The Importance of Leaving the Studio Prepared: No Excuses, No Exceptions

Listen up, family. If you’re serious about your music career, I’m about to drop a gem that’ll save you time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. Never—and I mean NEVER—leave the studio without your complete session. Let’s talk about why this is non-negotiable and how to handle your business like the professional artist you are (or aspire to be).

1. Take a Hard Drive. Always.

Before you even step foot in the studio, make sure you have a quality external hard drive with you. Your engineer should bounce everything to it before you leave. Here’s what you need:

The Full Session: This includes every track, every effect, every tweak your engineer made to your masterpiece.
The Stems: These are the individual components of your song. You might need them later for sync licensing (wink), remixes, or to fix something down the line.
The Full Instrumental: Because you’ll need a clean version for performances, licensing opportunities, or content creation.
The Final Mix: Your polished version, ready for streaming or radio.
Your Vocals: Dry and processed—make sure you’ve got both.

Why? Because anything can happen. Hard drives crash, engineers disappear, or you might need those files for future projects. Protect your work like it’s your life savings—because it is.

2. Engage Your Engineer

Your engineer is more than just a button-pusher. They’re a vital part of your sound. Build a relationship with them. Ask questions, take their feedback, and trust their expertise. They’re there to make you sound amazing, so let them guide you on performance tweaks, sound choices, or ideas you might not have considered. Ego has no place in the studio—only greatness.

3. Buy Your Tracks Outright

If you’re leasing beats or just grabbing a track off YouTube, you’re playing yourself. Invest in your career and buy the exclusive rights to your tracks. You don’t want to wake up one day and find your song blowing up—only to realize 10 other artists are using the same beat. Ownership is everything. It’s not just about today; it’s about securing your future revenue streams.

4. Agree on Splits Early

Before you even think about releasing your music or creating content with it, sit down with everyone involved in the project and agree on splits. Who gets what percentage? Who contributed what? Get it in writing, and make sure everyone signs off. This avoids ugly arguments (and lawsuits) down the road. Split sheets aren’t optional—they’re mandatory.

5. Handle Your Paperwork

Once your splits are agreed upon, file everything with your PRO (Performing Rights Organization). Whether it’s ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, your music needs to be registered before it hits the world. That’s how you get paid for streams, radio play, live performances, and more. Don’t leave money on the table because you were too lazy to handle your business.

Bottom Line: Respect the Process

The studio isn’t just a creative space—it’s your office, your bank, your legacy. Treat it with the respect it deserves. Be prepared, stay engaged, and always leave with everything you need to protect your art and your bag.

Your music is your business. Handle it like a boss. Or don’t… but then don’t come crying when things fall apart. Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready.