If you are someone who is musically talented, you may have considered a career as a recording artist. By pursuing this career, you can do what you love for a living while sharing your passion for music with others. While this career choice requires talent, you’ll also need some personal branding strategies. In this article, we explain what this career entails along with how to become a recording artist.

What is a recording artist?

A recording artist is a musician who creates music recordings in a studio. Depending on their specialty, they may either sing or play instruments on these recordings. Some recording artists even do both. Once recording their music, a producer edits these files, eventually publishing them as a CD, music file or sometimes even a vinyl record. Along with recording their music, recording artists are responsible for creating their public image in order to get people interested in their work.

How To Become a Recording Artist

Indeed Editorial Team

Updated February 17, 2023

If you are someone who is musically talented, you may have considered a career as a recording artist. By pursuing this career, you can do what you love for a living while sharing your passion for music with others. While this career choice requires talent, you’ll also need some personal branding strategies. In this article, we explain what this career entails along with how to become a recording artist.

What is a recording artist?

A recording artist is a musician who creates music recordings in a studio. Depending on their specialty, they may either sing or play instruments on these recordings. Some recording artists even do both. Once recording their music, a producer edits these files, eventually publishing them as a CD, music file or sometimes even a vinyl record. Along with recording their music, recording artists are responsible for creating their public image in order to get people interested in their work.

What does a recording artist do?

While the job duties of each recording artist can vary quite a bit, here are some general job duties of someone in this profession:

• Work with a team of songwriters to create lyrics and music for their songs or choose to do this part of the creative process independently depending on their specialty.
• Meet with producers to determine the overall theme for an album.
• Practice the music that they will eventually be recording.
• Attend studio sessions to record various options to choose from for their final release.
• Create a public image of themselves as a recording artist to attract fans. They may do this through marketing campaigns, social media outreach, live interviews and magazine publications.
• Go on a tour to perform songs to a live audience.

How to become a recording artist

There are many different ways you can become a recording artist. For many musicians, this process requires quite a bit of hard work and luck. Here is a general list of steps you can follow when pursuing this creative career:

1. Learn your passion

If you want to become a successful recording artist, you need to be passionate about what you do. Many recording artists begin their love for music from a young age. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can master your musical abilities. Begin to explore different instruments or singing techniques. Eventually, you’ll start to figure out what kind of musical abilities you have.

2. Practice consistently

While musical talent can come naturally, it also requires a lot of practice. Consider enrolling in instrument instruction or singing lessons to enhance your musical abilities. Working with an instructor or voice coach is an essential part of continuing to grow as a music artist. They have the experience and knowledge to help you perform better. Voice coaches can also share techniques for preserving your voice, which is important when going into long recording sessions.

3. Study music

While earning a degree may not be required for this career, it can open you up to all kinds of opportunities and help you continue to enhance your musical abilities. If you want to learn about music fundamentals and develop your skills, consider earning your bachelor’s degree in music. Along with getting a formal education, there are plenty of other ways to learn about music. Consider watching video tutorials, purchasing literature or meeting with real musicians. You can also learn quite a bit by exploring different genres of music.

4. Define your style

In order to be a memorable recording artist, you need to create a personal brand for yourself. Along with choosing an instrument, style of singing or music genre, you may want to craft an image. Determine how you want to project yourself to fans and the public in general. You may do this purely through your music, although much of this involves the way you act, dress or market your work.

5. Create your music

Before becoming a signed recording artist, you may need to rent out recording studios to produce your own music. Some artists even create some kind of recording studio in their own homes. The creative process varies based on each recording artist. Some people choose to start by writing their lyrics and then adding in music later. Others decide to do the exact opposite.

When you begin to create your music, you may need to enlist the help of others. Unless you can do it yourself, you may need to work with a sound engineer or producer. Recording quality tracks requires an in-depth knowledge of mixing, mastering and storing music. Throughout this creation process, you can learn a lot about your career trajectory. For instance, you may decide that you want to be a solo artist or you may also find that you want to form a music group.

6. Gain exposure

Start to cultivate a following of listeners by releasing some of your music. Consider booking live gigs to start drawing in a fan base as well. As the music industry evolves, you may need to use the internet to grow your fan base. Consider sharing recordings of your music online through music forums, streaming services and social media. As you gain exposure, you may eventually get the opportunity to join a major record label.

7. Evolve as an artist

Throughout your career as a recording artist, your craft may evolve. Getting feedback from artists or fans you admire is a great way to continue to grow as an artist. If you sign onto a record label, you’ll get access to a team of creatives who can help you create new music. Since this is such a creative process, you may decide what you started out doing is much different than what you hope to continue to do.