A Pro Musician Answers Your Questions About Professional Music

[smoothmoniker]

This is my thumbnail sketch of a budget for producing a pop singer/songwriter using everything pro, with the intention of getting songs placed on TV and Film, and major radio airplay. This is an indie budget, and includes no marketing, distribution, or even manufacturing budget.

Primary tracking (6 days)
Studio: $5000/ week (lockout with assistant engineer)
Engineer: $4500 ($450 per day)
Rhythm Section: $18,000 ($750 per day, 4 players, 6 days)

Vocal Tracking (3 days)
Studio: $1350 ($450 per day, including engineer)

Overdubs
Guitar: $1500 (2 days, his studio)
Keyboards: $1500 (2 days, my studio)

Mix (10 songs)
mix prep: $750 ($75 per song)
mix standard: $9600 ($1200 x 8 songs)
mix singles: $6000 ($3000 x 2 songs)
mastering: $3000 ($300 per song)

total: $51,200

This is what it would cost to make an album that could compete musically, sonically, artistically, with anything out there. This is hiring the best players around (maybe not the best known, but still top tier guys), great studios, high end mix, everything.

[Scriveyn]

Originally Posted by smoothmoniker

This is my thumbnail sketch of a budget ...

Thanks, that is very illuminating. The sum total is about the price tag I had from a discussion years ago. So, having the individual components spelled out like that, I understand much better now.

Edited: Having said that, it is still completely beyond me, how musicians who don't go down the dumbed down pop chaff producing lane can make a living. They are certainly welcome to the money I spend on their concerts/albums, as well as lottery funds and such. - MC, I'd rather say "The words 'music' and 'pop' right next to each other sicken me."