The Recording Industry

Let's Discuss the Recording Industry- by Don Reed

If they want money, RUN!

If you really reason things out, there are millions of talents that want to record. Many of you have heard the old adage, ‘If they want money, run!'. But that's not true at all. As with any profession, the professionals in the recording studio are paid equivalent to their talents. If you logically look at it, if every musician, backup singer, and entire production team did their work for free … no one could support their family. It just makes sense that to record your music, it will cost you some money, however the price is not out of your reach.

Recording Process

If a person is really serious about his career, he'll use the professionals and won't do it at home by himself!

First, a client enters a studio with the same musicians used by Major labels. These are the same musicians that you see on TV and hear on the radio.

The tracks are laid down for the singer. The singer is now doing the scratch vocals to make sure the tempo & key is right.

After that, the singer gets a break. Then the singer goes back and does keeper vocals to make sure everything is acceptable and meets the standards of the music industry and the standards of the general public.

Next, the backup singers come in and blends the vocals and backup tracks.

Last, it is time to mix the recorded product.

Recording Quality

Can this be done cheaply? No! Not using accredited professionals such as accredited musicians and production team. When you're building something, you're either a master craftsman or a handyman. The master craftsman makes more money, but produces much better quality. The handyman might cost less, but the quality in most cases is just not there! Same in the music industry.

Simply put, the price paid for a session for someone that is in demand because of the great job that they do, is quite fair.

The musicians and the producers and other accredited professionals who create quality recordings are not paid the same as someone who works at McDonald's or Wal-Mart and does this part time in the evening. They are full-time professional studio musicians. The entire production team are full-time professionals- these are the professionals that create the quality TV that you watch every day, and the music you listen to every day!

The tracks produced by these musicians will enhance the vocals and bring out qualities the artist never thought they had.

If you want a cheap demo to sell from the trunk of your car or the bed of your pickup truck, then you can get away with lesser musicians. But if you want a quality demo to present to major labels, followed by a promotion that goes on for 12 months, then you will need the pro's to make your product for you, and a promoter who has contacts worldwide. Affinity Music/Don Reed Productions charges a fair price for these services in order to provide a quality service for talented acts that deserve a successful music career, we pay several professionals for a full year for each act.

Recording Promotions

There are many that look for recording companies to back them, however let's consider these facts: the record company doesn't know if the act or individual has a drug, alcohol, marital problem, owes the IRS back taxes, is wanted by the FBI , or has some other problem that prevents them from pursuing their career,. The best backers a person can find are people from their area that know the character of the individual. When you approach a stranger for sponsorship he looks at it as a poor investment because he doesn't know you.

Think about your promotion…if you send a poor demo out, then it does you no good. Just as important, if you send the best demo out, it won't do you any good if it's not sent to the decision makers in the music industry!

Affinity Music/Don Reed Productions promotes to major labels worldwide and also the to the executive branches of the music industry, including the popular TV talk shows. One of our Christian artists, due to our submissions, was selected to appear on one of these popular TV talk shows! Our promotions are not just random mail outs, these are planned in accordance to the act and their talents. Each submission that leaves our office goes out as solicited material. In February, 2006 we got 6 acts picked up by a large label in Scandinavia. A huge success story!