In this episode of the Music Business Newsletter with Matthew Rix, I read an email from Sarah, a 22-year-old college student in Nashville who’s finally ready to record her first single but has no idea what a realistic budget looks like.
Sarah’s studying in Music City, where opportunities are everywhere, but so are the price tags. Some recording students at her college have offered to record her single for free, but the only available studio time is at night. Meanwhile, professional Nashville producers have quoted her $5,000 for one song and she’s not sure if that’s normal or just “Nashville math.”
She makes country music but comes from a punk and Christian background, and she’s realizing that recording real instruments and session players might be pricier than she thought. She wants to do it right but also not blow her savings before graduation.
In this video, I break down:
-What a realistic budget looks like for your first single
-When to take a free recording opportunity (and when not to)
-Why country songs cost more to produce — and how to keep it affordable
-How to find good players and producers without getting ripped off
If you’re about to record your first song and have no idea what to expect, this episode will save you time, money, and headaches.
Do you have a music industry question or a story to share?
Go to https://MatthewRix.com and send it in.
The more details you share, the more I can help and your story might help another artist just like you.
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