tasks: "maintained open communication and follow through throughout the production process insuring smooth relations with talent. "

Most common music producer skills

The three companies that hire the most music producers are:

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Compare different music producers

Music producer vs. Stage manager

A stage manager is someone who oversees theatrical performances and all practical and technical aspects of rehearsals and shows, such as lighting cues, sound, prop usage, and costume changes. The core skills that stage managers should possess to accomplish their responsibilities include excellent attention to detail, the ability to multi-task and work under pressure, and strong leadership and problem-solving skills. They should be able to delegate tasks to staff. The job requires no formal education.

The annual salary of stage managers is $6,610 lower than the average salary of music producers.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between music producers and stage manager. For instance, music producer responsibilities require skills such as "r," "audio engineering," "music production," and "pro tools." Whereas a stage manager is skilled in "stage management," "control room," "technical aspects," and "technical rehearsals." This is part of what separates the two careers.

The education levels that stage managers earn slightly differ from music producers. In particular, stage managers are 0.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a music producer. Additionally, they're 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Music producer vs. Assistant stage manager

Producer interns require strong analytical, delegation, planning, time management, and prioritization skills, in addition to flexibility and the ability to work in fast-paced environments. Interns will need to set up rehearsals, transport musicians and instruments, plan and assist with recreational activities, and perform various other production tasks.

Assistant stage manager positions earn lower pay than music producer roles. They earn a $13,404 lower salary than music producers per year.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real music producer resumes. While music producer responsibilities can utilize skills like "r," "audio engineering," "music production," and "pro tools," assistant stage managers use skills like "technical aspects," "costumes," "stage management," and "asm."

Assistant stage managers earn similar levels of education than music producers in general. They're 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Music Producers in the next 3-5 years?

Michael Neal Ph.D.Michael Neal Ph.D. LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor, Director, Rhetoric & Composition, Florida State University

Writing is a technology, even as we use technologies to write. A pen and paper is just as much a technology as a computer. I think writers and editors will continue to use many of the digital technologies that have emerged over the past several years. We teach students to develop video essays, digital archives, podcasts, web texts, and a variety of other multimedia forms of communication. The tools we use to create these texts will likely change, but the direction we're moving with technology will likely speed up production and make it more accessible to more composers. There are clear downsides to digital communication, but this is the world we live in, and education in part is about teaching critical use of these new technologies.

Music producer vs. Producer internship

A producer-director is responsible for ensuring that the production operations run smoothly, both in the business and creative side. The producer-director monitors the production staff's performance, as well as reviewing the output of delegated tasks, and manages promotional and marketing events. They also coordinate closely with the creative team to meet deadlines and maintain project deliverables within the budget goals. A producer-director must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially on negotiating with sponsors to create the best experience for the audience.

On average scale, producer interns bring in lower salaries than music producers. In fact, they earn a $19,437 lower salary per year.music producers and producer interns both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "music videos," "dj," and "youtube," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, music producers are more likely to have skills like "r," "audio engineering," "music production," and "pro tools." But a producer internship is more likely to have skills like "video production," "audio clips," "news stories," and "video content."

When it comes to education, producer interns tend to earn similar degree levels compared to music producers. In fact, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Music producer vs. Producer director

Producer directors typically earn lower pay than music producers. On average, producer directors earn a $1,828 lower salary per year.According to resumes from music producers and producer directors, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "music videos," "sound design," and "youtube. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "r," "audio engineering," "music production," and "pro tools" are skills that commonly show up on music producer resumes. On the other hand, producer directors use skills like video production, photography, instagram, and promotional videos on their resumes.The media industry tends to pay the highest salaries for producer directors, with average annual pay of $64,554. Comparatively, the highest music producer annual salary comes from the start-up industry.producer directors reach similar levels of education compared to music producers, in general. The difference is that they're 3.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of music producer

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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