# Is the Producer the true driving force, the real "artist", in modern (1955-) music?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-producer-the-true-driving-force-the-real-artist-in-modern-1955-music/348711>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 17, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-producer-the-true-driving-force-the-real-artist-in-modern-1955-music/348711 "2006-03-17T06:42:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-producer-the-true-driving-force-the-real-artist-in-modern-1955-music/348711/21 "2006-03-20T13:23:28Z")

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People like Steinman, Lange and Rundgren help compose the songs, play parts (like Bob Rock playing bass on Metallica’s St. Anger) as well as produce - for all intents and purposes they have become a member of the band. My producer friend did this with Tricky, the rapper from Massive Attack who made Maxinquaye, and well-respected mid-90’s hip hop/trip hop album.

If that is the relatinship, then sure, the producer is much more of a driving force. I would say that that is different from being more of a coach and recorder, helping an artist learn to trust their artistic direction and simplify their sound, which most good producers try to do…

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