Production: The Driving Force Behind Musical Evolution

Throughout history, music has evolved. Composition and songwriting have changed in order to create fresh and original sounds. However, production has been emphasized more than ever in the modern music industry. Due to the fact that music generated with an instrument can only be organized using a specific range, diversity can be limited. Musical production and audio editing introduced an innovative solution. After the creation of the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), recording transitioned from “being primarily a technical to an artistic matter” (Moorefield). Technology that established reverb, pitch shift, loop, pan, and countless other effects broadened melodic horizons and changed the way that musicians practiced their craft. Notably, once the recording process had been polished by the 1960s, the music industry entered an experimental phase. The term “producer” gained traction along with engineers. To this day, artists prioritize the individuals they choose to produce their album because this factor will drive the overall sound of a song or project. Moreover, an artist may choose to produce their own music as they grow more comfortable with creating music and working with editing software. There is an abundance of music being released into the world on an annual basis. Without production, the community would come to a monotonous halt, making music production the driving force behind musical evolution.