What is a Ghost Producer?

Definition of a Ghost Producer

A ghost producer is essentially a music producer who composes or produces tracks for another artist but remains anonymous or uncredited in the public release. The hiring artist, often a DJ or EDM act, pays for the track and then releases it as their own creation. In other words, the ghost producer quietly sells the rights to their music to someone else. The audience and fans assume the credited artist made the song, while the real creator stays behind the curtain. This practice is not unique to EDM. Pop and hip hop music have long histories of songwriters and producers crafting hits for star singers. However, in EDM, the idea of a solo DJ “doing it all” has been a strong ethos, so using ghost producers was once a taboo subject.

Ghost producers can take on different roles. Sometimes they co-produce a track by working alongside the main artist. Other times they handle the entire production from scratch, and in some cases they act as audio engineers polishing a nearly finished idea. The key point is that the ghost producer’s contributions are not publicly credited. Historically, even classical composers like Mozart ghost wrote music for patrons in secret, so the concept has existed for centuries in various forms. Today, the ghost producer’s work is made easier by modern DAWs and online collaboration tools, allowing them to craft a song and deliver a finished product to the artist who hired them.

Why Do Producers Become Ghost Producers?

It might seem surprising that a skilled music producer would give up credit for their work. In reality, there are several motivations for becoming a ghost producer.

• Financial Gain

Ghost production can be financially lucrative. Talented producers who have not yet built a public brand can earn a steady income by selling their music to bigger artists. On dedicated platforms, quality EDM tracks often sell for a few hundred up to a couple of thousand dollars each. Successful ghost producers can make anywhere from $1,000 to over $10,000 per month depending on their output and client base. For many, this beats the uncertainty of trying to break through as an artist in a saturated market.

• Love of Production, Disinterest in Touring

Some producers simply prefer the studio to the stage. Crafting music without the pressure of public performance or fame can be appealing, especially to more introverted individuals. A ghost producer can focus on the creative process full time without needing to adopt the persona of a DJ or performer. As one veteran ghost producer explained about himself, “I don’t have a taste for the stage or live performance. I’m much more comfortable working in the studio where I have unlimited creative freedom.”

• Skill Utilization

Not every great music producer has the marketing or DJ skills to become a world famous EDM act, and not every famous DJ has top tier production skills. Ghost production provides a way for technically skilled producers to work on high profile music projects without needing to be in the spotlight. It is a behind the scenes career similar to being a songwriter or studio musician in other genres. Many ghost producers are experts in sound design, mixing, and mastering, which are highly valued skills they can monetize anonymously.

• Networking and Foot in the Door

In some cases, ghost producing can act as a springboard for a future career under the producer’s own name. By ghostwriting tracks for established artists, a newcomer might gain industry connections or learn hit making formulas. There have been instances where a ghost produced track’s success ended up launching the ghost producer’s career. A famous example is Martin Garrix. Early in his career, he ghost produced a track for another artist that became a hit on a major label. When the label discovered Garrix was behind it, they signed him, which eventually led to him releasing the smash hit “Animals” under his own name. In Garrix’s own words, “I made a ghost production for somebody else… this track got signed to Spinnin’ Records and became really big. They found out that I made it… and we signed.” In this way, ghost work can sometimes open doors, although this is the exception rather than the rule.

Despite these advantages, ghost producing also has downsides. The most obvious one is lack of recognition, since ghost producers give up public credit for their work. If having your name attached to music you create is important to you, ghostwriting could feel unrewarding. Additionally, ghost producers must accept that their clients, the DJs who buy their tracks, will receive all the fame and accolades for those songs. Some ghost producers are content with this arrangement and note that they feel pride simply hearing their music played at major festivals even if their name is not attached, while others may eventually tire of being the person behind the curtain.

The Role of Ghost Producers in EDM

Ghost producers play a pivotal role in the EDM ecosystem, especially as the genre has exploded in popularity around the world. Many of the biggest festival anthems and chart topping EDM tracks involve ghost production at some stage. Maarten Vorwerk is often cited as the world’s most famous EDM ghost producer. He was reportedly behind dozens of big room house hits during the 2010s, contributing to the signature sound of that era. Notably, Vorwerk chose not to tour or DJ. Instead, he stayed in the studio producing tracks for others, helping drive EDM’s mainstream boom. His name became almost legendary among industry insiders and devoted fans as the hidden force behind many successful releases.

Vorwerk is just one example. There are also artists like KSHMR, whose real name is Niles Hollowell Dhar, who before becoming a famous solo act was known to have quietly co produced or ghost produced tracks. KSHMR had a background as part of the production duo The Cataracs, who created hits like “Like a G6,” and later allegedly ghost produced for some EDM stars before stepping into the spotlight himself. These cases show that ghost producers often have elite level skills, in many situations equal to or even stronger than the headline artists they work for, but they either have not yet built their own brand or prefer working anonymously.

