Continue with what you should know if you are wondering how to begin your careers in music to attract more listeners…
3. Careers in Music Business
Behind the music, you listen to daily lies an enormous industry.
Even in the digital distribution era artists still want a group of people to assist them with releasing music, promoting it, and organizing the many moving parts that come with launching an album.
The are many roles within the music business. Typically, these roles fall into 2 categories– artist services and label services.
Label service jobs normally serve the interest of a record label and will embrace its executive, A&R, design, legal, and finance departments. This person is always employed by the record label.
Artist service jobs serve the interest of the artist and are hired by the artist. Sometimes these roles embrace artist manager, tour manager, booking agent, publishing, PR, and music lawyers.
What’s A&R?
A&R stands for artists and repertoire. A&R representatives work for record labels to search out and bring on new talent.
A&R is not quite what is not used to be in the golden age of the recording industry.
It used to be much more common to see A&R executives acting as talent scouts and scouring local scenes to find that one particular talent.
Today, A&R people spend most of their time visiting industry music festivals, where up and coming bands play to get their names in front of the music industry.
When they find an artist that is a great fit for the label they represent they’ll work with all of the stakeholders from the label and the band to walk through the signing, recording and releasing process.
To be successful, A&R people must be good at networking and meeting people, particularly at industry music festivals.
They also must have a great eye for talent, a powerful understanding of how the music business works, and know what type of talent the label they represent are looking for.
What’s Artist Management?
Artist managers act as a behind the scenes liaison to the music industry for the artists they represent. Managers work hard to build their connections throughout the industry and will know how to navigate label signings, tour management, promotion, and more.
Whether a project releases independently or works with a record label, having a manager is very helpful.
A great manager should be capable to offer the projects they represent the chance to get on a bigger platform.
Most frequently, managers get their begin working for record labels or as assistants at artist management organizations.
When you select this career path, be prepared to answer lots of emails. You’ll benefit most from having lots of connections in the industry and being known for working with good artists.
What Does a Publicist do?
Music publicists are experts at connecting artists with the music media. Professional publicists assist artists to make the right messaging around an artistic project before releasing a communication.
They’re also responsible for making chances for media appropriate exposure like interviews, reviews, and other coverage.
It takes a long time to build the relationships publicist needs to be successful. Many publicists get their begin working at massive music PR agencies.
What do Music Publishers do?
Music publishers make sure that artists get paid whenever their music is used in media, films, commercials, radio, video games, and any other form of broadcasting.
Publishers also work to make paid chances for an artist’s music to receive placements in the media, particularly in television, commercials, video games, and films.
In a sense, they work to sell an artist’s music to appropriate media outlets.
Most music publishers work for a bigger music publishing firm. To work in music publishing you will most likely get began working for one of these companies.
4. Careers in Music Media
The world is hungry for unending content about music. People need to know about their favorite artists and who to listen to next.
That’s why music media is an enormous source of employment in the music industry. There are literally tons of blogs (this one included!), magazines, YouTube channels, TV shows, and movies that are dedicated to music.
There are so many angles to attack when discussing the absolutely large topic that’s the music itself. When you have writing, video, or content production skills of any kind there plenty of media organizations that are looking for people like you.
5. Careers in Music Education and Therapy
Working as an educator or therapist is an effective way to make a living with your musical skills.
Music education is very rewarding work, and many professional musicians teach students.
Working in the school music department as a band director is also a very viable career path for those with skills in both music and education.
Music therapy is also a wonderful field that is very rewarding. The research is clear that music could be incredibly helpful for helping these with mental health wants. So, employment in this field is both needed and necessary.
Of course, a career in either of those fields will require you to have some form of academic background in either pedagogy or therapy.
Select your own destiny
The truth is there are so many methods to work in the music industry. You are sure to find something no matter your skillset.
It is worth mentioning that there are so many other music-related roles that are not discussed in this article.
We did not touch on instrument design, DJing, concert promotion, music software development, mastering, live sound engineering, stage managing, piano tuning… the list goes on and on.
The world of music is an interesting industry to work within. You’ll meet lots of fascinating and inspiring people when you select this path.
However keep in mind, to be successful with any career in music you should be passionate about it.
Good luck!!!