How to become a Music Producer in the UK

Interested in following in the footsteps of Fred Again or Flava D? Learn about becoming a music producer with our helpful guide.

Have you ever listened to a piece of music and noticed how the different elements come together? From the bassline to the beat, every element works together to enhance the melody or the vocals. The person responsible for placing each piece of the musical puzzle just where it needs to be is usually a music producer. 

The UK is well-known for its music scene, and a city as vibrant and eclectic as London offers many opportunities for those looking to sharpen their skills and create unique soundscapes. If you find yourself getting lost in the layers of music and have an ear for orchestrating rhythms and tunes, then perhaps Music Production is a career pathway worth considering.

What is a music producer and what do they do?

A music producer is someone who uses their creative and technical skills to build pieces of music for artists or commercial clients. 

They work with a track from its initial stages to its final release, often developing a creative vision, recording instrumentalists or vocalists, building arrangements, mixing tracks to ensure each element fits in as intended, mastering tracks, and giving them a final polish to make sure they sound great whether they’re played through earpods or giant festival speakers.

What does it take to become a music producer?

In order to become a music producer, you’ll need a blend of creative and technical skills:

• Musical ability – You’ll need a strong understanding of how music works, including harmony, rhythm, structure and other theoretical knowledge.
• Technical skills – As you’ll be working with complex software and electronic equipment, you’ll need to have an interest in fully understanding how the tools of your trade work and also be driven to experiment, learn and problem solve when needed.
• Innovative outlook – Being able to experiment with sounds and come up with new ideas is vital in this role. You’ll also have a knack for taking a vision and raw ideas and turning them into completed works.
• Good communication – Whether you’re working with clients, artists or other studio staff, you’ll need to communicate your idea clearly, give constructive feedback and be able to build a rapport with people in a short space of time.
• Persistence – Producing can be a long process, with frustrations, creative blocks and glitches popping up along the way. 
• A good (and attentive) ear – You’ll need to be detail-oriented, able to spot discrepancies in the mix and have a good ear for how things sound.
• A brain for business – Being a music producer isn’t just about creative skills. You’ll also need to work with contracts, royalties and perhaps dabble in marketing.

Are music producers in demand in the UK?

The UK continues to be a global powerhouse in the international music scene, and the UK music industry continues to grow, both in creativity and in terms of its contribution to the UK economy. 

It’s fair to say that the rise in independent artists has increased the need for skilled music producers. While artists may no longer rely on major labels to distribute their music, they still require the expert input and technical skills of a music producer to support them in building and refining their tracks.

What qualifications do I need to become a music producer?

There are various routes to becoming a music producer including BTECs, foundation or bachelor’s degrees, and apprenticeships. And while raw talent and passion are vital in this creative role, being able to learn your craft in a structured learning environment furnished with industry-standard equipment gives any budding producer a clear edge. 

At Capital City College (CCC), we offer a range of Music and Music Production Courses at both our Tottenham campus and our King’s Cross campus. Students on our Music Productions courses have the chance to hone their skills using industry-standard equipment within our fully functional music studios.

• Music Performance and Production – Level 1 Diploma (UAL)
• Music Performance and Production – Level 2 Diploma (UAL)
• Music Performance and Production – Level 3 Diploma (UAL)
• Music Performance and Production – Level 3 Extended Diploma (UAL)
• Creative Media Production and Technology: Audio Production – Level 3 Extended Diploma (UAL)
• Music – A Level (Edexcel) 
• Performance: Music Performance and Production – Level 4 Professional Diploma (UAL)

When asked about the Music and Music Production Courses offered at CCC, Tim Chaundy, Curriculum Leader (Centre Schools), said:

“Our courses offer a good mix of performance and production, and nowadays you need knowledge of both of those skills nowadays to progress into the music industry. As a learner on those courses, you have some choice about what skills you want to develop, where you want to take your musical journey and your musical learning during the one or two years that you’re with us. We provide our students with the platform to get to the next steps – a lot of our students go to university or music school, and some go straight into the industry.”

How much does a music producer make?

Earnings for music producers vary depending on whether you’re developing your own tracks or working alongside other artists. Some music producers are self-employed and provide freelance services, while others work in-house at record companies or for large entertainment brands creating large amounts of creative music content.

Music producers can earn money in different ways, such as:

• Production fees – a pre-agreed payment for working on a track or album
• Royalties – an agreed percentage of the money made by a song through sales, streaming and radio play
• Publishing splits – a share of the publishing rights for contributing to songwriting

Many music producers work on an hourly basis, with fees ranging from £25 to £55 per hour for those starting out in the industry and increasing to up to £200 per hour for more experienced producers with well-recognised skills. A small proportion of producers with a very strong reputation for helping artists create hit records are able to negotiate higher fees and substantial royalties. 

Career progression

The music industry continues to evolve with technological advances coming into play all the time, so it’s vital that you keep learning and improving your technical skills.

Bigger employers, such as the BBC, often offer training in-house, and you could become a member of an organisation such as the Music Producers Guild which offers support, training and valuable information about opportunities for funding. It’s important to stay up-to-date with current trends and opportunities by reading industry-specific publications such as Music Week. 

With most producers working freelance or on fixed term contracts, you’ll have to multitask and continue working on your own projects and building your portfolio, while also promoting your skills and services to potential clients.

Working as a music producer can lead towards other creative careers such as music administration or management, studio management, or radio production.

Next steps

So what should you do next?

1. If you’re not already, start experimenting with free trials of music software such as Garageband, Reaper or Ableton Live. You could even start building a basic portfolio to demonstrate your skills and creativity.
2. Research courses such as CCC’s Music and Music Production Courses to find a course of study that will help you progress.
3. Come along to an Open day at CCC to learn more about what we offer and check our industry-standard equipment.

Whether you’re keen to stay behind the scenes or step into the limelight as an artist, being a music producer is all about blending a technical understanding of music with artistic skills. With the right training and a creative outlook, you too could find yourself putting together tracks that bring people joy and set the world alight.

Interested in turning tunes into tracks? Check out our Music and Music Production Courses.

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