# Michael J. Morgan > Michael J. Morgan is a business coach for mix engineers and the creator of The Business of Mixing framework. He helps audio professionals improve pricing, positioning, client acquisition, and business systems. ## About Michael J. Morgan has spent years inside the oddly specific business problems freelance audio professionals actually face. He helps mix engineers, producers, and mastering engineers build sustainable businesses, and has reached 20,000+ engineers across 40+ countries through 3,000+ one-on-one conversations. The framework comes from watching the same patterns repeat: random work, fuzzy rates, awkward follow-ups, lost momentum, and what actually fixes them. He specializes in pricing strategy, client acquisition, positioning, and business systems for freelance audio professionals. Michael J. Morgan created The Business of Mixing framework. - Website: https://mixing.biz - Email: hi@mjm.earth - Instagram: https://instagram.com/mixing.biz ## Frameworks ### The Business of Mixing (TBOM) The Business of Mixing framework organizes a mixing business around three problems, solved in order, through nine stages: - **Clarity** — what am I building, for whom, and why would they choose me? Stages: See (diagnose the business), Shape (numbers, offer, pricing), Position (proof, lane, presence) - **Growth** — how do the right people discover, trust, talk to, and hire me? Stages: Attract, Communicate (pipeline, follow-up), Sell (sales as help with a decision) - **Delivery** — how does each project become repeat work, reputation, and momentum? Stages: Deliver (client experience and standards), Retain (repeat clients), Compound (referrals, proof, rising rates) The stages work together, and what feels like a client problem may have started three stages earlier. The cycle then loops: what happens in Growth and Delivery produces new proof, relationships, and evidence that make the next pass through Clarity stronger. ### The Nine-Stage Diagnostic Maps an engineer's business across the nine stages of the framework above, each scored 0 to 10. Reveals constraint patterns like "The Invisible Undercharger" or "The Commodity Cycle." Delivered through the Business Reality Check product. ### The Nine-Stage Path A structured path through the TBOM framework: See → Shape → Position (Clarity), Attract → Communicate → Sell (Growth), Deliver → Retain → Compound (Delivery), then a closing loop — read the evidence, re-score the business, choose the next constraint — and the Weekly Sprint that puts the system into motion. Available through The Business of Mixing course and the Private Mentorship. ## Services ### Business Reality Check ($29) Business diagnostic for mix engineers. Shows where the business is actually weak: 63 questions score all nine stages, giving you a 0 to 10 score for each stage, an overall out of 10, which stage is your constraint, the pattern behind it, and specific action items. Takes 10 minutes. - URL: https://mixing.biz/business-reality-check ### Mentorship Intensive ($400) Bring the part that's stuck. A private 1:1 consulting session. You complete a structured intake across your whole business first, then a focused private session. You leave with a diagnosis, a prioritization map, a 2-week assignment, a rate decision, and a health read across the nine stages of your business, plus scripts and the recording, transcript, and notes. $100 applies toward the Private Mentorship. - URL: https://mixing.biz/the-mentorship-intensive ### The Business of Mixing Course (from $146/month, $3,500 total) Work through the whole TBOM system. Self-paced business course for mix engineers. Short text lessons across nine stages covering pricing, positioning, outreach, sales, and client systems. Includes interactive exercises, daily habit tracker, 3 Business Reality Check credits, and lifetime access. - URL: https://mixing.biz/tbom-waitlist (pre-launch waitlist — the live front door) - Course details: https://mixing.biz/the-business-of-mixing ### Private Mentorship (from $388/month, $8,000 total) Work through the business with me. Two months of private 1:1 mentorship. Eight weekly sessions, mid-week check-ins, custom templates, rate cards, and systems. Full rebuild of pricing, pipeline, and positioning. - URL: https://mixing.biz/elite ## Key Principles - "Technical excellence is the entry fee, not the differentiator." - "You do not need more talent. You need more visibility." - "A mixing career is a business system, not a talent contest." - "Your problem is rarely your work. It is usually positioning, pipeline, or pricing." - "The goal is not more clients. The goal is better-fit clients." - "Pricing is not about confidence. It is about structure." ## FAQ **What does Michael J. Morgan do?