Will AI replace music producers?
Updated
Music producers score 45 of 100 for AI exposure. The largest share of their task time, 66%, is work AI speeds up while they stay in charge. AI can take over 12% outright, and 22% stays with people.
- 12% AI can do it
- 66% AI helps
- 22% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 63% of the 923 occupations we scored.
Task by task
We graded 30 tasks, listed here from most to least exposed. AI can do 4 of them today, speeds up 20 and leaves 6 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Write and edit news stories from information collected by reporters and other sources. AI writes news stories from reporter notes; editors review. | 72% AI can do it |
| Research production topics using the internet, video archives, and other informational sources. AI search and summarization speed up research substantially. | 70% AI can do it |
| Compile scripts, program notes, and other material related to productions. AI compiles and formats scripts and notes with little review. | 65% AI can do it |
| Perform administrative duties, such as preparing operational reports, distributing rehearsal call sheets and script copies, and arranging for rehearsal quarters. AI can generate reports, call sheets and room bookings automatically. | 65% AI can do it |
| Compose and edit scripts or provide screenwriters with story outlines from which scripts can be written. AI drafts scripts and outlines; creative voice still needs people. | 58% AI helps |
| Perform management activities, such as budgeting, scheduling, planning, and marketing. AI scheduling and budgeting tools cut admin time; judgment stays human. | 55% AI helps |
| Write and submit proposals to bid on contracts for projects. AI drafts proposal text fast; pricing and strategy stay human. | 55% AI helps |
| Develop marketing plans for finished products, collaborating with sales associates to supervise product distribution. AI drafts marketing plans and copy; sales collaboration stays human. | 55% AI helps |
| Study and research scripts to determine how they should be directed. LLMs can summarize and analyze scripts; interpretation stays human. | 50% AI helps |
| Cut and edit film or tape to integrate component parts into desired sequences. AI transcribes and assembles rough cuts; story choices stay human. | 50% AI helps |
Show the other 20 tasks
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Plan details such as framing, composition, camera movement, sound, and actor movement for each shot or scene. AI drafts shot lists and storyboards; director makes framing calls. | 45% AI helps |
| Review film, recordings, or rehearsals to ensure conformance to production and broadcast standards. AI flags technical defects; human eye judges performance quality. | 40% AI helps |
| Establish pace of programs and sequences of scenes according to time requirements and cast and set accessibility. AI estimates runtimes and pacing; creative feel stays human. | 40% AI helps |
| Identify and approve equipment and elements required for productions, such as scenery, lights, props, costumes, choreography, and music. AI lists needed props and music; director approves each item. | 35% AI helps |
| Obtain rights to scripts or to such items as existing video footage. AI drafts rights paperwork; negotiation and legal review stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Review film daily to check on work in progress and to plan for future filming. AI flags issues in dailies; creative calls stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Coordinate the activities of writers, directors, managers, and other personnel throughout the production process. AI can track tasks and draft updates; coordination stays human. | 30% AI helps |
| Select plays, scripts, books, news content, or ideas to be produced. AI can summarize options; choosing what to produce is human. | 30% AI helps |
| Arrange financing for productions. AI drafts pitch decks and budgets; investor trust stays human. | 30% AI helps |
| Confer with technical directors, managers, crew members, and writers to discuss details of production, such as photography, script, music, sets, and costumes. People lead these meetings; AI can prep agendas and notes. | 25% AI helps |
| Consult with writers, producers, or actors about script changes or "workshop" scripts, through rehearsal with writers and actors to create final drafts. AI can suggest script edits; live workshops stay with people. | 25% AI helps |
| Communicate to actors the approach, characterization, and movement needed for each scene in such a way that rehearsals and takes are minimized. Actor coaching happens in person; AI aids prep notes only. | 22% AI helps |
| Conduct meetings with staff to discuss production progress and to ensure production objectives are attained. Staff meetings depend on people; AI adds summaries and tracking. | 20% AI helps |
| Negotiate with parties, including independent producers and the distributors and broadcasters who will be handling completed productions. Deal talks rely on relationships; AI helps only with prep. | 20% AI helps |
| Hire principal cast members and crew members, such as art directors, cinematographers, and costume designers. Casting and crew hiring rest on human judgment and relationships. | 18% Needs a person |
| Choose settings and locations for films and determine how scenes will be shot in these settings. Scouting and choosing physical locations requires on-site visits. | 15% Needs a person |
| Direct live broadcasts, films and recordings, or non-broadcast programming for public entertainment or education. Live directing demands real-time human judgment and physical presence. | 12% Needs a person |
| Supervise and coordinate the work of camera, lighting, design, and sound crew members. Supervising crews on set is physical, interpersonal work. | 12% Needs a person |
| Hold auditions for parts or negotiate contracts with actors determined suitable for specific roles. Auditions happen in person, where live chemistry requires human judgment. | 12% Needs a person |
| Resolve personnel problems that arise during the production process by acting as liaisons between dissenting parties when necessary. Resolving interpersonal disputes requires human empathy and accountability. | 8% Needs a person |
How music producers compare
All occupations (923)
Arts, design, entertainment, sports and media (40)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $90,360 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 143,120 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- +4.0% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Run recording sessions and direct performers in the room
- Track budgets and schedules in Microsoft Excel
- Cast vocalists and session players through in-person auditions
- Edit video and audio assets in Adobe Premiere Pro
- Pitch creative direction in Microsoft PowerPoint decks
- Resolve disputes between artists, labels and engineers in person
Safer roles nearby
4 related occupations with lower scores.
Questions about music producers and AI
Will music producers be replaced by AI?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly research on production topics and administrative duties such as reports, call sheets and room bookings. Choices on sound, talent and crew stay with people because they depend on judgment in the room.
Which tasks of music producers is AI taking over?
Research on production topics scores 70 on exposure, since AI search and summarization cut hours of digging through archives. Compiling scripts and program notes scores 65, because AI formats them with little review. Drafting outlines scores 58, though the creative voice still needs people.
Which tasks of music producers stay human?
Resolving personnel disputes scores 8 on exposure, since it needs empathy and accountability. Supervising crews scores 12 because camera, lighting and sound work is physical and interpersonal. Hiring principal cast and crew scores 18 because it rests on human relationships and judgment.
How can music producers stay valuable?
Spend more hours on in-person casting, studio direction and crew leadership, the tasks scoring 8 to 18 on exposure. Use Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook to automate budgets and schedules, so admin hours free up for sessions. Build pitches in Microsoft PowerPoint and Adobe Premiere Pro so creative calls stay with you.
Related jobs
Next steps for music producers
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