Recording In Nashville Using The World’s Best Musicians

Here’s a quick guide to the various musician’s union scales available in Nashville.

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Limited Pressing Scale

Great for new and indie artists who want to make a great sounding record and sell up to 10,000 copies on CD or digital download sites like iTunes.

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Master Scale Recording

Unlimited sales allowed by the AFM (musicians union)!  Great for major and indie labels with larger budgets and higher sales projections.

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Demo Recordings

Great option for songwriters and new artists who want to see how their original song or voice sounds with studio production.

What's Right for You?

Every artist and recording project is unique. We use our relationships with some of the most talented creative people in Nashville and will develop a budget that’s right for you. Don’t see exactly what you’re looking for in these guideline examples?  Please Contact Us.

See Dave’s Music Producer page.

Master Scale Recording

Are you a signatory label or established artist expecting to sell more than 10,000 units?

Let us quote a Single, EP or Album project recorded on AFM’s Master Scale.
Total turn-key from pre-production to delivery of the master, including:
Studios, Engineers, Musicians and Singers, Producer’s Fee, Materials, etc.

 

Limited Pressing Scale

Are you an Indie Artist looking to record a great sounding record?

Let us quote a Single, EP or Album project recorded on AFM’s Limited Pressing Scale.
Total turn-key from pre-production to delivery of the master, including:
Studios, Engineers, Musicians and Singers, Producer’s Fee, Materials, etc.

 

Producer Rate

Need an Award Winning Producer?

Have a project started and need some guidance to finish it?
Have a studio and band, but need a producer to help you pull things together?
Need help with final mixing and mastering?
Per Song Producer Fee Only Rates Available Upon Request.

 

Master Production

Below are a few examples of the most common release types today.  Every artist project is unique.
Looking for a producer, engineer and studio to make your next recording in Nashville, give us a call so we can discuss your project.


One Song

$Call/Song
  • SINGLE MASTER 
  • Ltd Pressing or Master Scale includes:
  • Pre-production session, arrangement and chord charts
  • Studio Time for Tracking
  • Award Winning Producer Dave Moody
  • Tracking Engineer
  • Musicians (AFM Master Ltd Pressing Scale): Acoustic Guitar + Electric Guitar + Drums + Bass + Piano/Keys
  • Additional Instrument Overdubs, as needed: Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, Lap Steel, Percussion, Cello, Pedal Steel, Synth Strings/Pads, Harmonica, Violin, Fiddle, etc.
  • Artist’s Lead Vocal Session
  • Artist’s vocal takes edited and compiled into the final vocal performance
  • Artist’s Vocal Tuning
  • Background Vocalist(s), as needed
  • Studio Time for Mixing including Mixing Engineer
  • Mastering
More Info

10 Song Album

$Call/Song
  • 10 SONG ALBUM MASTER
  • Ltd Pressing or Master Scale includes:
  • Pre-production session, arrangement and chord charts
  • Studio Time for Tracking
  • Award Winning Producer Dave Moody
  • Tracking Engineer
  • Musicians (AFM Master Ltd Pressing Scale): Acoustic Guitar + Electric Guitar + Drums + Bass + Piano/Keys
  • Additional Instrument Overdubs, as needed: Banjo, Mandolin, Dobro, Lap Steel, Percussion, Cello, Pedal Steel, Synth Strings/Pads, Harmonica, Violin, Fiddle, etc.
  • Artist’s Lead Vocal Sessions
  • Artist’s vocal takes edited and compiled into the final vocal performance
  • Artist’s Vocal Tuning
  • Background Vocalist(s), as needed
  • Studio Time for Mixing including Mixing Engineer
  • Mastering
More Info

 

Demo Recordings

Looking to make a demo of your song and/or voice.

Contact us and we’ll work with you or direct you to several reputable demo houses in Nashville.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Limited Pressing Scale work?

Limited pressing scale is a local Nashville Musician’s Union scale, allowing independent recordings to be made using this specific pay scale for musicians.  The recordings can be sold by the Artist or indie label, up to 10,000 copies on CD or digital downloads.  If more than 10,000 units are sold, the musician’s pay must be upgraded to Master Scale with additional payments paid to them through the union.  Don’t worry, the musicians, engineers and studios we use are all first class and many of the same players and facilities that work on all your favorite artists’ records.  Another way to look at it – Limited Press Master Production allows you to pay a smaller amount upfront with a promise to pay musicians a little more should your record sales top 10,000 units.  Need more info, contact us.

Can you help me find a label to distribute and promote my music?

Once a recording is made with us, we can help you distribute and promote your music through Lamon Records, Nashville’s premier indie label since 1962. Distributed by The Orchard/Sony Music Entertainment and headed by Dave Moody, Lamon Records Nashville is focused on releasing nationally known, regionally relevant and developing new artists.   Visit www.lamonrecords.com for more info.

What's the deal with Master Scale?

To start with, paying AFM Master Scale allows us to gain access to the very best musicians in Nashville… and there is no limitation on how many records or digital downloads can be sold by the artist or label. So, if you think you’ll sell more than 10,000 copies of the music we record, you should use Master Scale. When we record Master Sessions, we also use the very best studios in town for tracking, and hire the same award-winning recording engineer(s) who are instrumental in making the hottest recordings in today’s Music City.  (ie. Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Jewel, The Band Perry, Billy Currington, Kelly Clarkson, Maddie & Tae, Cassadee Pope, Taylor Swift, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Lionel Richie, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, just to name a few.)  Need more info, contact us.

Can you help me find new songs to record?

Yes.  We have years of building relationships with Nashville’s leading music publishers and songwriters.  Regardless of the style, we can help you find great songs to record.  After all, songwriting is the heartbeat of Music City!

I have my own band. Can you help us make a great recording?

Absolutely.  Union musicians are so comfortable recording in the studio because they do it everyday. However, we love working with new talent and can create a relaxed atmosphere to get the very best performances from you and your band mates. Why not put our years of award winning recording experience to work on your next project.

Can I sell my Demo Recordings on iTunes, etc?

No, unless you want the ghosts of Nashville pickers haunting you. ;0)   But seriously, NO, not really unless you upgrade the musician’s Demo Scale to a Ltd Pressing or Master Scale.  According to the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), recordings made on Demo Scale are for demonstration purposes only, and are not to be sold to the public. That is why Nashville Local 257 created the “Limited Pressing Scale” in the first place, which allows 10,000 copies to be sold initially by the artist.    Need more info, contact us.

Film/Soundtrack Production

Need a soundtrack for your feature-length movie or TV series.  Contact us today to discuss your project.