PROFITABLE MUSICIAN WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

January 15, 2025

Hey there, Profitable Musicians!

The focus of this week's newsletter is on recording.

I'm sharing the mistakes I made in the studio so you don't have to waste time and money making them yourself.

Our Profitable Deep Dive lays out everything you need to do and think about before the big recording day (whether you're using a studio or recording in-house).

Plus if you're reading this on the day it comes out (Wednesday) we're doing a private workshop with Chris SD that will help you decide whether to pursue Sync Licensing as an income stream.

​Register For The Private Workshop Just for Our Community Here​

Always in your corner,
​Bree Noble

NEEd-to-know

Music Industry News & Tips

​What Matters Most When Pursuing Sync Licensing (Hint: it's not genre, gender, age, background, location, label etc.)

​7 Ways To Use Video On Your Music Website​

​How To Create A Social Media Calendar For Musicians​

​Sync Fee Breakdown: Your Potential Income From Music Licensing ICYMI

Click worthy

Tools You Can Use

TODAY'S Profitable DEEP DIVE

🎙️Studio Recording Survival Guide: The Things Nobody Tells You (Until Now!)

Ever walked into a recording studio (or started a big day of recording in your home studio) and felt that mix of excitement and panic?

Whether you're dropping $1000/day at a pro studio or recording at home, here's your comprehensive checklist to avoid costly mistakes and capture magic:

Pre-Production is Your Best Friend

• Never (ever!) start recording without completely nailing down your song choices. Each minute in a professional studio costs money, and "maybe we should try that bridge differently" gets expensive fast. Even if you're in your home studio an dnot on the "cost clock", spending too much time playing around with different options for a section can kill the momentum and make for a really long day. You don't want your players to get tired and cranky (I've been there and it's not pretty!).
• Create detailed demos (or at least road maps) of every song, even rough ones. They'll be your anchor when the pressure's on
• Review your demos critically: Are the tempos right? Key signatures optimal for your voice? Can your players handle this key? Better to change them now than halfway through tracking

Protect Your Art (and Your Wallet) 📋

• Get written agreements with your producer before hitting record. Specify ownership percentages, royalty splits, and credit listings
• Draft clear contracts with session musicians that outline compensation and rights. Make sure they get signed before the session starts.
• Secure a detailed studio agreement covering hourly rates, equipment usage, engineer assistance, and overtime policies

Pro tip: Include a clause about receiving all session files in your preferred format

Create Your Recording Battle Plan 📊

• Map out your tracking order based on who's playing what and when. Don't make your $200/hr drummer wait while you figure out guitar parts
• Build detailed charts for every song - even if you think you know them by heart
• Create a "personnel schedule" so everyone knows exactly when they're needed
• Include backup songs in case you finish early (it happens!) or the ones you're working on just don't gel and you need alternatives

Technical Excellence is Non-Negotiable 🎸

• Schedule instrument maintenance the week before: new strings, fresh drum heads, tweaked action
• Test every cable and pedal before the big day
• For vocalists: No dairy 24 hours before, hydrate well, and bring throat coat tea
• Run proper vocal warm-ups (even if it's 7 AM and you feel silly)
• Pack backup equipment for anything crucial that could fail

Build Your Support Team 🤝

• Assign a dedicated timekeeper to watch the clock and keep sessions moving
• Designate someone to handle food runs and keep everyone fed
• Ask your best friend with camera skills to capture Behind-The-Scenes content to use for future marketing - you'll thank yourself later
• Have someone manage social media updates (or even go live) if you're planning to share the journey
• Consider a dedicated session coordinator to handle the non-musical details

The Extras Nobody Thinks About 💭

• Bring lyric sheets printed in large, readable font (your phone will die at the worst moment)
• Pack a basic toolkit: capos, picks, drum keys, Allen wrenches, screw drivers, duct tape and electrical tape
• Have pain relievers, throat lozenges, and water bottles ready
• Bring comfortable clothes and layers (studios can get cold)
• Keep backup storage devices for your session files

Remember: The best recordings happen when artists can focus purely on creating. Everything else should be planned, delegated, or eliminated.

ON THE PODCAST

One of the less discussed processes in music production is music mastering. It is all about balancing sounds and applying the final polishes.

Bree Noble dives deeper into this process with Ian Shepherd, a mastering engineer, who discusses the importance of mastering when producing albums or creating songs for online streaming.

He breaks down the step-by-step process to produce the best sounds without losing emotional impact. Ian also explains when to use AI tools to do the mastering yourself and when to let a professional do it for you.

Bree Noble

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When You're Ready, here are 3 ways we can help you become a more Profitable Musician:

​FREE "39 Little-Known Streams of Income For Musicians" Guide​

​Join Female Musician Academy (January training: "Build Your Music Career Around Your Life")

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