If You Want to Be a Full-Time Music Producer, This Is What You Should Do Right Now

But I bet you’re not ready.

I’m telling you, I can almost guarantee that if you do exactly what I say for one year, you can become a full-time producer. I can’t fully promise it, because it depends on your location, what you do, and how seriously you take it. But since we all have access to the internet now, we are kind of equal.

So let’s take one year as the challenge.

First, you need to make a lot of music.

For this example, your goal is to make at least 1,000 beats in one year. Okay, hear me out. 1,000+ beats.

The more music you make, the better you get. Music is the most important thing. If your music is insane and undeniable, everything else can become easier.

Most serious producers I’ve met have made thousands of beats. I’ve been in rooms with producers where people ask, “Do you make beats every day?” And if the answer is yes, people can hear it. Your music sounds smoother. Your skill becomes undeniable.

That’s the goal: make your music undeniable.

Second, you need to make 400 loops in one year.

It sounds like a lot, but trust me, a lot of big-name producers who work with major artists started like this. They made loops, sent them out, collaborated, and built from there.

So now we have:

• 1,000 beats
• 400 loops

Next, you need to post at least 360 pieces of content.

It can be any format. You need to find your lane. If you post every day, you will learn what works and what doesn’t. You will also improve your editing, your ideas, your hooks, and your confidence.

And after one year, you can look back and clearly see which posts worked and why.

If you post 360 times, at least one of those posts can do 10 times better than the rest. One might even go viral. And that can open a completely new lane for you.

Next, you need to collaborate with at least 20 producers this year.

By this, I mean you need to make at least 20, or maybe even 50 beats with different producers. Not just one person. One collaboration means one producer.

And honestly, it’s even better if you do 10 collaborations with each producer.

If your music and loops are decent, it becomes much easier to collaborate with people. Try to work with producers on your level or slightly above your level. Don’t try to send your first loop pack to Dr. Dre immediately.

Find producers who actually respond. Don’t be afraid to shoot your shot. DM people. Email people. Be respectful. Start with a real conversation, but don’t waste their time.

The first message is very important because some people get thousands of DMs. You need to be unique, but still respectful. Say hi. Ask how they’re doing. Keep it polite and simple.

If your music is decent, your loops are decent, and your Instagram page looks decent, you are already on the way to your first big placement.

Next step: offline networking.

If you live in the United States, London, or another major city, it can be a little easier because there are music events and networking events all the time. In LA, there is something happening almost every day.

But even if you don’t live in LA, I bet you can still find people in your city or country who are already working with artists you like.

Your goal is to visit at least 10 networking events this year. Real offline events. And if there are Zoom events or online events, join those too.

Next, you need to dive into at least 10 producer communities.

A lot of big-name producers and creators have their own Discord, Twitch, or online communities. People like Illmind, Busy Works Beats, KXVI, and many others have communities where producers connect, share music, and build relationships.

Build real relationships.

After you start getting work, don’t just think about placements. Build real connections. Build friendships. Try to build relationships with at least 10 producers or engineers.

You also need to build real friendships with at least 10 different producers and consistently work with them. Networking is everything.

You also have to watch at least 10 different courses.

Here are some courses to level up your game.

First of all, if you want to be a better producer, you need to learn mixing. So you need to tap in with MyMixLab by Luca Pretolesi. That’s probably one of the best platforms to learn real secret sauce. I did my personal class with Luca, and in two days I learned so many cool things. So I can highly recommend you to do it too.

The second course I can recommend is Jeff Ellis’ Mixer Brain. That course is insane, and you will learn a completely opposite philosophy of mixing. Jeff Ellis worked with a lot of Frank Ocean’s stuff, and his mixing philosophy is amazing. If you learn both Luca’s and Jeff’s approaches, you will be unstoppable.

Another cool production course is by Mario Luciano. Get all three courses that he has on his website. In my opinion, it’s a little bit overpriced, but the knowledge is on a decent level. If you want to level up your production and put yourself in a different mindset, it’s good knowledge.

