--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only thing contrived is the…" description: "\"The only thing contrived is the production - you can over-produce to the point you kill a good idea, you can under-produce so that the song's amazing b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg" --- # The only thing contrived is the production - you can… ![“The only thing contrived is the production - you can over-produce to the point you kill a good idea, you can under-produce so that the song's amazing but you'll have folks at a radio station saying they won't play it, so there's this balance, and it has to be true.” quote by Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg) > “The only thing contrived is the production - you can over-produce to the point you kill a good idea, you can under-produce so that the song's amazing but you'll have folks at a radio station saying they won't play it, so there's this balance, and it has to be true.” [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balancing creation and restraint is essential; overproducing can dilute a song’s core, while underproducing may limit its reach, so a true equilibrium is needed. **In simple terms:** Find the right production balance. Key Takeaway Aim for balanced production. Themes creativity balance artistic integrity industry dynamics Mood thoughtful determined analytical Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - studio recording - album planning - radio promotion - artist development Key Concepts overproduction underproduction market expectations Questions to Reflect On - What defines “enough” production for you? - How can you maintain artistic vision under commercial pressure? A Different Perspective Too much polish can erase authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Good ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-ideas/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Radio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio/) [Radio station](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radio-station/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I never produce a song, whether writing it or making a beat, and give it a wack visual or wack performance. I'm like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-scott/i-never-produce-a-song-whether-writing-it-or-making-a-beat-and-give/) [Travis Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-scott/) > [And do not change. Do not divert your love from visible things. But go on loving what is good, simple and ordinary; animals and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-maria-rilke/and-do-not-change-do-not-divert-your-love-from-visible-things-but-go/) [Rainer Maria Rilke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-maria-rilke/) > [To be able to be onstage and to hear people in the audience go, 'That's my song!' It's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-joy-winans/to-be-able-to-be-onstage-and-to-hear-people-in-the-audience-go-that-s/) [Deborah Joy Winans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-joy-winans/) > [I have so much respect for Madonna after learning how hard it is to sing that song. She has an amazing voice, the range…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/i-have-so-much-respect-for-madonna-after-learning-how-hard-it-is-to/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [I've been with Rita Ora in the studio doing a song of hers. She's amazing. She's a sweetheart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/i-ve-been-with-rita-ora-in-the-studio-doing-a-song-of-hers-she-s/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [My favorite song? 'Amazing Grace.' Anybody singing it. But the best it'll ever be done is by the Scottish National Pipe band and their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-dean/my-favorite-song-amazing-grace-anybody-singing-it-but-the-best-it-ll/) [Jimmy Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-dean/) > [A song like 'Kilimanjaro,' which is such a fun, entertaining track... Singing the song was an amazing experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinmayi/a-song-like-kilimanjaro-which-is-such-a-fun-entertaining-track/) [Chinmayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinmayi/) > [Demagoguery sells. And therefore, radio stations will put it on. But that doesn't mean that you can't do something else and also make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-franken/demagoguery-sells-and-therefore-radio-stations-will-put-it-on-but/) [Al Franken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-franken/) > [Middle age is when you get in the car and immediately change the radio station.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-penton-leimbach/middle-age-is-when-you-get-in-the-car-and-immediately-change-the/) Patricia Penton Leimbach > [And then, one day, they program a new tune, and it really catches your ear, you know, because you can be doing the washing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-lowe/and-then-one-day-they-program-a-new-tune-and-it-really-catches-your/) [Nick Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-lowe/) > [We don't have a studio, we don't have a radio station, we don't have anybody breathing down our necks to make a budget. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikka-graff-lanzarone/we-don-t-have-a-studio-we-don-t-have-a-radio-station-we-don-t-have/) [Nikka Graff Lanzarone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikka-graff-lanzarone/) > [Originally, I think, I wanted to be an actor. But I got into broadcasting by accident, if you will, because I needed money to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-trebek/originally-i-think-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-but-i-got-into/) [Alex Trebek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-trebek/) > [But in those days - in the mid-'50s, early '60s - there was less than 300 radio stations that were playing country music and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-tillis/but-in-those-days-in-the-mid-50s-early-60s-there-was-less-than-300/) [Mel Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-tillis/) > [In Europe, radio stations are owned by a variety of different entities, so there is less uniformity on radio programming and more opportunity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-starland/in-europe-radio-stations-are-owned-by-a-variety-of-different-entities/) [Wendy Starland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-starland/) > [It's American Alternative radio stations that bug me. We're considered Alternative, but don't expect us to be played next to Blink 182 and Offspring.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thurston-moore/it-s-american-alternative-radio-stations-that-bug-me-we-re-considered/) [Thurston Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thurston-moore/) ## More by Ryan Tedder > [The cool thing about writing music, writing anything, is that once you publish it, it's there forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-cool-thing-about-writing-music-writing-anything-is-that-once-you/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [When life gives you the opportunity to check off a thing on the bucket list, you have to check them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/when-life-gives-you-the-opportunity-to-check-off-a-thing-on-the/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I started selling corn dogs, ended up in the music industry. That's how it all started.