The Role and Responsibilities of Executive Producers

Following the release of Notorious B.I.G.'s 1999 album "Born Again," much of the acclaim was directed at executive producer Sean "Puffy" Combs. By the time of the album's release, B.I.G. had been deceased for nearly three years, having fallen victim to a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. Combs meticulously crafted the rapper's third album by organizing previously unreleased verses and featuring collaborations with prominent artists such as Missy Elliott, Ice Cube, and Snoop Dogg. In Combs' creative vision, B.I.G. introduces most tracks, seamlessly transitioning to guest artists who carry the songs forward [sources: Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine].

Music journalist Chris Charlesworth earned the title of executive producer for reissued editions of The Who's albums after proposing the idea of a retrospective box set, which ultimately led to multiple releases. Despite lacking prior production experience, Charlesworth took on tasks such as curating bonus tracks, composing liner notes, conceptualizing cover designs, and overseeing the music production workflow [source: Richard James Burgess].

Unlike typical executive producers, Peter Grant was listed as such on every Led Zeppelin album, despite serving primarily as the band's manager without involvement in songwriting, arranging, or production.

These examples illustrate that executive producers, even within the same sector of the entertainment industry, often have varying roles. Their duties can range from overseeing nearly every aspect of a project to focusing on specific areas, or simply providing financial backing, support, or leveraging their reputation to enhance publicity and sales.

What exactly defines an executive producer? How does a music producer differ from those in film or television? And what steps lead someone to become an executive producer? Continue reading to uncover the answers.

Job Description of an Executive Producer

Defining an executive producer is challenging due to the wide range of responsibilities associated with the role. When you factor in the distinctions between a music producer, a film producer, and a television producer, the definition becomes even more complex. In the following sections, we’ll explore each type of executive producer in detail, but first, let’s examine the general job description of an executive producer.

In the simplest terms, an executive producer is the individual responsible for overseeing the production of a project, whether it’s a movie, album, or TV show. This could involve managing the entire project or contributing a specific skill or resource crucial to its success.

For instance, an executive producer might act as a financial overseer, monitoring budgets and ensuring the project stays on course. Many executive producers are employed by studios or record labels to safeguard the company’s investment and ensure a profitable outcome.

Alternatively, an executive producer might serve as a financier, funding a significant portion of the project or securing additional investors to cover the remaining costs.

An executive producer can dive deep into the production process, much like Puffy Combs did with "Born Again," or focus on a critical aspect of the project, as Chris Charlesworth did for The Who. In the independent music or film sectors, an executive producer often handles tasks beyond the scope of artists and crew, effectively managing nearly every detail.

An executive producer can also be a renowned producer or director who lends their name to a project to boost its profile. Figures like Steven Spielberg and George Clooney have been credited as executive producers on films primarily for their star power, even if they weren’t actively involved in the production.

There’s no rule limiting a film or album to just one executive producer. It’s common for multiple producers to share the title, reflecting their diverse contributions. For The Who’s retrospective albums, Chris Charlesworth shared the producer credit with John Astley, who handled the remastering, and Bill Curbishley, the band’s manager [source: Richard James Burgess].

Next, we’ll explore the role of an executive producer in the motion picture industry.

Motion Picture Executive Producer

Given the complexity of filmmaking, a motion picture executive producer typically oversees the process with the help of a team. Each supporting producer manages specific aspects of production. To fully understand the role, let’s focus on a hands-on producer who actively manages the film, as opposed to one who merely provides funding or lends their name to the project.

A film executive producer is often accountable to the studio for delivering a high-quality movie on schedule and within budget. They oversee the entire process, from the initial concept to theatrical distribution, acting as the studio’s liaison and coordinating the efforts of hundreds of professionals [source: Full Sail].

In the preproduction phase, the executive producer identifies the source material for the film, commissions the screenplay, and secures funding. Collaborating with the studio or working independently, they also select the director and cinematographer, assist in casting lead roles, and assemble the production team, including crew members and other producers.

This phase also involves finalizing filming locations, setting the budget, creating a shooting schedule, and drafting a comprehensive production plan.

Throughout production, the executive producer oversees the timeline and budget, ensures the film stays true to its creative vision, and may provide creative input to the director. Additionally, they update the studio on filming progress and serve as the primary link between the studio and the film’s creative and technical teams.

In postproduction, the executive producer evaluates the edited version of the film, offering feedback for revisions before the final cut. They also collaborate with a movie distributor to arrange distribution and review the distributor’s promotional strategy for the film [source: World Book].

As evident, the executive producer primarily focuses on the business side rather than the artistic aspects of filmmaking. However, this differs significantly from the role of an executive producer in the music industry.

