The Return of Albums: An engineers perspective
As a mastering engineer, I have witnessed a significant shift in the music industry over the past few years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my workload was dominated by single tracks, with very few albums booked in. Artists, perhaps responding to the uncertainties of the time, favored releasing singles to maintain their presence and engage with their audience more frequently. This trend was not unique to my work, as I discussed it with many colleagues at the time, and it reflected a broader industry movement towards shorter, more immediate releases.
However, in recent times, I have noticed a resurgence in the demand for full album mastering, both in digital and vinyl spheres. This shift back to albums has brought a welcome change to my work, allowing me to engage in more comprehensive and cohesive projects. The benefits of this trend are multifaceted, both for artists and for mastering engineers like myself.
From a mastering perspective, receiving all the songs for an album at the same time, as opposed to one every 6-8 weeks before release, provides significant advantages. It allows for a cohesive sound across the entire album. Each track can be tailored to complement the others, ensuring a unified listening experience. Additionally, working on an entire album allows for better workflow and quality control. When I have all the tracks at my disposal, I can manage the overall sonic balance more effectively by bouncing between tracks and listening to the album in its entirety. This ensures that the album sounds consistent from start to finish, which is crucial for maintaining the artist's vision and the listener's engagement.
The ability to work on multiple tracks simultaneously also streamlines the process, making it more efficient and allowing for more meticulous attention to detail. Quality control of the overall project is incredibly important when releasing a body of work, and that is achieved more easily when receiving all the files at the start instead of drip feeding. This is why I provide discount incentives if you book all your tracks in at once!
The industry’s return to albums is reflected in broader trends as well. A Forbes article emphasised the importance of albums in building an artist's legacy. While singles are effective at maintaining visibility, albums offer a deeper connection with the audience. They allow artists to present a more detailed narrative and a richer musical journey. This return to albums is not just a nostalgic move but a strategic one, aiming to create lasting artistic statements that resonate more deeply with listeners.
I have been enjoying the art of listening to an album from start to finish in one sitting. Stepping away from algorithmically curated playlists and Spotify’s notoriously bad ‘shuffle’ button has allowed me to reconnect with my love for music and regain a sense of connection to the work being presented to me.
For me, as a mastering engineer, this trend towards albums has rejuvenated my creative process. The opportunity to work on larger projects means I can contribute more significantly to the final product. Ensuring a high-quality, cohesive album before it goes to distribution is immensely satisfying. It aligns with my goal of helping artists achieve their best possible sound and delivering a polished, professional product to their audience.
The shift from singles back to albums has brought numerous benefits to the music industry and my role as a mastering engineer. The cohesive sound, improved workflow, and enhanced quality control are just a few of the advantages that come with mastering full albums. As artists continue to embrace the album format, I look forward to contributing to more long-term, impactful musical projects.
