8 Things You No Longer Need to Focus on as a Music Producer

Being a successful music producer in today’s world means staying on top of trends. To help producers navigate the ever-changing music landscape, this article will explore the topics that are no longer as relevant in the industry.

We will look at topics such as:

  • Social media engagement
  • Soundcloud relevance
  • Paid Soundcloud reposts
  • Loudness in masters
  • Copyright for DJ mixes
  • Music blog relevance
  • Twitter importance
  • Sound design efficiency

With this knowledge, producers can save time and energy while still achieving success in their music career.

Key Takeaways

  • Social media engagement: Focus on reaching a respectable number of likes and creating great content, rather than relying on Facebook likes or like-to-download campaigns.
  • Soundcloud relevance: Soundcloud is becoming less relevant for reaching listeners, so focus on building up Spotify monthly listeners instead.
  • Paid Soundcloud reposts: Stop paying for Soundcloud reposts as reach is lower and many followers on paid repost accounts are fake.
  • Loudness in masters: Excessive loudness in masters is unnecessary due to streaming services’ loudness algorithms, so focus on maintaining mix integrity and achieving a clear sound.

Social Media Engagement

Gone are the days of relying on Facebook likes to achieve success as a music producer. Instead, focus on reaching a respectable number of likes and creating great content. Like-to-Download campaigns may inflate social media followings, but they are unreliable.

Many successful producers, such as Rinzen, have signed tracks to labels and toured without hitting 1,000 Facebook likes. So, it’s important to utilize friends and family to help grow your page and focus on making quality content.

Keep in mind that it will take time to build a respectable following. Therefore, focus on getting the right kind of engagement. Don’t be fooled by fake followers and false metrics. Instead, aim for organic growth, and you will be rewarded.

Soundcloud Relevance

While Soundcloud may have been the go-to platform for music producers a few years ago, its relevance is quickly diminishing. Soundcloud’s monetization system is not as dependable as Spotify’s and its followers are not as valuable.

Although Soundcloud reposts can still benefit tracks, the reach is much lower than it was before. Instead, producers should focus their efforts on Spotify’s monthly listener count, as it is a more accurate measure of an artist’s popularity. Furthermore, Spotify Insights can provide valuable insight into the producer’s audience and help to shape their future decisions.

Ultimately, it is important for producers to keep up with the evolving landscape of electronic music, but it is no longer necessary to focus on Soundcloud.

Whereas many Soundcloud repost networks used to be an effective way of reaching listeners, they are now becoming far less reliable. As Soundcloud plays become less relevant, artists should avoid wasting time and money on paid Soundcloud reposts. Many of the followers on these accounts are fake, and reach is significantly lower than it was a few years ago.

Furthermore, many of these Soundcloud repost networks are now shifting their focus to building their presence on Spotify. For this reason, it is important for artists to focus on more effective strategies such as building up their Spotify monthly listeners, utilizing playlist aggregators and distribution companies, and using Spotify Insights for Artists to gain insights into their audience.

Loudness in Masters

Building excessively loud masters is no longer necessary, as streaming services have algorithms that automatically adjust loudness levels. To achieve mix integrity, producers should focus on preserving dynamic range and creating a clear sound. Techniques such as parallel compression and limiting should be used judiciously, with each genre requiring a different set of mixing techniques.

Genre-specific marketing is also important when considering the loudness of a track. By understanding the nuances of the genres they work in, producers can ensure the track has the right amount of loudness for their audience. By avoiding extreme compression and distortion, producers can create a master that sounds great across all streaming services.

Copyright for DJ Mixes

When producing DJ mixes, it is important to be mindful of copyright considerations. Facebook, Soundcloud, and Youtube are improving systems for copyright owners to get paid, so DJ mixes are less likely to be taken down.

It’s a good practice to test DJ mixes on separate accounts before posting to main accounts to protect them from potential copyright issues. Additionally, consider creating a separate account for mixes.

To stay safe, follow platform-specific guidelines for posting DJ mixes and use caution when uploading content. Doing this will ensure that your mixes are not taken down due to copyright violations.

Music Blog Relevance

In recent years, music blogs have become increasingly irrelevant for generating significant results for music producers. While posts on big name blogs may still garner a few hundred plays, the value of music blog promotion has largely been overshadowed by platforms such as Spotify, Youtube, and Soundcloud.

What’s more, the credibility and reach of blogs’ own platforms are much higher. While some blogs, such as Billboard and Mixmag, still hold value for resume building, getting your track hosted on blogs’ platforms with larger followings can still be beneficial.

Music producers should focus on submitting their tracks to platforms with larger audiences, and avoid wasting resources on blog submissions.

Twitter Importance

Despite the blogosphere’s waning influence, Twitter remains an important social media platform for music producers. Although it’s not as crucial as other platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, it still has its place in the music industry.

Having a respectable number of Twitter followers (e.g. 1,000) is still a key factor in boosting credibility and engaging with fans. For this reason, music producers should prioritize content creation and Twitter engagement in order to increase their following.

While it may not have the same reach as other platforms, it’s still important to focus on building a strong presence on Twitter. The more followers a producer has on Twitter, the more opportunities they will have to connect with potential fans and promote their music.

Sound Design Efficiency

As music production continues to evolve, sound design efficiency is becoming increasingly important for producers to master.

Building sounds from scratch is no longer necessary, and many sample and sound bank companies offer high-quality presets for producers to customize. The key to achieving unique, high-quality sounds lies in layering and advanced processing chains.

Producers should stay ahead of the curve by embracing the evolving landscape of electronic music. Utilizing the tools available in sample banks can help producers save time and create intricate sounds with ease.

To create an even more unique sound, producers can apply effects such as EQ, compression, and reverb to further enhance the soundscape.

Conclusion

Music production trends are constantly changing, but there are certain aspects that producers can now safely ignore. By understanding the diminishing importance of:

  • Social media engagement
  • Soundcloud relevance
  • Paid Soundcloud reposts
  • Loudness in masters
  • Copyright for DJ mixes
  • Music blog relevance
  • Twitter importance
  • Sound design efficiency

Producers can effectively manage their time and resources while still achieving success in the music industry.

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