Ghost producers contribute at various stages of music creation. An EDM ghost producer might write the melody and chord progressions, design the synth sounds and drum patterns, and fully arrange and mix the track. In other scenarios, a touring DJ might send a rough idea, such as a hummed melody, a basic demo, or a drop concept, to a ghost producer who turns it into a polished production. The ghost producer may also rely on reference tracks provided by the DJ to understand the style and quality expected. After the track is completed, often including professional mixing and mastering, the client DJ releases it on record labels or streaming platforms under their own name. The general public hears the song and associates it with the DJ’s brand, while the real creator remains invisible in the credits.

It is worth noting that not every collaboration is pure ghost production. Some established EDM artists openly collaborate with co producers or hire mix engineers while giving credit where it is due, which is a more transparent approach. The boundary between ghost production and co production can be blurry. In principle, ghost production means the producer’s identity is completely hidden and often protected by NDAs, or non disclosure agreements. A co producer or engineer might receive credit in liner notes or official songwriting and production listings even if the marketing focuses on the main artist. Many top DJs today acknowledge working with studio partners or teams. For example, the duo NERVO revealed they began as ghostwriters for other artists before launching their own act when the time was right. Others, such as Dash Berlin’s frontman, have openly said they work with additional producers and have no issue with it. The stigma around getting help in the studio has softened in recent years as fans become more aware that music production is often a team effort.

A Day in the Life of a Ghost Producer

What is it actually like to be a ghost producer? Surprisingly, the day to day life of a ghost producer often resembles that of any freelance music producer or sound engineer, with one key difference: their clients are high profile DJs and their work is surrounded by secrecy. A ghost producer will typically juggle multiple projects for different clients, each with their own stylistic demands. They communicate with artists, or sometimes the artist’s management, to receive a brief, such as: “Artist X needs a festival ready progressive house track, 128 BPM, euphoric vibe similar to [Reference Track].” The ghost producer then heads into the studio, using their expertise to compose melodies, program synths, and layer kicks and basslines to match the requested sound.

Efficiency is critical. The faster a ghost producer can deliver high quality tracks, the more they can earn. Top level ghost producers treat it like a full time job and often complete several tracks per month. Data from ghost production platforms suggests that elite producers might release three to four tracks in a week when working at full capacity. However, quality control still matters. Building a reputation for consistent, club ready productions helps a ghost producer secure repeat business. Ghost producers also create stock tracks, fully finished songs in various genres, that they upload to marketplaces in the hope that a DJ will purchase them straight away. This means time is often spent creating music speculatively and listing it for sale.

Earnings and deals

Ghost producers usually receive a flat fee per track with no royalties or public credit. They effectively sign over full rights to the music once payment is made. On some platforms, average prices for ghost produced tracks range from roughly $350 for a tech house record to $650 for a dubstep track, with standout releases in any genre reaching $1,000 or more. In general, freelance ghost producers may charge anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per song depending on complexity and the profile of the client.

In rare high end situations, when a ghost producer works directly with a superstar DJ on a potential hit, different arrangements can be negotiated. Some have reportedly accepted lower upfront fees in exchange for a share of royalties or a songwriting credit on major releases. This is less common in EDM, where most ghost deals are structured as full buyouts. One anonymous producer explained that if approached by a DJ Mag Top 10 artist for a track he expects to chart, he might reduce his fee but push for songwriting credit and royalties, effectively betting on the song’s future success. On the other hand, when working with a mid tier DJ who simply needs releases to strengthen their catalog, that same producer may accept a quick flat fee with no royalty expectations.

Life as a ghost producer can be creatively rewarding but also demanding. You may work on music that ends up being played on the biggest stages in the world, from festival main stages to major radio stations and streaming playlists, yet you often cannot publicly claim credit. Ghost producers have to be comfortable with anonymity. As one producer interviewed by UKF noted, he had grown used to hearing his work in the UK Top 40 or at large dance festivals without his name attached, and it did not bother him much. Strict confidentiality is standard in this line of work. Non disclosure agreements are common, especially when working with high profile artists, to ensure the producer’s involvement remains private.

Ethics and Perspectives

From one perspective, ghost production is simply another form of collaboration or outsourcing, no different from a pop singer working with a team of songwriters or a film director hiring a screenwriter. Many top EDM artists defend the use of ghost producers or behind the scenes collaborators. For example, Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, frequent winners of the Top 100 DJs poll, have explained that receiving help with mixing, songwriting, or production is not unique to electronic music and that as long as everyone is properly paid and internally credited, it is a legitimate way to make the best music possible. David Guetta has similarly said it is “totally cool to work as a team” and compared the process to being in a band, as long as people are credited and paid, though he distinguished that from using a completely hidden ghost producer. These artists emphasize that music is often a group effort, and that the headline DJ or producer typically contributes in other ways, such as choosing the creative direction, refining arrangements, managing vocal sessions, and performing the music live. In fact, the very definition of what it means to produce a track can be broad. Some superstar EDM acts function more like creative directors, overseeing a song’s vision and final polish while co producers or ghost producers handle much of the technical work. As P. Diddy once remarked about his role in hip hop production, “I don’t write beats, I write checks,” suggesting that coordinating the creation of a record is also a form of production.