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-started-selling-corn-dogs-ended-up-in-the-music-industry-that-s-how/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [Crowds respond to anthemic choruses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/crowds-respond-to-anthemic-choruses/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [Im not interested in fad songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/im-not-interested-in-fad-songs/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [Any time you have a song that is directly connected to a very specific musical trend of the moment, you have immediately cut it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/any-time-you-have-a-song-that-is-directly-connected-to-a-very/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I think the best songs are being written by the very under-stated, under-appreciated indie artists. The thing that separates them from mainstream success is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-think-the-best-songs-are-being-written-by-the-very-under-stated/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I'm a huge Lady GaGa fan - she makes the world a more incredible place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-m-a-huge-lady-gaga-fan-she-makes-the-world-a-more-incredible-place/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [Writing songs is about trying to connect with people on a deeper spiritual level - but I'm not a fan of contemporary Christian music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/writing-songs-is-about-trying-to-connect-with-people-on-a-deeper/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I knew I could make money from songwriting, so how much and when was not really the question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-knew-i-could-make-money-from-songwriting-so-how-much-and-when-was/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [Nobody works harder than Lady Gaga. Nobody. She is unbelievable. I don't know how she sleeps, or when or if.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/nobody-works-harder-than-lady-gaga-nobody-she-is-unbelievable-i-don-t/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I find the songs that have the most human components in production are the ones that will stand the test of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-find-the-songs-that-have-the-most-human-components-in-production/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I think often times if a guitar riff is centered around the chorus or if it follows the chorus, then it often times turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-think-often-times-if-a-guitar-riff-is-centered-around-the-chorus-or/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [I have to sing it every night, I can't get up on stage if it's some bullshit story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/i-have-to-sing-it-every-night-i-can-t-get-up-on-stage-if-it-s-some/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) > [The difficulty in working with someone on a show like Idol or X Factor is they have an idea of what they think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-difficulty-in-working-with-someone-on-a-show-like-idol-or-x/) [Ryan Tedder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) [Explore all 47 Ryan Tedder quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/) ## More Balance quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The bones of my architecture are very much related to the structure, to the physical fact of how a building can stand up; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santiago-calatrava/the-bones-of-my-architecture-are-very-much-related-to-the-structure/) [Santiago Calatrava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santiago-calatrava/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [she got a reputation for an easy smile and a sharp tongue, and using one to balance the other, she seemed friendly but distant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-allison/she-got-a-reputation-for-an-easy-smile-and-a-sharp-tongue-and-using/) [Dorothy Allison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-allison/) > [Life's unfairness is not irrevocable; we can help balance the scales for others, if not always for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/life-s-unfairness-is-not-irrevocable-we-can-help-balance-the-scales/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“We don't need to strive towards balance, we rather need to work on the obstacles that are preventing the natural flow of balance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-alebraheem/we-don-t-need-to-strive-towards-balance-we-rather-need-to-work-on-the/) [A.A. Alebraheem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-alebraheem/) > [I think that kind of balance comes with the process of growing together as a band, the Little Dragon. We love to write, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yukimi-nagano/i-think-that-kind-of-balance-comes-with-the-process-of-growing/) [Yukimi Nagano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yukimi-nagano/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [At times of recession, running a budget deficit is highly desirable. Once the economy begins to recover, you have to balance the budget. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/at-times-of-recession-running-a-budget-deficit-is-highly-desirable/) [George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/) > [It's my intention to make something stand outside the realm of album art, but it also feels comfortable to me to be in it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dyer-baizley/it-s-my-intention-to-make-something-stand-outside-the-realm-of-album/) [John Dyer Baizley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dyer-baizley/) > [Once you've gotten your money in balance, you know how much you have to spend on things that are just fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/once-you-ve-gotten-your-money-in-balance-you-know-how-much-you-have/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I never understood how much running changes your life. I'm now obsessed. When not trying to beat my personal best, I'm talking to other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-never-understood-how-much-running-changes-your-life-i-m-now/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [Whatever needed to be done, I need to know how to do it just as well as my wife. You know, for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/whatever-needed-to-be-done-i-need-to-know-how-to-do-it-just-as-well/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [I don't think my parents would have let me go straight into acting full time when I was 12. I do like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-jones/i-don-t-think-my-parents-would-have-let-me-go-straight-into-acting/) [Felicity Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-jones/) > [When it comes down to music, I have no balance. I am 100 percent. It is like full throttle. Five hundred miles an hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yanni/when-it-comes-down-to-music-i-have-no-balance-i-am-100-percent-it-is/) [Yanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yanni/) [Browse all 5,166 Balance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The only thing contrived is the production - you can over-produce to the point you kill a good idea, you can under-produce so that the song's amazing but you'll have folks at a radio station saying they won't play it, so there's this balance, and it has to be true.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ryan Tedder" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-production-you-can-over-produce-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-production-you-can-over-produce-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/ryan-tedder-14281_balance_the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-producti_1405544.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only thing contrived is the production - you can over-produce to the point you kill a good idea, you can…” — Ryan Tedder", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ryan Tedder", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tedder/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The only thing contrived is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-production-you-can-over-produce-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tedder/the-only-thing-contrived-is-the-production-you-can-over-produce-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```