Job Title: Sound Engineer
Task/ Responsibility: They provide technical support for the creative
process. A sound engineer works on the recording by manipulating the audio by using
equalization and electronic effects, mixing and the reproduction of audio. They
work on the technical aspect of recording. They usually have the knowledge of
setting levels and placing microphones. They would also be responsible for
maintenance of the studio and its equipment.
Who They Work With: They usually work close to the producer, the
songwriter and the mastering engineer and the artist. This is so they can help
achieve the sound they are looking for and to also achieve the best audio for
the mastering engineer to work with.
Employment Type: They could work freelance but most sound engineers
usually work for a studio so they are familiar with the equipment so they can a
get a good job done quickly and at the best quality they can.
Job Title: Mix Engineer
Task/Responsibility: A normal mixing engineer will usually have many years
of experience and training with audio equipment, which has enabled them to
master their craft. The over all description of the job is to receive a piece
of music from an artist and use his skills to mix the sonic elements into a
final version of a song that is ready to be released. He or she mixes the
elements of a recorded piece together to achieve a good finished mix of a song.
If the mix engineer is well known it will raise the profile of the project.
Employment Type: The mixing engineer will be
a freelance and will work for himself or herself and will constantly looking
for new artists to work for.
Who They Work With: They would need deal
with the record label and producer
Job title: Session Musician
Tasks/Responsibility:
A session musician writes and/or performs a backing track for other musicians,
which can take place in a recording studio or during live performances.
Although a large amount of education isn’t needed, knowledge of music techniques
and theory are required, as a session musician needs to be able to read and
perform music on sight. Most session musicians have specific specialties in
regards to instruments, however some may be employed to play multiple
instruments. Performance experience can be essential when being a session
musician as it means there are more contacts and networks to work for and more
job opportunities. Session musicians need to be open minded when working as
every artist has a different style of music, meaning the session musician may
play rock music but the music being recorded could be country. They are usually
paid ‘per track’ depending on the amount of input they contribute to the
project. Session musicians are expected to provide their own musical instruments
and equipment needed for the recording process.
Employment Type:
Session Musicians
are self-employed meaning they do not work unless they are performing, this
does not include basic tasks such as accounting or contacting different
musicians about future projects. Session musicians tend to have busy schedules
as they need to work on as many projects as possible to keep a steady income.
Due to being self-employed, session musicians have no set hours to work and can
be working for extended periods of time.
Who they work
with:
Session Musicians
require a lot of contacts in order to be able to work. They need to be booked
in to record for other musicians/recording artists in order to play their
music. Without other artists the profession of being a session musician would
be non-existent due to the fact that session musicians do not tend to record
their own projects. Producers and sound engineers also work with session
musicians, as the recording process would be more complex if done alone.
Job Title: Producer
Tasks/Responsibilities: A producer oversees and manages a recording session
in a studio with an artist or band, and gives them directions to help make the
record sound as good as it possibly can. They can help out with recording
techniques, and may also make adjustments to the artists’ material to improve
it. They sometimes also motivate and encourage the musicians to do better. They
are responsible for the whole project from planning to delivery of the finished
product. Would have budget
Employment Type: Being a record producer is a profession, and they are
usually hired by the record company to work with signed artists and make sure
that their music sounds as good as possible. Producers are freelance, and will
work for the highest bidder, and may sometimes have to find their own work.
Who They Work With: The producer works with the artists in the studio by
coaching and directing them, and they also work with the sound engineers to
make sure that they are getting the best possible sound. The producer may also
choose who the session musicians and sound engineer are, so they also work with
them in that way. They may also work with the record label, as the record label
may tell them how they want a record to sound, and it is the producers’ job to
make sure that the desired sound is achieved.
Job Title: Artist
Tasks and
responsibilities - The artist is the person who either writes the music or
performs it. Artists are involved in the record company area. They usually sign
a contract, which binds them to the record company, although they can also be
freelance. They’re found through A&R Scouts usually.
Work with people
in the record company such as producers, Image consultants, mastering
engineers, etc.
Tasks/Responsibilities
of an artist are to produce a piece of music that can be used to sell and make
money off.
