Not gonna lie, if you’re calling yourself a “producer” when all you’ve done is make a beat then you have it all wrong.

I’ve been watching the differences between “songwriter”, “beatmaker”, and “producer” emerge over 20 years.

Why does it matter? Because it affects ownership and how the revenue gets divided.

Not having a clear understanding creates confusion that results in people not receiving what they are due. It creates complications in how deals are made, how credit is given, and in who owns what.

And because the music business is a rights business it creates confusion about who has what rights.

I also think it’s a fascinating change creatively, the result of digital disruption and the fragmentation of the creative process.

At the dawn of recorded music, songwriting, producing, and performing were separate activities that different people engaged in.

But now they are inextricably linked, and the writing process involves performing and production—even engineering.

I’ve been thinking about these changes in the context of what everyone’s roles are and how they are compensated, because I think that causes confusion too. https://twitter.com/marktavern/status/1301283725897072645

The roles people play in the creation of music affects their ability to claim authorship of their work, and whether they are entitled to the revenue streams that flow from it. This is what makes the music business so complicated.

If people don’t have an understanding of how their role makes them money, how can they collect it?

Likewise, if they don’t have an understanding of other's roles, how can they protect themselves if somebody demands payment for something they didn’t do?