Music Producer: Job Summary and Educational Requirements for a Career in Music Production
Those with a keen ear who love keeping up with the latest songs and recording artists may want to consider a career as a music producer. These professionals use their extensive musical and technical studio experience to oversee all aspects of a recording session.
Music Producer Job Summary
Music producers should be able to bring out the best in recording artists through their knowledge of vocal and instrumental arrangements. Some producers hire musicians and singers to perform selected songs; other producers are hired by bands or solo artists to oversee recording sessions. Music producers may also confer with directors of movies or television programs in order to determine the placement of a song.
Many producers are experienced recording engineers, which allows them to bring additional technical capabilities to a project. They can assist audio engineers in the mixing, mastering and recording process. Some producers may have expertise in a particular style of music, such as rock or classical; others may work for a recording studio producing the music of artists that are under contract.
Educational Requirements
Although there's no standard level of education needed to become a music producer, many colleges offer music production programs - traditionally at the bachelor's degree level. These 4-year programs cover a broad range of courses to expose students to recording arts technology and the music business as a whole. Sample course topics include recording industry law and ethics, sound editing techniques, digital audio software and electronic music. Students may need to either produce a full-length recording or participate in an internship in order to graduate. Baccalaureate programs may result in a Bachelor of Science in Music Production or a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in production.
Employment Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected that employment of musicians and related workers was expected to grow eight percent during the 2008-2018 period. The BLS further noted that competition for full-time jobs in this field will be strong. Cities that feature a large concentration of recording studios, such as New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Nashville, offer better job prospects for all musicians (www.bls.gov).
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12 Popular Schools
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (1 campus)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Bachelor
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- BS in Music Business
- Bachelor of Science - Media Communications
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Florida (2 campuses)
- Michigan (1)
- Nevada (1)
- Washington (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
- Arkansas (1 campus)
- California (3)
- Colorado (2)
- Columbia (D.C.) (1)
- Florida (3)
- Georgia (2)
- Idaho (1)
- Indiana (1)
- Kansas (1)
- Kentucky (1)
- Michigan (2)
- Missouri (3)
- Mississippi (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Online and Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Georgia (1 campus)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Communication
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- MA in Communication: New Media & Marketing
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- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be 21 years of age or older and have completed some college or 24 years of age or older and a high school graduate for a Bachelor's degree
- Masters degree applicants must have a Bachelors degree
- Doctorate degree applicants must have a Masters degree
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
- Bachelor
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School locations:
- Arizona (2 campuses)
- California (8 campuses)
- Colorado (1)
- Florida (4)
- Georgia (1)
- Illinois (2)
- Kansas (1)
- Massachusetts (1)
- Michigan (1)
- Minnesota (1)
- Missouri (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- Nevada (1)
- Ohio (1)
- Oregon (1)
- Pennsylvania (2)
- South Carolina (1)
- Tennessee (1)
- Texas (4)
- Utah (1)
- Virginia (1)
- Washington (1)
- Wisconsin (1)
Classroom-Based Programs
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Master
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- Master in Film
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- Master in Design & Media Management
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Bachelor
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- Bachelor in Audio & Media Technology
- Bachelor in Audio Design Technology
- Bachelor in Audio Production
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- Bachelor in Sound & Motion Picture Technical Arts
- Bachelor in Digital Filmmaking & Video Production
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Associate
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- Associate in Audio Production
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- Associate of Science - Video Production
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Non-Degree
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- Certificate in Audio Production
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Minimum eligibility requirements:
- Must be a high school graduate or have completed GED
School locations:
- Online Learning
Online Programs
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Master
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- MA in Music and Worship Studies
- MA in Ethnomusicology
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- Master of Arts in Worship - Ethnomusicology
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