Record producers play different roles for different artists. For many pop, country, R & B, commercial pop, and rock records, producers pick the material and the arrangements, often making an artistic contribution that is almost equal to that of the artist. However, on recordings by rock auteurs who write their own material, such as R.E.M., U2, and Nirvana, producers play a more limited role but they are nonetheless crucial supporting characters in the creation of an album. They are responsible for the sound, and the best producers also help artists make creative choices. Some, like Vig, are
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