How much should Producers Charge?
- Thread starter Tatem1
- Start date
Everything has to be on paper, because word of mouth isn't strong enough most of the time. Producers, get your business right and get those contracts...they protect all parties involved. If you don't sign contracts, and the artist has proof he paid for the services, then it's his property and the producer is basically fucked. It has to be known that it is the artists property, but deals were negotiated for production parties to get their shit on the back end as well.
This is a good thread. My cousin started making beats a couple years ago and has gotten pretty good at it. He asked me what I thought he should charge because rappers wanted to buy beats off him. I told him my opinion but Im a send him a link to this thread I think you guys got some good info in here.
this is the golden question..................but on the serious tip.............if both artist dont have a name for each other......they should just swap the work! now if your a respected name period! then you will be breaking bread......not saying it will be expensive.......but you will be coming out of pocket!
wheres the common sense at?
wheres the common sense at?
you gotta charge what your value is...not just as a producer, but as a factor in the game...can you get radio spins, features, etc, etc, for your production...shit i charge rappers to consult and keep it real with there situation....cause lets just face it....90% of rappers aren't going to eat in this game...so just be real with yourself and if you don't have the grind your not going to last..in any business..
Alright but what if the rapper is also a musician but doesn't know how to make a beat and play the keyboard? What if he writes the lyric, hook, and comes to the producer with the music layout (Chords, notes, and melody)? He just wants to coach the producer on the sound he wants and add a hip hop feel by adding drums and the exact sounds he wants. I'd feel screwed for giving the producer publishing for adding drums, a bass line, and some high hats on a track that I entirely wrote and composed.
mac luv: you're gonna keep goin in circles with all those scenarios.
basically on a song if it's one performer (rapper) and one producer... that's 50/50 on the sound copyright. Of course it get's split even more if there's more writers / producers. On the indie level a majority of folks don't even worry or take the time to make sure this and the publishing aspect of things are straight.
In my contracts I eliminated all publishing and copyrights. I didn't want someone coming back demanding publishing monies or anything related, because we didn't bother with radio or licensing.
Of course when you're dealing with a major and / or radio play you should have your manager or attorney get all those issues handled so you can be compensated through BMI, ASCAP or any other publishing entities when your shit is played and / or licensed for play.
basically on a song if it's one performer (rapper) and one producer... that's 50/50 on the sound copyright. Of course it get's split even more if there's more writers / producers. On the indie level a majority of folks don't even worry or take the time to make sure this and the publishing aspect of things are straight.
In my contracts I eliminated all publishing and copyrights. I didn't want someone coming back demanding publishing monies or anything related, because we didn't bother with radio or licensing.
Of course when you're dealing with a major and / or radio play you should have your manager or attorney get all those issues handled so you can be compensated through BMI, ASCAP or any other publishing entities when your shit is played and / or licensed for play.
If you can "write" chords, notes etc. then you shouldn't have too much trouble playing it. I don't personally know anyone that "writes" music and doesn't play.
If you're just coming with an idea, and humming some shit to me, then either way, i still gotta make a beat from scratch. Your melody idea or not, you can't play it, that's what you pay for. Alot of producers that sample heavy on beats just add drums and bass lines, if it's hot, it's hot! also, I wouldn't say you're composing a track, for coming with an idea and not knowing how to play.
Wrong use of that word
If you're just coming with an idea, and humming some shit to me, then either way, i still gotta make a beat from scratch. Your melody idea or not, you can't play it, that's what you pay for. Alot of producers that sample heavy on beats just add drums and bass lines, if it's hot, it's hot! also, I wouldn't say you're composing a track, for coming with an idea and not knowing how to play.
Wrong use of that word
In my case I play the guitar and bass and know theory. I don't play piano and can't do chord changes on the keys and all that fast stuff like Scott Storch. I can tell a producer though the exact notes and chords that I want though. That's why I'm asking. I guess in my case paying the producer upfront money and giving him production credit without sharing publishing would sound fair to me.