Also, get a subscription for Mix With The Masters and watch the videos there.

On top of that, learn from 10 different courses total. Whatever topic you’re interested in – music production, mixing, sound design, arrangement, or anything else – it will definitely level up your game.

And when you are stuck in your career, this is a must-have.

Also, check my networking course. It will help you skip the line. I know it sounds salesy, but I’m telling you, this knowledge changed my life.

Next step: buy tickets to offline masterclasses and fly there.

Right after networking and the courses I recommended, the next step is to buy tickets to offline masterclasses and actually show up.

A lot of people, especially in Europe and in different producer and engineer communities, are making offline events. Once you tap into those communities, you will start seeing those opportunities everywhere.

For example, Luca Pretolesi just made his offline course, and we spent two days in the studio with him. He was explaining real secret sauce that he has been using on records for artists like Skrillex and Drake.

And the crazy part is, you never know who will be in those classes.

Hear me out. I met the FOUNDER and inventor of Instagram in the same room. I was able to meet such high-caliber people, people who are actually changing the world. Now we follow each other on Instagram and casually send demos to each other.

KXVI is also making his producer camps, and a lot of producers from overseas come there. They network, make beats together, and this is how you make real connections. Life-changing connections.

Illmind is doing offline events too. He does Pass the Aux around the United States, and he might even go to Europe.

So the point is simple: buy the ticket.

I know it can be pricey, but these are life-changing opportunities. I’m telling you, I’ve been in those rooms, and every time I go there, I come back as a completely different person.

So let’s quickly summarize everything.

In one year:

• Make at least 1,000 beats
• Create 400 loops
• Post 360 pieces of content
• Collaborate with 20+ producers
• Go to 10 networking events
• Join 10 producer communities
• Build real relationships with at least 10 producers or engineers
• Watch at least 10 different courses

That’s it. Simple, but not easy.

Now the conclusion.

As you might know, I had the chance to learn from some of the best. I interviewed more than 100 Grammy award-winning engineers, producers, and songwriters. And one thing is clear: most producers get placements because they take a lot of shots.

The placements game is about numbers and the quality of those numbers.

Everything I just told you matters if you want real results.

If you follow this for one year, seriously, you will become a completely different person. And year by year, it will only get easier to grow.

After a few years, you might even realize that your city or your country feels too small for you. That’s when you know it’s time to move, expand, and get closer to the people you actually want to work with.

The more shots you take, the more chances you get.

• Every piece of content you post is a lottery ticket.
• Every beat you make is a lottery ticket.
• Every loop you send out is a lottery ticket.
• Every beat or song you release on TikTok is a lottery ticket.

And these tickets are free.

So how many would you take?

Exactly.

That means you need to work hard. Every beat, every loop, every post, every DM, every email, every collaboration, and every event gives you another chance.

But the truth is, most people won’t take this seriously. LIKE YOU!

Only the ones who are obsessed with music will actually do it.

Even Illmind is a multiple Grammy award-winning producer, but he still makes beats like it’s his first day and like he has no placements.

As you might know, I interviewed more than 100 Grammy award-winning engineers and producers, and I made my own course about networking.

So if you want to learn and skip years of trial and error, check out my course.

P.S.

If you already did exactly what I said, I mean exactly one-to-one, without skipping anything, and it still doesn’t work for you after at least three years, that means you’re doing something wrong.

Or maybe you need to change your location.

Look around and find opportunities to move to the city where there is the most source of power for what you want to do.

If you want to work with Drake, you probably need to be in LA, or at least somewhere in the United States.

If you want to work with a famous local artist from your country, then you need to move closer to where that artist actually lives and works.

If you want to work with a superstar from your country, maybe you need to move to the capital.

It depends on your goal.

Change your location. Go there as a tourist for a month. See how it feels. See what opportunities are there. Then come back and decide if you really want to change your life or not.

Learn networking.

It took me five years to learn how to build my network, but now you can do it faster. Now it is your time to get out of the box!

 

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