Music Industry Careers

This page is all about music industry careers. Although you've probably come to this site because you'd like to become a songwriter, I'd like you to know that you have several other options if you want to work in the music business.

You can be an artist or you can do something more practical. These are only a few of the exciting paths you can choose from.

Careers in songwriting:

• Composer / Lyricist / Songwriter for recording artists
• Composer or Songwriter for Film and TV
• Composer or Songwriter for Advertising

Songwriters write lyrics, compose music or do both. Often they share the work with a co-writer. They sometimes even need to produce the demo or final recording. In my opinion, this is one of the most fulfilling music industry careers you can have! :)

Music publishing:

• Film, TV, and Advertising Licensing
• Creative Services
• International Publishing

What a music publishing company does: it sells and acquires catalogs, discovers and signs new songwriters and producers.

The Creative Services department exploits songs, acquires catalogs, signs new writers, manages and motivates staff songwriters. They also record demos and catalog songs.

In the Licensing department they market and exploit the catalog of songs to films, trailers, TV programs, commercials and advertising.

The International Publishing department manages the company's international music publishing properties.

Record companies:

• Artist and Repertoire (A&R)
• International A&R
• Creative Services
• Promotion
• Sales
• Marketing and Artist Development
• Publicity and Media Relations

A&R Managers discover, sign, and develop musical talent for the record labels. They also oversee the recording process. When it's finished, they work with different departments of the record company to present and market the music and the artist well.

International A&R people look for foreign artists that they could break in America.

The Creative Services department is in charge of the design of CD covers, media advertising, etc.

The Promotion department deals with radio promotion campaigns.

The Sales department is responsible for the sales of music and video materials of the label.

People who work in Marketing and Artist Development manage all aspects of marketing the artists and their music. They make sure that the artist's image and their music are consistent with each other.

Professionals in Publicity manage and direct media relations for the record company and their artists. This job includes the creation of press releases, biographies, etc.

Recording:

• Producer
• Recording Engineer and Mixer
• Sound Engineer
• Mastering Engineer
• Studio Manager

A Producer is in charge of the quality of the recorded music. They are involved in both the business and the creative side of making the recording. Producers work on budgets, schedules, deadlines, selection of songs, co-writing, choosing recording personnel, etc.


The Recording Engineer is responsible for retrieving and storing musical data of everything that comes through the microphones. They select the proper tapes and work the console. Finally, they mix the music and provide it in whatever format is needed.


Sound Engineers set up and connect the equipment used in the recording sessions.


Mastering Engineers do the last part of the recording process. They transfer the recorded sounds on the master tape to a master disc. Meanwhile they set the sound, time, and volume of each song.


Studio Managers oversee the daily operations of the recording studio: booking, engineering, marketing and administration.




Management:
• Personal or Artist Manager


Managers manage the artist's career. They deal with the record company, contract negotiations, publishing, touring, marketing, publicity, business management, endorsements, etc. In my opinion, this is one of the most complex music industry careers.




Creative Services and Video:
• Creative Director
• Photographer


Creative Directors design and manage the creative process in connection with advertising, CD covers, music videos and promotion in general.


Photographers who would like to have a music industry career take photos of the artists at concerts, live performances and in pre-arranged settings.




Publicity:
• Press Agent or Publicist


These professionals design TV, radio and tour publicity campaigns and coordinate them.




Agent:
• Agent / Booking Agent / International Agent


Agents plan tours, negotiate contracts and fees for concerts and live performances.




On Tour:
• Production
• Sound Engineer
• Promoter
• Tour Manager
• Musician


Producers in this field design the artists's live performances and the stage, lighting, special effects, choreography and set list.


Sound Engineers who go on tour will help make live performances sound good to the audience.
Promoters contact artists, negotiate contracts with them. If they reach an agreement, they oversee the promotion of the concerts.


Tour manages are in charge of making sure that everything goes well on the road. They may manage travel arrangements, keep in touch with the press, manage the crew and musicians, collect the performance fees and distribute them according to the terms of the contract.


If you go on tour with an established artist as a Musician, you'll provide the background to their performance.




Newspapers, Magazines, Radio, TV:
• Journalist / Critic
• Music Director


Journalists who choose a music industry career write reviews and articles about the music business, musicians and their music.


A Music Director who works for a radio station, for example, is in charge of choosing the music that the station will broadcast.




Education:
• Instructor / Professor


Educators in this field teach how to play musical instruments and everything about the music business and the recording science.




There are many more music industry careers available for you. If you would like to read about these careers in more detail or get even more ideas about which path to choose, I recommend Tanja L. Crouch's book, 100 Careers in the Music Business. In the book, she gives a job overview, lists the fundamental skills, describes a day in the life, gives pointers for job search and shares some case studies for each profession. It's an invaluable resource of information about music industry careers.

More information for Beginner Songwriters