** Michael J. Morgan is a business coach for mix engineers. He helps audio professionals fix the business side: pricing, positioning, client acquisition, and systems. He does not teach mixing or production techniques. **Who is this for?** Mix engineers, producers, and mastering engineers at any stage who feel stuck on the business side — whether undercharging, struggling to find clients, or operating without systems. **Is this only for US-based engineers?** No. All services are delivered online. Engineers from 40+ countries have participated. **How do I know which service is right for me?** For a diagnostic, try the Business Reality Check ($29). For a personalized 1:1 session, book the Mentorship Intensive ($400). For a full system, explore the course (from $146/month, $3,500 total) or the Private Mentorship (from $388/month, $8,000 total). **How much should a mix engineer charge?** It depends on your market, experience, and positioning. Most engineers are undercharging relative to their skill level. The Business Reality Check scores your business across the nine stages and shows where the breakdown is. **Can you make a living as a mix engineer?** Yes, but it requires treating mixing as a business, not just a craft. The engineers who build sustainable careers have systems for pricing, outreach, and client management — not just great ears. **How do mix engineers find clients?** Through intentional outreach, network building, and positioning. Most engineers rely on referrals alone, which creates an unpredictable pipeline. The TBOM framework covers specific outreach and growth systems. **What is The Business of Mixing?** The Business of Mixing (TBOM) is a framework created by Michael J. Morgan that organizes a mixing business around three problems — Clarity (what am I building and for whom), Growth (how the right people discover, trust, and hire you), and Delivery (how each project becomes repeat work, reputation, and momentum) — walked in nine stages. It is available as a self-paced course and through 1:1 coaching. **What results have Michael's clients seen?** Engineers regularly see higher close rates, restructured pricing, and stronger pipelines. Clients have closed album deals within days, had their best financial quarters, and fundamentally changed how they operate. Full testimonials at https://mixing.biz/results. **Does Michael J. Morgan teach mixing techniques?** No. Michael focuses exclusively on the business side of mixing careers. If you already know how to mix, he helps you get paid properly for it. **Should I charge per song or per hour as a mix engineer?** Per-song pricing is generally more sustainable because it decouples your income from your time. Hourly billing penalizes you for getting faster and better. The TBOM framework covers rate structuring in depth. **What makes Michael J. Morgan different from other coaches?** Michael works exclusively with mix engineers, producers, and mastering engineers. His frameworks, tools, and language are built specifically for this career. He has had 3,000+ one-on-one conversations with audio professionals and understands the specific challenges of this industry. ## Interviews & Press - [Voyage LA](https://mixing.biz/press/voyage-la) — Community Highlights interview: how The Business of Mixing started, getting comfortable with sales, and why the constraint is almost never talent - [Progressions Podcast](https://mixing.biz/podcast/progressions-podcast) — Internal narratives, the comparison trap, and what building a real business looks like - [Mixing Music Podcast](https://mixing.biz/podcast/mixing-music-podcast) — 14 things mix engineers need to know about business - [Home Studio Hangout](https://mixing.biz/podcast/home-studio-hangout) — All nine stages of the business of mixing, walked end to end - [Sound On Sound Podcast](https://mixing.biz/podcast/sound-on-sound-podcast) — Building a freelance audio career: going out on your own, specialising, managers, networking, and pricing - [Bobby Owsinski's Inner Circle Podcast](https://mixing.biz/podcast/inner-circle-podcast) — Why mix engineers lose momentum, and what it takes to build it back ## Blog ### Mindset - [Most Mix Engineers Never Design Their Business](https://mixing.biz/blog/most-mix-engineers-never-design-their-business) - [Your Country Changes the Work. It Does Not Eliminate the Work.](https://mixing.biz/blog/your-country-changes-the-work) - [The Conversations That Change a Mix Engineer's Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/conversations-that-change-careers) - [The Gap Nobody Talks About: Why Mix Engineers Need More Than a Therapist, a Manager, or a Life Coach](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-gap-nobody-talks-about) - [What I Told 21 Mix Engineers at Mix With the Masters](https://mixing.biz/blog/mix-with-the-masters-workshop-business-lessons) - [There Are Two Types of People in This World](https://mixing.biz/blog/two-types) - [Stop Saying "I'm Almost