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