Job Role: Mastering Engineer
This is a person who is skilled in the task of taking
musical content that has been previously mixed and prepare it for distribution,
whether the preparation is in physical form for cd or vinyl or in digital form. They are either hired by the band, record producer or a representative
from the record label to complete the audio mastering process. This means they
are free lance/ self employed. Mastering engineers are specialists at
transferring audio from one format to another mastered format. They make sure
that each track is balanced. This requires a talent for listening and a clear
perception of what most ears disregard. Mastering
engineers work within record companies who bring albums to them looking to be
mastered and ready for distribution.
Job Tile: Distributor
Tasks/Responsibility’s: The task of a music distributor is
to distribute the finished products such as the CDs or Records. The products
are distributed to record shops and other retailers that sell music like super
markets such as Morrison’s. The retailers would then sell the records and all
profit will be split between all the jobs required to make and sell the
product.
Employment Type: A record company would employ a Distributor
to distribute and find retailers to sell the records they produced and made.
Who They Work With: They would work along side the record
company to decide which retailers would be able to sell their record allot. The
record company would pay the retailer to sell the record so they have to work
with the distributor to decide the best retailers that could make profit from
the record.
Job title:
Songwriter
Tasks/ responsibility:
They write the song lyrics, melody and chords for a song. They’re also known as
a composer. Their job is also to
write popular hits, so when writing a song you will usually get a group of
songwriters. Bands such as the Artic Monkeys, split a share in the song writing
deal and they all got the same percentage, whereas on the other hand, bands
such as The Beatles, only Lennon and McCartney got a share because they didn’t
feel that it was fair for the other band members to take a share. Some songwriters
are actual artists themselves and have had popular hits themselves and feel
this would be more beneficial. They’re also known as singer-songwriters.
Songwriters are usually very skilled musicians, as when they’re writing the
song, they will be able to hear the chord sequence development. Co-written, is
when a song is written by more than one songwriter. Sometimes this is a better
way to write a song as it allows more creativity and more thoughts. In
copyright law there is no difference between the lyrics or the melody, as they
will all get their equal share unless another agreement is arranged.
Employment type: They
are usually freelance. Which means they aren’t employed by anyone. They may
have a publishing deal.
Who they work
with: They will usually work with the artist if they’re pop artists. But if
they’re a band they usually will write it and usually split the deal.
Job Title: A&R (Artists and repertoire)
Tasks responsibility: Scout talent, goes to shows from underground artist in hopes of finding someone to sign to their label. This is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and the artistic and commercial development of the recording artist. They will also negotiate the deal, and once the artist is signed, they will look after the artist and act as a go between – record label & artist manager.
No I.D
No I.D., got his
start as a DJ, producer, and rapper; he released a solo album, Accept Your Own and Be Yourself (The Black
Album), in 1997, and became famous for his production work with Common “I
Used to Love H.E.R.”, among others. Wilson acted as a mentor to a young Kanye
West, introducing him to Roc-A-Fella.
Employment Type: Full time employee
Who they work with: New artists and the record company
Job Tile: Distributor
Tasks/Responsibility’s: The task of a music distributor is
to distribute the finished products such as the CDs or Records. The products
are distributed to record shops and other retailers that sell music like super
markets such as Morrison’s. The retailers would then sell the records and all
profit will be split between all the jobs required to make and sell the
product.
Employment Type: A
record company would employ a Distributor to distribute and find retailers to
sell the records they produced and made.
Who They Work With: They
would work along side the record company to decide which retailers would be
able to sell their record allot. The record company would pay the retailer to
sell the record so they have to work with the distributor to decide the best
retailers that could make profit from the record.
Job Role: Manufacturer
A manufacturer is
in the record companies area. A manufacturer will make the CD’s/Records and
then pass them on to a distributer to sell to stores.
Artist: The
artist is the person who either writes the music or performs it. Artists are
involved in the record company area. They usually sign a contract, which binds
them to the record company, although they can also be freelance. They’re found
through A&R Scouts usually. Work with people in the record company such as
producers, Image consultants, mastering engineers, etc.
Tasks/Responsibilities
of an artist are to produce a piece of music that can be used to sell and make
money off.