Producing Hit Records

Behind the scenes and topping the charts - today's most respected record producers share their secrets. From the Rolling Stones to Green Day to Norah Jones to the Dixie Chicks, record producers have always played an integral role in the success of an artist. In this fascinating account of how record producers shape the hits and the careers of major artists, author David Farinella talks to the men and women who've launched a thousand careers and pushed their collaborators to multi-Platinum success. He explores the chemistry between artist and producer and presents a treasure trove of sound practical tips for anyone wanting to produce. David John Farinella has been writing about music since 1990, concentrating his attention on performers, songwriters, record producers, and occasionally the personality that fuses them all. He's written for Rolling Stone, the San Francisco Chronicle, Billboard, Mix, Guitar Player, Spin, Alternative Press, Performing Songwriter, Modern Drummer, Hollywood Reporter and many others. Although Farinella has interviewed some legendary performers, it is the story behind the story that constantly fascinates him. Some of his most memorable professional moments have come in the studio as performers and producers put their hearts into the intricacies of a song.

From the early days of music, record producers have served an important role in the studio, providing musical ideas, sonic beds and inspiration. Styles range from Svengali-like dictators to the nearly absent, yet producers are a constant in some of the best known recordings of the day. "Producing Hit Records" takes a behind the scenes look with today's top record producers at what it takes to sit in the big chair. Producers talk about how they got into the field, how they continue to get work, how they motivate artists to come up with that great take and what it's like to workin an industry that's constantly changing.

Ever wish you could sit down and have a talk with the folks who make the biggest hit records? Wish you could learn valuable insights to their techniques and experiences producing platinum releases with the hottest musicians of all time? Now you can with this newest collection of articles from one of the recording industry's leading magazines, Mix! You'll get in-depth interviews with people like Sir George Martin, Don Was, Daniel Lanois, Jeff Lynne, Phil Ramone, Glenn Ballard and a host of others. Over 40 interviews in all! Find out how these folks got started in the industry, how they mediate between labels and artists, what equipment they prefer and much more!

Behind the Glass, Volume II presents another prime collection of firsthand interviews with the world's top record producers and engineers, sharing their creative secrets and hit-making techniques – from the practical to the artistic. In these pages you'll find Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan) discussing the future of digital recording; T-Bone Burnett (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss) sharing his unique view of creating complex low end; and Hugh Padgham (Police, Genesis) analyzing the state of the business today. For real-world advice on everything from home recording to mixing to coaching a nervous singer, check out author Howard Massey's conversations with Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Tony Brown (Reba McEntire), Gus Dudgeon (Elton John), John Simon (The Band), Russ Titelman (Steve Winwood), Bruce Swedien (Michael Jackson), Rodney Jerkins (Mary J. Blige), Simon Climie (Eric Clapton), Matt Serletic (Matchbox Twenty), and more.

It started out as rage against self-serving insider, books by executives. Not until Moses Avalon wrote from the viewpoint of those on the creative side did we finally get a fair and balanced view of how the music business really works.It's been 10 years since Confessions of a Record Producer published real-life numbers showing what artists made on so-called hit records and how producers labels managers and even the artists' own lawyers conspire to cheat them out of royalties. Since then, Confessions has made it onto the required reading list in nearly all major music business programs around the world including NYU UCLA USC Full Sail and prestigious law schools like Loyola. It's stayed in the top 10% of all books distributed by Amazon and won testimonials from top industry pros confirming that it's the only publication that tells the real story of how artists get ripped off and how they can protect their assets. Now in a special 10th Anniversary Edition author Moses Avalon one of the industry's most sought-after consultants and artist's rights gurus has put even more teeth-wrenching reality at the reader's fingertips. The anniversary edition has updates on all of the old shames and many new ones created by the internet and the ongoing transformation of the music industry. Highlights The only published critical analysis of the performing rights industry Detailed numbers on how new royalties from digital downloads are calculated, collected and manipulated The changing team. Once considered to be the immortal trio manager/lawyer/producer has now become webmaster/aggregator/viral marketer. Who to tool up with, and who is just a tool, are revealed deep inside the new so-called 360 Deals offered by the major labels. Are they a desperate attempt to stay alive or can artists finally get paid? Are CDs really dead or is it an RIAA manipulation? How long can we expect the industry standard to stay relevant? Plus a DVD-ROM containing private lessons from Moses Avalon's world-famous Confessions of a Record Producer Workshop a hot ticket every year for top music lawyers, managers, producers, artists and songwriters. Groundbreaking charts and graphs show industry consolidation, who owns what, and where the future of the music business is headed

Presents an approach to opening doors in today's music industry, explaining how a song becomes a hit, what makes a single, and the formula for creating a hit, with exercises to hone skills and expose talents.