Many songs depend heavily on background vocals because they provide the lead voices depth, harmony, and texture. But are backup vocalists compensated for their work? The quick response is that they do.
Backup singers, session singers, and chorus singers are all terms for background vocalists. Typically, they are compensated by song or per session. The project, the producer, and the vocalist’s background and reputation all influence how much they are paid. Some authors may agree to a fixed rate payment for their work, while others might ask for a share of the song’s revenues.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in May 2020, the median yearly pay for vocalists in the US was $30,400. This translates to about $2,533 in monthly income. It is difficult to estimate the average pay for background vocalists because this number does not distinguish between lead and backing singers.
Regarding recording background vocals, there are many programs that let you record your own voice. Smule, which provides a variety of music genres, duets, and vocal effects, is one of the most well-known. GarageBand, which can record and edit numerous tracks and is pre-installed on iPhones and iPads, is an additional fantastic choice.
There are several steps you may do to enhance the quality of your recordings if you want to record on your phone like a studio. First, spend money on a good microphone because your phone’s built-in microphone might not generate the finest sound. Second, choose a room to record in that is calm with little outside noise. Use a vocal EQ and level adjustment app when recording, as a final step.
In summary, background singers do receive compensation for their efforts, although the amount varies based on a number of circumstances. There are a variety of apps and methods you can use to record your own background vocals on your phone and get studio-caliber results.
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