Straight Answers for
Producers & Songwriters
The questions creators actually ask us, answered the way we answer clients: paperwork first, no hype. Written by the team at Whetstone, a management firm that negotiates these deals and places these records for a living.
What does a music producer manager do?
The actual job: placements, deal oversight, career strategy, and the paperwork that gets producers paid.
Read →How does a producer get a manager?
What managers look for, how outreach really works, and what to send.
Read →Does a producer need a manager?
An honest test for when management adds value and when it is too early.
Read →How do producers get placements?
How records actually reach artists and A&Rs, and what makes a pack competitive.
Read →What are the different types of producer deals?
Flat fee, fee plus points, publishing share, production deals, and when each makes sense.
Read →How do producer royalties work?
The producer agreement and the letter of direction decide what you get paid. Start there.
Read →What is a letter of direction (LOD)?
The one-page document that routes your royalties from the label to you.
Read →How do songwriter royalties work?
Split sheets, PRO registration, mechanicals, and the paperwork chain behind every check.
Read →What kind of publishing deal should a songwriter sign?
Admin vs co-publishing vs full publishing, and how to choose for your catalog.
Read →What is A&R consulting?
What an outside A&R actually does for a project, and when to bring one in.
Read →How does sync licensing work?
The two licenses behind every placement in film, TV, ads, and games.
Read →Who handles music management in Atlanta?
The Atlanta management landscape for producers and songwriters, mapped honestly.
Read →Questions These Guides Don't Answer?
Bring them to a 1-on-1 session, or send them through the contact form.