From the opposite viewpoint, critics argue that ghost production undermines authenticity. EDM fans often admire DJs for both their performance and studio abilities, so discovering that a major hit was created by someone else behind the scenes can feel like a betrayal. “It kind of takes away some integrity of an artist,” the duo W&W admitted when asked about ghost producers. Hardline detractors go further, claiming that DJs who cannot produce their own tracks are misrepresenting a core part of their image. In this interpretation, ghost production is seen as misleading audiences who believe the credited artist is solely responsible for the music.

A producer writing on Medium went so far as to argue that “ghost producing is killing EDM,” claiming that it harms emerging talent and misleads fans. The writer, Collin McLoughlin, noted that some DJs he encountered “can’t even operate a DAW… yet they release a steady stream of records each year to throngs of hungry listeners” thanks to ghost producers. For young producers, ghostwriting for a famous name may provide short term income, but McLoughlin contends that it ultimately reduces their chances of breaking through. By allowing established DJs to release constant new material, ghost production can keep them in the spotlight and occupy festival lineup slots that might otherwise open to new talent. In effect, ghost producers may end up supporting the very stars they once hoped to replace. Moreover, those high profile artists have little incentive to draw attention to their hidden collaborators and potentially create new competitors for themselves.

Between these two poles, there’s a middle ground

Many in the industry acknowledge ghost production as a reality and argue for a more transparent and fair collaboration model. They point out that in genres such as hip hop or pop, having multiple songwriters and producers on a track is standard practice and widely accepted by fans. EDM has slowly been moving in that direction as it becomes part of the mainstream music business. Some underground electronic music purists still frown on the idea, valuing a DIY ethos, but in commercial EDM the practice is now widespread.

By the mid 2010s, industry inquiries suggested that a significant percentage of Top 100 DJs openly or tacitly supported the use of ghost producers. Many artists surveyed in annual polls said they did not have a major issue with the practice, comparing it to singers working with songwriting teams or noting that DJing and producing are separate skill sets. For example, hardstyle artist Frontliner commented, “It’s not news that a lot of DJs are manufactured nowadays… One can have great skills in DJing and not in producing, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” Radical Redemption echoed the comparison to pop stars like Madonna or Katy Perry, saying he had “no problem with the whole ghost producer thing” being applied to DJ culture. The prevailing view among many professionals is that as long as the ghost producer is properly compensated and the final music is strong, it is a legitimate approach to making records.

From the ghost producers’ own perspective, many are comfortable with the arrangement and see it as a mutually beneficial exchange. The performing artist receives a polished track that fits their style, while the ghost producer gets paid and may enjoy the private satisfaction of hearing their work reach large audiences. One experienced ghost producer interviewed by DJ Mag observed that public outrage often comes from a lack of understanding about how the industry actually works. He noted that major EDM acts today are more open about not being sole creators, and fans still attend their shows just as they do for pop artists who rely on teams of writers. He did concede that fans are technically being misled about authorship, but, as he put it, “no more than anyone else in any other musical genre.” In his view, this is simply part of the celebrity driven music business. This pragmatic perspective underlines how ghost production in EDM extends long established behind the scenes practices in the wider music industry.

Conclusion

A ghost producer is the unsung hero, or as some would say, the ghost in the machine, behind many EDM hits. They are highly skilled creators who, for various reasons, choose to craft music for others to perform and release. In the EDM scene, ghost producers fill a crucial niche. They allow constantly touring DJs to maintain a steady flow of releases, bring professional level production to artists who may lack advanced studio skills, and often help shape the sound of the genre from behind the curtain. While the practice raises questions about artistic integrity and transparency, it has become deeply embedded in the industry.

For young producers considering this path, ghost production can provide income and an opportunity to sharpen their craft, though it may come at the cost of personal recognition and potentially long term career growth. For artists who rely on ghost producers, it is often a practical solution for staying relevant in a fast moving market, and many justify it as part of a collaborative workflow. As EDM continues to evolve, the role of ghost producers remains significant. They may avoid the spotlight, but their work is heard every time a crowd erupts at a drop or melody they secretly created. In the end, whether ghost production is viewed as a necessary behind the scenes reality or a controversial open secret, there is no denying that ghost producers are a driving force in modern electronic dance music.