Focus… Mark Byrd & CJ Plays on the future of producers, how to survive in the streaming age + more

Episode 114 of the Free Game Producer Podcast features a round-table discussion with Focus… Mark Byrd & CJ Plays. We delve into the current state of the music industry and how producers, songwriters & artists can position themselves for success.

Topics discussed include:

• The rise of producers and how they’re no longer invisible
• The struggle of working with no promise of payment
• Understanding your value as a producer or songwriter
• How being independent is the only way to stop being undervalued
• How streaming is killing musicians income
• How not ‘breaking’ an artist has hurt Focus’s career
• Working with Q-Tip & Dr. Dre on the Anderson Paak record ‘Cheers’
• The importance of mixing for the music and not just for the industry
• The importance of ‘pocket’, and how a track is rounded off by the drums & bass
• Producing 3 tracks on Little Brother’s album
• The importance of collaboration and working with the right people
• Mark Byrd’s journey from having $7 in his pocket to making the best music of his life
• Producing “Nina” on Rapsody’s album Eve
• Byrd’s upcoming work with Dante Higgins & Matt B
• The future for producers & songwriters in the music industry
• How producers can position themselves in the current landscape