In the music business, the word producer has a double meaning. It could mean someone who conceives of and organizes concert events (much like a promoter). Music producers can also be studio personnel who are brought in as hired guns to help organize, polish, or revamp a band's sound. Producers help refine, hone, and perfect a group's overall musical approach. In fact, a producer may totally overhaul a band's sound in the studio. Many bands attribute successful records to the insights and vision of a producer.

Managers take on a variety of roles. If you have a good manager, he or she will facilitate just about every aspect of your career from getting you gigs to soliciting record labels to hiring a publicist. In return, managers get a piece of your earnings, whether it's through gigs, CD sales, legal downloads, merchandizing, or all of the above.

Entertainment lawyers help you to understand your rights as a musician. You should never sign a contract without having a lawyer review it first. Contracts contain lots of loopholes and legalese, which can confuse even the most detail-oriented reader. Some lawyers also shop your music to record labels. However, attorneys work less and less on spec (without being paid upfront) anymore, and fees can be high.

The music business is far from fair, and success can be somewhat random. Since the music industry has become a multibillion-dollar business, it has become a tangled web of economic, social, and even political complexities. More and more, the business disregards artistry and artist development in favor of quick moneymakers, one-hit wonders, and fly-by-night trends. However, if you keep your wits about you, make informed decisions, work hard, and maintain a realistic outlook, you will enjoy this business and get something positive out of it.