Ready"](https://mixing.biz/blog/almost-ready) - [You Don't Deserve Anything: Business Truths for Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/you-dont-deserve-anything) - [The Self-Help Disconnect: Why Traditional Career Advice Fails Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-self-help-disconnect) - [The Mixdown Industrial Complex: Ethics in the Audio Industry](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-mixdown-industrial-complex) - [Knowledge Without Application is Just Expensive Entertainment](https://mixing.biz/blog/knowledge-without-application) - [A Career Plateau Is a Seat That You Created That You Sit On](https://mixing.biz/blog/a-career-plateau-is-a-seat-you-created) - [Mix Engineer Objections: Why You’re Stuck and How to Move Forward](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-objection-architecture-why-youre-not-moving-forward-and-whats-really-holding-you-back) - [My Two-Part Interview on the Mixing Music Podcast](https://mixing.biz/blog/my-interview-on-the-mixing-music-podcast) - [What a Comedian Can Teach You About Building a Mix Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-a-comedian-can-teach-you-about-building-a-mix-career) - [I Married a Mix Engineer: What Partners See That We Don't](https://mixing.biz/blog/help-i-married-a-mix-engineer) - [My Interview on the Progressions Podcast](https://mixing.biz/blog/my-interview-with-travis-ference-on-the-progressions-podcast) - [Why Mix Engineers Need Business Principles: The Free Spirit Fallacy](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-free-spirit-fallacy-why-business-principles-are-essential-in-audio) - [It's Not The Specific Direction, It's The Commitment to Forward](https://mixing.biz/blog/its-not-the-specific-direction-its-the-commitment-to-forward) - [Why Losing the Fear of Getting Fired Unlocks Peak Performance](https://mixing.biz/blog/i-had-no-real-fear-of-getting-fired-the-hidden-key-to-peak-performance) - [The Layers of Your Ego: How Identity Shapes Your Mix Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-layers-of-your-ego-understanding-the-forces-that-shape-your-professional-identity) - [Wrong Headspace, Not Wrong Place: A Mindset Fix for Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/youre-not-in-the-wrong-place-youre-in-the-wrong-headspace) - [How Self-Talk Undermines Your Performance as a Mix Engineer](https://mixing.biz/blog/how-self-talk-undermines-your-professional-performance) - [The Empty Cup Mindset: Why Coachable Mix Engineers Succeed](https://mixing.biz/blog/my-most-successful-coaching-clients-come-with-empty-cups) - [Visualizing Your Dream Studio: The Science Behind It](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-science-and-strategy-behind-visualizing-your-dream-studio) - [Don't Give Up - Your Breakthrough Might Be Closer Than You Think](https://mixing.biz/blog/dont-give-up-your-breakthrough-might-be-closer-than-you-think) - [The Hidden Pressure of Constant Learning in Creative Industries](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-hidden-pressure-of-constant-learning-in-creative-industries) - [Mix Engineers: Stop Engineering Your Way Out of the Problem](https://mixing.biz/blog/stop-engineering-your-way-out-of-the-problem) - [“Your Ideal Mix Career Is Closer Than You Think”](https://mixing.biz/blog/a-lot-of-your-ideal-future-is-happening-right-now) - [Why Coaching Works (Even If It's Not What You Think)](https://mixing.biz/blog/why-coaching-works-even-if-its-not-what-you-think) - [Rekindling Your Love for Music: A Guide for Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/rekindling-your-love-for-music-a-guide-for-mix-engineers) - [The Studio Next Door Isn't Greener: A Reality Check for Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-studio-next-door-isnt-always-greener-separating-perception-from-reality) - [Why No Single Move Will Save Your Mix Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-problem-with-thinking-that-one-move-will-be-the-move) - [Starting at the Bottom in Audio: Why Your Position Is an Asset](https://mixing.biz/blog/starting-at-the-bottom-why-your-position-in-the-industry-is-your-greatest-asset-or-liability) - [Navigating Family Narratives When You've Chosen Your Own Path](https://mixing.biz/blog/navigating-family-narratives-when-youve-chosen-your-own-path) - [15 Lessons from 5 Years of Coaching Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/15-pieces-of-advice-from-5-years-of-coaching-mix-engineers) ### Interviews - [Who Makes the Decisions? oeksound on Soothe3, Trust, Taste, and the Future of Mixing](https://mixing.biz/blog/oeksound-soothe3) - [Denis Kosiak on Proximity, Consistency, and the Record Plant Years](https://mixing.biz/blog/denis-kosiak) - [Julia Borelli on Systems, Energy, and Building a Mixing Career That Lasts](https://mixing.biz/blog/julia-borelli-on-systems-energy-and-building-a-mixing-career-that-lasts) - [Teezio