That's an odd scenario that probably rarely happens...if at all. I really don't know how all producers/rappers work, some would want their cut for that, some wouldn't. I didn't compose one beat on my first album, but the copyrights and publishing for all aspects of the work were signed over to me. I was given the option to publish through his company, but declined. So now if "Since Birth" hits the radio 4 years later for some strange reason, ASCAP has me covered and I owe nothing. Now, since I'm not a jackass, I would still cut the producer in on those royalties.
Point is, everybody is different. Some cats could give 2 shits, some want a cut of everything.
Point is, everybody is different. Some cats could give 2 shits, some want a cut of everything.
I'm telling you man, if you've got business savvy, you don't have to sell your beats for some cheap ass insult of a price, don't have to work for free 'just to get your name out there', or any of that bullshit. I'm not knocking cats who do that... Do you man, if that's what you gotta do then go for it.
REAL SHYT........if you dont have the grind...you will not last in any business.....GET YOU A FEW CLIENTS THAT FUCKS WID YOUR STYLE OF MUSIC.....AND KEEP MAKING MUSIC FOR THEM......MYSPACE ALONE...I'VE SOLD TO A FEW FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COAST...WHO PAY ME THE SAME PRICE....AND THEY KEEP COMING BACK......AND THATS ON SOME INTERNET SHYT....I ESTABLISH A GOOD REALTIONSHIP WID FOLKS....LET EM HEAR A BEAT...THEY LIKE IT...THEY BUY IT......ONCE YOU GET EM TO BUY A BEAT...YOU CAN KEEP EM BUYING BEATS.....I GOT A FEW CATS WHO STAY FUCKING WID ME.....ITS ALL HOW YOU DO IT
www.myspace.com/dski
why do rappers feel that a song is all about them? its the music that gets heads bobbin, without that you aint shit,no money no slump, one of the biggest problems in the bay is being too fuckin cheap, a name dont mean shit
you can get hot shit from alot of different producers but if you aint even got the money for the music then how are you gonna blow? quit being cheap if you aint got you aint got but stop blamin the producers for your lack of success,
and as for how much to charge for a track charge at least $500.00 for a single track with discounts for two or more, this will keep the cheap bastards at bay but will also keep you on your own toes by setting your income structure, so you can buy all the good equipment thats needed to make good or better music
you can get hot shit from alot of different producers but if you aint even got the money for the music then how are you gonna blow? quit being cheap if you aint got you aint got but stop blamin the producers for your lack of success,
and as for how much to charge for a track charge at least $500.00 for a single track with discounts for two or more, this will keep the cheap bastards at bay but will also keep you on your own toes by setting your income structure, so you can buy all the good equipment thats needed to make good or better music
My folks, Don Juan, has some beats right now that can be checked out on his site, www.boilingpointmedia.com. If you need some beats immediately, he's got some slappers ready, right now. Prices are affordable for any and everybody. His track record includes: E-40, Rich the Factor, Mac Dre, Celly Cell, Tech N9ne, Mack 10, Cut Throat Committee, Yukmouth, WC, PSD, and tons of indies.
truth
i also think if an artist doesn't want to spend 300$ or pay extra money to get shit mixed and mastered, then they aren't a real artist in the first place. there is a bunch of lames in the game that think they are hot shit but when it comes down to the biz and politics of the game, they don't know jack shit and aren't really about their business
i also think if an artist doesn't want to spend 300$ or pay extra money to get shit mixed and mastered, then they aren't a real artist in the first place. there is a bunch of lames in the game that think they are hot shit but when it comes down to the biz and politics of the game, they don't know jack shit and aren't really about their business
learn the game! the ones who bitch abouit beat prices are the ones who havent been in the game but a second! cuz real any artist knows beats cost money and they budget into album cost. if i were to buy a beat i would plan on spending atleast 6 bills. the niggas who charge less than that are part timers. quality over quantity. a raw fruity loops beat is garbage!!!!!!!
