Honestly, if you were to go to Google and search "how to produce a song in 2024", you'd find a lot of guides in the form of YouTube videos or forum posts (like this one, ironically) selling you "10 Steps to becoming a pro producer" or something like that. I'm not knocking them; they are telling you the truth. Being a producer is relatively simple - the selling point is where they blend the concept of 'simplicity' and 'ease' together. It's not easy to be a great producer. That's why producers are so valuable.
Obviously, becoming a great producer takes sweat & tears, like anything else in life that's worth obtaining. But I do have to admit, an interesting phenomena has been slowly unveiling itself in recent times. As I've mentioned in my "Audio Mixing & Mastering (Now vs Then)" forum, the hardware for mixing that was originally in the possession of the "gatekeepers" of the music industry had started to become "digitized" and sold to the mass market. Now it's possible for any engineer with enough ambition to learn how to use those tools, build a home based studio to their own specifications, and build up their own clientele. As a result, the volume of engineers has skyrocketed; it's easier than it's ever been to find an engineer for your musical needs, but that doesn't mean that they're all of high level quality and professionalism. This is why major record labels are still in business despite the boom in independent contractors.
Music producers fall under the same umbrella. The tools we have at our disposal make the title of 'producer' less prestigious than it might've been even 10 years ago. They're many producers out there now, some of which are great producers. Finding the great ones, let alone the right one for you, can be a real challenge. My advice - your search for a great producer will come down to these key points:
Resume
Now when I refer to a producer's resume, I'm not simply alluding to the kind of artists that they've produced music for, though that's a valid evaluation. If a producer's client creates music that's similar to yours, it's a strong indicator that the producer in question is a great fit for your creative process. However, artists tend to be lazy. They rather work with the more well-known producers or the producers who worked with more verifiable artists, because it's the quickest way to ensure they're getting the desired quality for their music. But you miss out on plenty of "hidden gems'' - producers who have the skills but simply need the right opportunity. It's wise to be diligent in your search, inquire of a producers resume, and intently listen to the producers body of work to see if you've found a potential match...which leads me to my next point:
Professionalism
Rate
To enlist my services as a producer for your next project, go to: https://www.fiverr.com/elijahdoyle?up_rollout=true