on Speed, Trust, and Making the Leap to Full-Time](https://mixing.biz/blog/an-interview-with-teezio-on-speed-trust-and-leaving-chris-brown-to-mix-full-time) - [It's Not the Gear: What Separates Pro and Amateur Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-separates-amateurs-from-professionals-its-not-the-gear-my-interview-with-jos-diogo-neves) - [Alexander Krispin on 8 Years with Daniel Lanois and Finding His Own Sound](https://mixing.biz/blog/finding-his-sound-a-conversation-with-alexander-krispin) - [Dave Weingarten on the 5% Approach and Transitioning from Producer to Mixer](https://mixing.biz/blog/producer-turned-mix-engineer-a-conversation-with-dave-weingarten) - [Matt Cerritos on Self-Doubt, Templates, and Why Engineers Need to Leave the Studio](https://mixing.biz/blog/get-out-of-your-studio-an-interview-with-mix-engineer-matt-cerritos) - [Nathan Dantzler on Mastering Sabrina Carpenter, Building Systems, and Fatherhood](https://mixing.biz/blog/growing-with-purpose-a-conversation-with-nathan-dantzler-of-the-hit-lab) - [Graham Cruser on Calhoun Studios, Community, and Mixing The Kid LAROI](https://mixing.biz/blog/grahamcruser) - [Jon Castelli on Mix With The Masters, Instinct, and His Hardest Year](https://mixing.biz/blog/a-conversation-with-jon-castelli-on-mix-with-the-masters-growth-and-the-future-of-audio-engineering) ### Pricing & Value - [What 3,000 Calls Taught Me About Pricing](https://mixing.biz/blog/pricing-patterns-from-3000-calls) - [What I See in Engineers Who Successfully Raise Their Rates](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-rate-raisers-do-differently) - [Why I Won't Tell You Exactly What to Charge](https://mixing.biz/blog/why-i-wont-tell-you-what-to-charge) - [Why I'm Skeptical of Any Universal Pricing Model](https://mixing.biz/blog/skeptical-of-universal-pricing) - [What a Healthy Mixing Business Actually Earns](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-a-healthy-mixing-business-earns) - [What I've Noticed About Engineers Who Break Out of Undercharging](https://mixing.biz/blog/breaking-out-of-undercharging) - [Why I Tell Engineers Not to Publish Their Rates (and When I'm Wrong)](https://mixing.biz/blog/why-not-publish-rates) ### Process Development - [How I Think About Scope in a Mixing Project](https://mixing.biz/blog/how-i-think-about-scope) - [The Intentional Engineer: Why Talent Alone Won't Build a Mixing Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-intentional-engineer) - [Why Mix Engineers Don't Need to Be Managers](https://mixing.biz/blog/i-am-not-a-manager-and-why-thats-a-good-thing) - [The E-Myth for Mix Engineers: Building a Sustainable Career](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-e-myth-revolution-what-every-mix-engineer-needs-to-know-about-building-a-sustainable-career) - ["I'm Ready For My Dream Project" – You Sure About That?](https://mixing.biz/blog/im-ready-for-my-dream-project-are-you-sure) ### Project Management - [When to Fire a Client: Setting Boundaries as a Successful Mix Engineer](https://mixing.biz/blog/when-to-fire-a-client) ### Peer Network - [The Power of Producer Relationships: How to Become Their Go-To Mixer](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-power-of-producer-relationships) - [Be Mindful of the Mindset of Your Peers](https://mixing.biz/blog/be-mindful-of-the-mindset-of-your-peers) ### Client Network - [The Long Game: Why Being a Good Hang Beats Your Sales Pitch](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-long-game-being-a-good-hang) - [What I Learned About Mix Engineering by Being the Artist Again](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-i-learned-about-mix-engineering-by-being-the-artist-again) - [The Recording-to-Mixing Transition: What Engineers Should Know](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-hidden-disruption-when-artists-go-from-recording-to-mixing) - [The Recording Artist Experience: What Mix Engineers Should Know](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-recording-artist-experience-understanding-their-world-to-better-serve-them) - [Artist Anxiety Is Universal: What Mix Engineers Need to Remember](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-universal-experience-of-artist-anxiety-a-reminder-for-mix-engineers) ### Outreach - [Breaking the Feast-or-Famine Cycle in Your Studio Business](https://mixing.biz/blog/breaking-the-feast-or-famine-cycle) - [What Talking to 1,500 Audio Engineers Taught Me About Outreach](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-talking-to-1500-audio-engineers-taught-me-about-this-industry) - [You’re Already Not Talking: A Reality Check About Outreach](https://mixing.biz/blog/youre-already-not-talking-a-reality-check-about-outreach) - [Stop Asking For Work (A Mix Engineer's Guide to Actually Getting