The Dupri Scale For Evaluating And Ranking Music Producers

I have created a scale to rank music producers (well, a 1st draft). As you can see, I named it after Jermaine Dupri. Why create this? To master a discipline, there are various levels of proficiency and accomplishments to achieve. If you do not have specific standards or criteria to measure your progress, knowing if your efforts are helping you reach those goals will be challenging. For example, what does it take to become a first degree black belt in karate or a starting quarterback in the NFL? I know the real world isn't arranged in neat boxes, but what I have summarized below is realistic enough to start identifying what contributes to a music producer’s success. Please feel free to share your feedback.

LEVEL 7: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of requirements with ease. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has advanced songwriting skills. Has advanced vocal production skills to produce a full album. Has advanced mixing and sound design skills. Has millions of followers on social media. Makes 7 figure living from their work. Has numerous sync placements consistently each year. Has songs on Billboard consistently each year. Has won multiple music awards.

LEVEL 6: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of requirements with ease. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has advanced songwriting skills. Has advanced vocal production skills to produce a full album. Has advanced mixing and sound design skills. Has a half million followers on social media. Makes a six figure plus living from their work. Has numerous sync placements periodically. Has several songs on Billboard periodically. Has won at least 1 music award.

LEVEL 5: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of requirements with ease. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has advanced songwriting skills. Has advanced vocal production skills to produce a full album. Has intermediate mixing and sound design skills. Has at least 250, 00 followers. Makes a six figure living from their work. Has several sync placements periodically. Has several songs on Billboard.

LEVEL 4: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of requirements with ease. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has advanced vocal production skills to produce a full album. has gained a national reputation. Makes a full-time living from their work. Has multiple sync placements. Has several sync placements. Has at least 1 song on Billboard.

LEVEL 3: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of instructions. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has intermediate songwriting skills to produce a full song. Has advanced vocal production skills, and has gained a regional reputation. Makes a part-time living from their work. Has at least 1 sync placement.

LEVEL 2: The producer can create custom full-length instrumentals organically and from a given set of instructions with effort. Has an intermediate level of music theory. Has basic songwriting skills, and has gained a reputation in his local community.

LEVEL 1: The producer makes full-length track instrumentals organically. Has a basic understanding of music theory.

** Should we include the ability to play an instrument in this scale?