Continue reading to discover how the responsibilities of a music producer differ from those of an executive producer in film or television.

Music Executive Producer

Unlike a motion picture executive producer, who primarily focuses on the business aspects of production, a music producer often plays a more creative role. According to Richard James Burgess, author of "The Art of Music Production," a music producer’s responsibilities may align more closely with those of a movie director than a movie producer, as they exert greater influence over the artist and their performance.

Burgess cites George Martin, the Beatles’ executive producer, who described a music producer as a hybrid of a movie producer and director: "A record producer is the designer — not in the sense of creating the work itself, but in staging and presenting it to the world. It’s their vision and taste that ultimately shape the final product, for better or worse."

While movie executive producers are typically part of a large team, record producers often operate independently and manage their own small labels. Unless affiliated with a major record label, they tend to focus on the creative side, leaving business negotiations to music agents.

However, the financial side of production cannot be overlooked. Deanna Schwartz, owner of Revenge Records, emphasizes that when she undertakes a project for her label, she acts as the executive producer since she funds the expenses. This grants her the final say on project completion, as well as input in selecting session musicians and the mixing engineer.

In smaller labels or as independent producers, a music producer often oversees multiple production aspects, including songwriting, orchestration, sound engineering, and vocal arrangements. They may also approve album liner content, cover art, and contribute to music distribution and marketing strategies.

Producers frequently determine recording schedules and locations, choose the necessary musicians and technicians, and manage timelines and budgets. However, their most valuable role might simply be stepping back to help artists refine their performances. As Schwartz observes, "Every project requires objectivity, and it’s challenging to remain impartial about your own music."

Proceed to the next page to explore the various roles of executive producers in the television industry.

Television Executive Producer

In the fast-paced television industry, an executive producer must act swiftly and make quick decisions. Unlike motion picture or music producers, who may have months to finish a film or album, a TV producer working on a series must deliver a new episode weekly or around 22 episodes per season.

The term executive producer holds varied meanings in television, more so than in other entertainment sectors. The Producers Guild of America distinguishes between executive producers for long-form television (like TV movies) and those for series. Additionally, networks and TV stations employ executive producers to manage news and other programming types.

The duties of an executive producer in long-form television closely mirror those in feature film production:

While television series are often led by writers, the executive producer holds ultimate accountability for both the creative and business sides of the series, answering to the network or funding entities. The executive producer may also serve as the writer, taking on additional responsibilities such as:

[source: Producers Guild of America]

Does the role of an executive producer align with your career aspirations? Continue reading to discover the necessary training and experience required across various entertainment sectors.

Becoming an Executive Producer

Beginning at the top is rarely feasible in any profession — and that’s precisely what you’d be attempting if you entered the film, music, or television industry as an executive producer. Like any career, advancing requires the right blend of experience and training.

Certain skills are essential for any executive producer, regardless of the industry. These include managing logistics, schedules, budgets, creative talent, technical staff, production teams, and the necessary equipment and materials.

While you won’t handle every task personally, training in project management and hands-on experience in these areas are crucial. To effectively oversee others, you must understand their roles. Additionally, managing budgets and safeguarding a studio or record label's investments typically requires a degree in finance or a related field.

Each entertainment sector also demands specialized skills and training:

Motion picture producer — Understanding filmmaking is essential for producing movies. Executive producers in film often specialize in areas like acting, writing, directing, editing, or cinematography before advancing. They usually start with a college degree and gain experience through entry-level industry roles. Figures like Steven Spielberg and Spike Lee began by producing and directing short films during their college years.

Music producer — In the music industry, executive producers often have a background as writers or performers, along with proficiency in an instrument. Knowledge of the business side, including production processes and equipment, is also vital. A degree in music production, music business, or sound engineering is typically required. Many, like Puffy Combs or Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads, started as musicians before moving into production.

TV producer — Similar to film and music, becoming a television executive producer demands industry-specific knowledge and a grasp of filmmaking or entertainment. Typically, this begins with a degree in communications or media, focusing on broadcasting. From there, it’s about climbing the ranks in television or radio.

For instance, Paula Apsell, an executive producer for the science series "Nova," began her career by typing daily TV logs for a Boston station. She transitioned to the station’s radio affiliate, became a news producer, and eventually joined "Nova" after producing a few episodes [source: PBS].

David Shore, the executive producer behind "House," initially practiced law before switching to TV writing. Prior to creating "House," he contributed to shows like "NYPD Blue" and "The Practice," and served as a supervising producer on "Law & Order" [source: House].

As in any entertainment career, advancing depends on a mix of luck, connections, persistence, talent, skill, and experience. Building a strong network can help you progress from assistant producer to associate producer, then to producer, and ultimately to executive producer.