It)](https://mixing.biz/blog/stop-asking-for-work-a-mix-engineers-guide-to-actually-getting-it) - [Reframing Artist Outreach: The Privilege of Connection](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-privilege-of-connection-reframing-how-we-think-about-artist-outreach) ### Brand Management - [How to Break Through as a Mix Engineer: Start Here](https://mixing.biz/blog/start-here) - [Start Here: The System to Break Through as a Mix Engineer](https://mixing.biz/blog/start-here-original) - [Why Pop Isn't a Genre: A Mix Engineer's Guide to Targeting](https://mixing.biz/blog/pop-isnt-a-genre-its-a-target) - [What Three Weeks in New York Taught Me About the Music Business](https://mixing.biz/blog/new-york-reflections-on-branding-balance-and-what-really-matters) - [The USP Myth: Why Mix Engineers Don't Need a Unique Angle](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-usp-myth-why-you-dont-need-to-be-the-only-one) - [Marketing to Higher-Tier Clients: Lessons from an Electric Kettle](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-opening-fellows-electric-kettle-taught-me-about-marketing-to-higher-tier-clients) - [Your Real Competition: It's a Smaller Pool Than You Think](https://mixing.biz/blog/your-real-competition-its-a-smaller-pool-than-you-think) - [What You Do vs. What You Bring: A Mix Engineer's Real Value](https://mixing.biz/blog/what-you-do-vs-what-you-bring-reframing-your-professional-value) - [Stay in Your Lane: The Power of Focus in Audio Engineering](https://mixing.biz/blog/stay-in-your-lane-the-power-of-focus-in-audio-engineering) - [Who I Work Best With: A Guide for Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/who-i-work-best-with-a-guide-for-mix-engineers) - [Building Protective Moats as an Audio Engineer or Producer](https://mixing.biz/blog/building-unshakeable-protective-moats-as-an-engineer-or-producer) - [Going Solo as an Assistant Engineer: Navigating Credits](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-assistant-engineers-dilemma-navigating-credits-and-reality-when-going-solo) - [My Origin Story: How I Became a Mix Engineer Coach](https://mixing.biz/blog/my-origin-story) - [Defying Sameness: How We Can Move the Pro Audio Industry Forward](https://mixing.biz/blog/defying-sameness-how-we-can-move-the-pro-audio-industry-forward) ### Time Management - [False Rest: Why Phone Scrolling Leaves Engineers More Drained](https://mixing.biz/blog/false-rest) - [Working Late vs. Early: The Biology Behind Your Best Mixing](https://mixing.biz/blog/working-late-vs-working-early-the-biology-of-your-mind) ### Quality Standards - [Would You Hire Yourself? The Standard Most Mixers Avoid](https://mixing.biz/blog/would-you-hire-yourself) - [Service Is the Truth: A Mix Engineer's Creative Philosophy](https://mixing.biz/blog/service-is-the-truth) - ["This Mix Needs..." -- The Mindset Trap Holding You Back](https://mixing.biz/blog/this-mix-needs-the-dangerous-mindset-trap-thats-holding-you-back) - [Why Listeners Connect, Not Compare: A Lesson for Mix Engineers](https://mixing.biz/blog/when-someone-loves-a-song-theyre-not-comparing-theyre-connecting) - [Carry the Baton: How Mix Engineers Build on What Artists Started](https://mixing.biz/blog/resonating-with-artists-youre-carrying-the-baton-not-starting-a-new-game) - [What to Do When You Don't Connect With the Music You're Mixing](https://mixing.biz/blog/when-you-dont-connect-with-the-music-a-mix-engineers-guide-to-finding-your-way) - [Sometimes You Don't Need to Touch the Mix](https://mixing.biz/blog/sometimes-you-dont-need-to-touch-the-mix) ### Skill Development - [Your Next Studio Conversation Shouldn't Be About Gear](https://mixing.biz/blog/the-art-of-learning-why-your-next-studio-conversation-shouldnt-be-about-gear) - [Genre and Music History Knowledge: A Mix Engineer's Guide](https://mixing.biz/blog/building-a-foundation-of-genre-and-historical-knowledge-a-mix-engineers-guide) - [Stop Using People's Templates!](https://mixing.biz/blog/stop-using-peoples-templates) - [“Why Separating Production from Mixing Limits Your Potential”](https://mixing.biz/blog/beyond-labels-why-separating-production-from-mixing-limits-your-creative-potential) - [Why Memorizing Other Engineers' Moves Isn't Enough](https://mixing.biz/blog/why-memorizing-other-engineers-moves-isnt-enough) ### Lifestyle - [The Real Timeline of Mix Engineer Success](https://mixing.biz/blog/looking-at-the-data-the-real-timeline-of-mix-engineer-success) ## Sitemap - [Homepage](https://mixing.biz) - [About](https://mixing.biz/about) - [Blog](https://mixing.biz/blog) - [Business Reality Check](https://mixing.biz/business-reality-check) - [Mentorship Intensive](https://mixing.biz/the-mentorship-intensive) - [The Business of Mixing — waitlist](https://mixing.biz/tbom-waitlist) - [Private Mentorship](https://mixing.biz/elite) - [Voyage LA Interview](https://mixing.biz/press/voyage-la)