Record producer : how has the profession changed over the years?

Abstract

Record producer is a term we have heard regularly since the 1960s, but after six decades of evolution, how much of the original profession is left besides its name? From Phil Spector to Paul Epworth or from Sir George Martin to Dr. Dre, roles, meanings, and methods vary.

Through books, interviews, and online research, this thesis takes a look back into understanding the evolution of record production since the 1960s, and how history has shaped the profession whether it is by technological ad-vances, the emergence and multiplications of music genres or worldwide events.

The compilation of this historical base along with the interviews of four Finn-ish record producers, have given us a better understanding of what record producer means in 2020s and how the core of its purpose has remained the same since the 1960s. How technological advances, for instance remote mix-ing, will shape the profession during the years to come and what is expected from record producers in the future.