Music is the spice of every society, songs are being churned out daily for the world’s listening pleasures, they say, it’s food for the soul and no one argues about that fact.
But who are those behind the release of these songs?
While the job of an artist is to creatively put some words together called lyrics and create a tone or style of progression for it, the music producer is the one who is in charge of organizing the beats, mixing, recording, marketing, and generally, every other thing that is involved in making that piece of music available to the public to download or buy.
So the music producer is always behind the scene making sure every song by an artist is a hit.
No wonder, it’s a norm in the Music Industry to always scream out loud the name of the producer in the song.
“It’s youngjohn the wicked producer”, “DTunes again “, “Gospel on the beats”, “it’s Pheelz Mr producer” these lines are all household and if you are based in Nigeria, then you must have heard of them severally.
It’s almost taboo if a producer’s name is not mentioned in a song.
That’s one of his numerous entitlements as far as music is concerned.
Being a music producer is a professional job and surely pays to the latter.
The likes of Don Jazzy, Selebobo, and Coublon are worthy testaments to the enormous bread the profession can bring to one’s table daily.
ALSO CHECKOUT: Don Jazzy Net Worth
Below’s the journey on how to become a music producer in Nigeria:
Be sure you have a passion for music
Any venture veered into without the passion for it doesn’t look promising.
It’s a bad idea anyway.
So don’t just jump into it because you think it’s lucrative, without the passion you won’t survive the trying times and rocky days.
It’s the passion that keeps you going even when things seem stagnant for you.
If you don’t have a passion for producing music, you shouldn’t even be reading this article.
This factor can not be overemphasized so we’ll ride on.
Get professional training
As I mentioned earlier, music production is a profession, not something you do just for the fun of it, it’s serious business.
So get formal training on it.
It’s offered as a course in music schools and even in universities.
A majority of universities in Nigeria have it under the department of music.
You can choose anyone you find pocket-friendly or convenient but make sure you get the best out of it.
Don’t just dwell on music production, take up other music courses, learn the basic rudiments of music generally, learn how to play the keyboard, the guitar, the drums, expand your horizons in music, all these keep you on an edge above another chunk of producers.
After your formal education, you can go for an internship under one of the major producers around, school has never been enough, ask Zuckerberg and Gates.
The internship will teach you things school won’t, you’ll have the more practical experience and networking opportunities while doing it.
You can even start working under someone here, learning more of the ropes till you gather enough money to lead a solo music production career and become the boss of your own.
Most people have learned the art of music production just by hanging around studios often, a lot of music artists around the country learned music production this way.
There’s a saying that “if you hang around the barbers long enough, sooner or later you’re gonna get a haircut”.
Establish your own studio
It’s time to set up your own studio, obviously hanging around the barber’s shop has earned you a fine haircut and so you should move on.
Your studio gives you office space and an official position.
Locating you can be easy with your studio address.
It doesn’t matter how small it will look, just start right away and get rid of any iota of laziness inherent or acquired by you.
Go out and associate with other producers
Do not be like an island in your studio.
That you now have one doesn’t mean you should shut the world out.
Go out, look for other producers, fraternize with them.
Find their associations and join.
The association, Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) is in most states and is highly recommended to join.
To find more of these associations and join them.
It is a place where you get to meet other producers and musicians alike.
One connection could be all that you might need to be announced to the world as a star.
Also attend social functions, like album launchings, album listening parties, industry nights, music concerts, shows, and any function that relates to music.
These outings expose you more to people on the same boat as you and increase your chances of becoming big.
As you attend these shows, socialize and exchange contacts with upcoming and made artists let them know you are a producer, they might want to try new hands someday and your number could just come in handy.
And you better be good at what you do, which if you follow the second step in this article, this won’t be a problem.
A first impression will certainly earn you credibility, more calls lead to more jobs.
Get registered with relevant bodies
Notable of them is the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON).
This body ensures that original works of artists in the content industry are referred to as “Intellectual property” and are protected against copyright.
In cases where someone steals the intellectual property of your artists or your beats, COSON can take up legal actions against the person when you inform them of it.
There’s also the Music Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MUPMAN) to register with.
SUMMARY
Do not just stay put in your studio and wait for an artist to come to you.
Go out, seek the young talented upcoming artists on the street, take them in, train them, refine them, and produce songs for them for free.
That way, you become their manager and producer and when they eventually become prodigious in music, you reap from where you sowed, every money they earn while you manage them will have your account smiling while receiving its own share.
Banky W refined Wizkid and made some mind-boggling amount of doughs on his investment through Wizkid before the kid grew into a man and was too big to contain, hence a deal severance.
Also being a music producer is 50% skill and 50% creativity.
So put on your creative hat and start transforming things from the ordinary to the extraordinary.
Creativity will stand you out among your league of contemporaries.
Be innovative and trendy, most times a song might not be too rich and meaningful in lyrics but the soundtrack will cover up for that defect and the song will still be cool.
That’s the skillful producer in action.
So as you venture into music production, two words “Stand Out”.
12 Comments
I realy want to become music producer pls 09135190372
bro i beg did u no more about this music producing
pls i also want to be a music producer pls this my number:
09034197973
I want to become a beat producer dis my number 07042882557
Dis my number 07042882557 I want to become a successful beat producer
I have passion for music and I love doing music. I have written many powerful songs, but I have not recorded any one yet. I mean Gospel songs. And I also want to learn music production and sound engineering. I stay in Port Harcourt
These my phone number 08077815777
WhatsApp
My name is Zeecky.pls
Inada talent music 🎶 help me,man d
And woman
I really want to become a music producer.The sounds produced by most gospel songs do drive me crazy.And as that,I would be a standout in music production and sound engineering.I don’t just listen to music,I strictly listen to get the sound.
I love this article it’s so great 💌🚀,thanks so much 🙏,I have so much interest in becoming a since I was a kid music producer and still processing to study.
This is my WhatsApp number please 09031290337
Am MacLor3n here in Uganda…ave rilly loved da article en surely i hv passion 4 music production_naija afrobeats motivate me beta thn our music
Plz help me en ds z ma numbr;
+256707024300
hello bro i want to sing and i will love to use your studio this is my no 09076694381 my name is little
I love to be a music producer that is my dream pls I we love if you can help me am form Cameroon the is my number +237 650961139 my what number thank you