Whether he's self-employed or works for a record label, the producer is usually expected to coordinate a recording project's logistics before the recording sessions begin. Jazz producer Nick Phillips begins that process by choosing the songs with the featured artist, hiring the musicians and working out arrangements. Phillips is also responsible for developing the album budget, and scheduling the recording and mixing studios that the artist will use, "Benicia" magazine reported in July 2012. If he's not engineering the project, Phillips hires a professional to fill that role.