Over sixty record producer managers from both the UK and US met in London last week for a session called 'Resurrecting The Music Producer', an event organised by the Music Manager Forum's Producer Managers Group and held at the London HQ of PRS For Music.
Explaining the background to the meeting, producer manager Stephen Budd, who led the meeting, told CMU: "Although the role of the record producer is still essential in the quality record making process, times are tough indeed as producers face drastically reduced budgets and minimal or no earnings at all from royalties, meaning many are struggling to survive. On top of this, producers are being continually pressurised into working 'on spec' and there are many examples of them being played off against each other in an unfair manner by unscrupulous executives".
"If the industry wants quality recordings, there is a need for the representatives of producers to work closely together to look at how deals and budgets can be restructured to allow recording process to continue to employ producers in a viable manner. The MMF recognise the essential role of the producer and have re-constituted the PMG to aid this process. I'm delighted by the support we have received".
In addition to the producer managers in attendance, other music industry sectors were represented at the debate. Producers themselves, obviously, led by the boss of the Music Producers Guild Mike Howlett, plus Feargal Sharkey from cross-sector trade body UK Music, Jazz Summers and Dennis Muirhead from the artist management side of the MMF, the British Academy Of Composers And Songwriter's Patrick Rackow and Maureen Droney Executive Director of the US's Recording Academy.
Commenting on the event, Howlett adds: "This meeting was an important opportunity to discuss the pressing issues facing record producers in the current recording industry - how do we get paid when records are becoming increasingly regarded as a loss-leader for live promotion, and often there is no major label involvement to provide reliable royalty tracking? In times like these it is even more necessary for people in the recording industry with common aims to work together to strengthen our voice. Clear ideas have come from this meeting that are leading to future collaboration".
Following last week's meeting, subject-specific sessions are now planned, some run in conjunction with the MPG. A wiki website will also be set up so producer managers can share information.