What Is A Ghost Producer?
A EDM ghost producer, is a professional producer that is hired to create a track for an artist but remains completely anonymous. Briefly, after producer has been paid for his work, NDA agreement becomes effective and producer transfers royalties and full copyrights to the client/DJ. After that producer has nothing with that track anymore, except maybe making a few changes on the arrangement or fixing mix/master a little bit to satisfy label wishes and requirements. After this part is finished, trying to get in contact with big labels, promoting, releasing and managing the future of the track itself is fully in hands of client/DJ who initially made order.
Hiring a ghost producer for a client/DJ always involves NDA agreement that prevents the real producer of the track from ever revealing himself/herself. This really makes sense since client/DJ wouldn’t want the world to know that they don’t actually produce their own music.
Also, really important fact here is that a ghost producer is not a co-producer. Obviously, it all depends how they agreed, because some ghost producers, like us “RADIOLOGY“, also care about their stage name, and when it comes to tracks that are special for them, of course with better terms for client/DJ, they are released as collaboration. Because, often individuals who are blamed for being ghost producers are actually listed as co-producers of the track. One way or another they work with the artist collaboratively – they share ideas with each other, often they bring in expertise from both of their past experiences, in some cases it is easier to them to find musicians who play real instruments to help them records some parts of the track to get more organic feel which is really important thing to have in your arrangements these days. Also ghost/co-producer creates final product together with their client. This is example of collaboration with a (ghost) producer.
EDM Ghost production typically works more as ghost producer on the solo side. Co-production is relatively common and is actually a great way to bring in various individuals for their own expertise in particular areas like vocals or bass lines. As previously stated, today it is really respected and important for electronic track to have organic elements recorded, quantized midi notes and carefully selected velocity for each note.
Pros & Cons
In conclusion – guys from GadgetsPage summed up the most important pros and cons list in which we can fully reflect our thoughts:
Pros
For the producer:
- You can make money doing something you’re passionate about. If fame and fortune don’t interest you but you still want to produce, this is a perfect opportunity to do so.
- You’re being handed money to spend time in a studio with your favorite pair of studio monitors, better your practice, dabble in new gears and continue to create the way you love to create.
- You can meet high-profile clients and establish solid relationships with each, which will come in handy for your current career and potentially in the future as well.
- You can expand your music production knowledge and learn more about various genres.
- You can get your foot in the door as an established producer.
- You can create work without dealing with fame if that’s not something that interests you.
- You can create a reputation for yourself among other producers.
- You work on your own schedule instead of sitting at a 9-to-5 office gig.
- You choose your pay and what you want to sell.
- You can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000 per track for A-list DJs.
For the purchaser:
- You can bring in new creative angles to your sound by creating an entirely new song or to complete an unfinished one.
- You can create connections with producers who can help you on a current track and reach back out to them in the future for other work.
- You can save yourself time by delegating your work to a different producer.
- Turnaround for a track is typically quick and reliable.
- If you’re performing often, you won’t need to find time to work in the studio and can focus on perfecting your live sets instead. Particularly during festival season, it’s challenging for DJs to keep up with performances on the festival circuit and in clubs while simultaneously juggling brand partnerships and new track releases. Admit it: you don’t have time to spend hours on end in a studio. You can choose to pay someone to do it instead.
- You have someone new designing custom sounds and by that – creating your signature sound and making music complementary to your brand, which recording labels really like – you to have your signature sound which will make you known and unique.
Cons
For the producer:
- You won’t receive credit from a wider audience – or be able to claim fame for any awards won – from your work. Say that one of your tracks hit a Beatport Top 10 chart or a Billboard top tracks chart or a DJ Mag Top 100 chart. You can’t say that was you. You’re forced to watch it happen and watch someone else take credit for it.
- Contracts may cause problems. They may lock the producer into their current gig and not allow them to do other work at the time, preventing them from expanding their client list and, in turn, making necessary income. If you sign an NDA, you can’t discuss your work at all. Other contracts that ghost producers shut down any other available work that could be on your plate. You’ll need to be wary of the risk you take by taking on certain clients, which is particularly important for the younger generations of up-and-coming ghost producers.
For the purchaser:
- You are not able to put your innovative concepts to full fruition by hiring a ghost producer. As a result, the tracks you play may have less meaning and less passion when performed live because they’re just another song in your set list.
- You lose a creative outlet by delegating it to someone else.
- You lose an aspect of authenticity in your music by having another individual produce it.
- You are not collaborating with the ghost producer, so there’s likely more back-and-forth required versus sitting in a studio and working on a track together.
Conclusion
Today’s rhythm of DJ/producer’s life is too fast, so developing a branch like this one in EDM industry really was inevitable. Some people are against it, some are for it. On which side are you? We are looking forward to hear your opinions in comments below. Also if you are on “our” (ghost production side) feel free to reach us as we can help you sell your tracks to our clients. Feel free to contact us.
Also, if you are on the “other side” – feel free to contact us to make a custom ghost or co-production for you, or feel free to check out our shop.
We have plenty of premium tracks ready for you to explore, buy and to receive stems immediately.
Or if you need mixing or mastering service – we are here for you!
Happy producing! :))
