MPI was founded by Grammy-winning producer Steve Fishell, a former A&R label rep and veteran musician with over twenty years of in-studio experience producing hit records for top labels in both the major and indie worlds. Steve’s wide-ranging resume includes projects with Little Richard, Radney Foster, Pam Tillis, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, John Anderson, Gretchen Wilson, Kinky Friedman, The Mavericks, McBride and the Ride, Billy Joe Shaver, Charlie Major, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Raul Malo, Indigenous, Jann Browne, and The Dixie Chicks. Steve has earned many distinguished awards, including multiple number one records, gold and platinum albums in both the U.S.A. and Canada, a Grammy® in 2005 for Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster, numerous Grammy nominations and a Canadian Country Music Award for Album of the Year for Charlie Major’s chart-topping The Other Side. His work in 1994 with country vocalist Pam Tillis on her In Between Dances CD helped guide Tillis to a Country Music Association (CMA) award for Best Female Vocalist.

Hear Steve Fishell's recent interview on Music Business Radio

Above photo (left to right): Producer Steve Fishell

with legendary singer Mavis Staples, Matt Rollings

and Buddy Miller at Sound Emporium Studio "B."

Once each session we feature special guest speakers who share their insights and wisdom gained from decades of personal experience. Our revolving list of guest lecturers includes highly respected producers, engineers, songwriters and music executives like Chuck Ainlay, Bob Ezrin, Buddy Miller, Frank Rogers, Ray Kennedy, Andrew Mendelson, Jay Joyce, David Leonard and many others.

What is a "Music Producer?"

The producer is to music what the director is to film. Just as the movie director supervises and coordinates the efforts of a team of actors, cinematographers, set designers, sound track composers and other professionals, the music producer oversees the team of featured artists, musicians, songwriters, arrangers, and engineers who contribute to the recording of commercial songs and albums. Whether working for a major label or acting independently, the producer is in large measure responsible for the project’s artistic and financial success.

Outside the music industry, producers are sometimes confused with the engineers who specialize in the technical aspects of production — everything from microphone placement to the intricacies of the latest studio software. But while producers do sometimes have significant engineering experience, their role has more to do with overall creative direction than technical details.

Even the biggest names in music often rearrange their schedules to work with favorite producers in the studio. To the artist, the producer is a key collaborator. Yet despite the producer’s crucial role in an artist’s success, little has been offered in the way of a cohesive program that teaches aspiring producers the broad range of skillfulness, proficiency, craft, expertise and experience required to be a successful hit music producer.

Until now.

Founded by Grammy-winning producer, former record label executive, and veteran musician Steve Fishell, MUSIC PRODUCERS INSTITUTE presents students with a comprehensive, thoroughly professional introduction to the producer’s broad range of creative and business responsibilities. Guest faculty — among them some of the most famous names in music — augment the curriculum with daily lectures sharing insights and wisdom gained from decades of personal experience.

Underlying every course in the integrated program is a recognition of both rapidly evolving recording technologies and changes in the industry. Our students will be ready to enter the studio with a solid grasp of the latest developments not only in the production of music but also in its distribution, whether through conventional record stores, online music companies, artists’ web sites, podcasts, iTunes, or other outlets in the digital age.

We cover the producer’s role in budgeting and project planning, contractual and other legal issues, interfacing with recording companies and managers, selecting songs, assembling just the right team of arrangers, engineers, and musicians, and guiding the artist through every step of the process from rehearsals and demos to recording, overdubbing, editing, mixing and mastering — all with an emphasis on nurturing the artist, respecting the talents of all collaborators, and producing music with the deepest artistic merit and strongest potential for wide-ranging success.

Call 615-283-0201