THE RECORD PLANT
Hollywood, CA
http://recordplant.com
Jason Carson, VP of Operations, General Manager
Record Plant Studios (aka “The Record Plant”) is a famous recording studio that first opened in New York City in 1968. A year later, a Hollywood studio was added, and in 1972 a Sausalito, CA complex completed the trifecta. The Hollywood facility is considered the main studio. The first album ever recorded at the Record Plant (in N.Y.C.) was Electric Ladyland by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Over the years, many hit records were cut at Record Plant Studios by superstars, including Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Robin Thicke and Lady Gaga, to name a few. Jason Carson has a Music Production & Engineering degree from Berklee College of Music. Upon graduation, he started working at The Record Plant in 2001.
You’re a Trained Engineer––How Did You Become an Executive?
When I graduated Berklee I got job here as a runner. That led to an assistant engineering gig where I really got into the technical side of things. Eventually I became Chief Engineer. However, engineering wasn’t as rewarding as I had hoped. The style of music being recorded at that time wasn’t my favorite. So I started paying more attention to the technical and financial aspects of the studio, which led to my current position.
What is The Record Plant Known For?
We provide top-line services with a technical side that is on point. We go above and beyond what’s expected. As a result, we attract a lot of high-end clientele, mostly major label artists. But, although we primarily deal with major acts, we also welcome independent projects. In fact, we have a couple studios that are definitely affordable as long as you have a reasonable budget to work with.
How Can Clients Get The Best Rates?
We’ll work with almost any budget as long as it makes sense. One way to get a good deal is to book the whole project here––a full album from start to finish. That’s becoming rare today because it’s a producer-oriented market. There’s usually more than one producer involved in a recording, and each one may book a different studio. So, full-service projects that book a block of time will get the best rates.
What’s The Most Exciting Part of Your Job?
It’s exciting to work with the level of talent that records here. It’s inspiring. Many times they’ll take a break and meet each other in our atrium and end up collaborating on a song or two. In fact, I’ve noticed quite a few albums with collaborations that began over our pool table.
What Does It Take to Get Hired at Your Studio?
Well, we have a paid “runner” program that we fill with students and grads from major recording schools. Most runners go through a process that takes approximately one and a half to two years. From there, they become an assistant engineer and, depending on their skills and personality, they could be hired as a staff engineer. That could take anywhere from six months to six years.
The reason the time period is so wide is because there are a lot of factors to consider and a lot of competition. What we look for most of all is a passion for the work and the ability to work with different people. This is a people business and there can be a lot of pressure on some projects. So, someone who absolutely loves what they do and gets along with every-one has the best chance of getting hired.
