The music business is a field with endless opportunities, and it’s a career that can lead to many different types of jobs.
A music business degree can prepare you for various careers in the music industry, including artist management, publishing, marketing, digital promotion, and much more.
A music business degree can also give you the skills to start your record label, merchandising company, or concert promoter.
Artist Management
The career path of an artist manager involves the coordination of multiple professionals on different sides of the music industry. It requires strong organizational skills and a passion for helping artists achieve their professional goals.
With the music industry changing rapidly, managers need to understand both the business and artistic sides of the field. They can provide clients with insights into emerging trends and opportunities that may affect their careers.
To enter this career, an artist manager needs a bachelor’s degree in music, business, or a related area. Some aspiring managers pursue a master’s degree in their chosen field to increase their employment opportunities and earning potential.
Managing artists can be challenging, especially when they are new to the industry and need a solid fan base. However, seeing your clients become established and make money can be rewarding.
Many universities offer courses like a bachelor of professional studies in music business degree that prepares you for various positions within the music industry. The program combines hands-on projects, professional insight, and experiences in state-of-the-art facilities to empower graduates to be leaders and thinkers in the music business world.
Music Journalism
Music journalism is a great career path for anyone interested in the arts. It involves writing about music-related events, breaking news, and new artists.
These writers need to be knowledgeable about all types of music, including popular and obscure genres. This helps them understand the context of their stories and interestingly present them.
A music journalist can write about concerts and recordings for magazines, newspapers, or websites. They may also cover music-related breaking news and unique interest pieces.
Most music journalists begin as local writers for smaller publications, then advance to more prominent outlets as they build up a portfolio of articles and gain recognition. Some advance to a position as an editor, which can provide financial rewards and additional benefits.
Aspiring music journalists can find internships with local music publications while in college or even start their blogs. These can help build a writing portfolio and give them the credibility to get paid gigs once established.
Music Production
As a music producer, you’ll work with many artists and other industry professionals to create songs that will be commercially successful. Your duties will include composing, recording, and mixing audio.
You must be creative and flexible and thoroughly know different musical styles. You must also be familiar with new music trends and audio production technology.
In this job, you’ll work in recording studios and offices as well as working remotely with clients all over the world. The pace of your work will be brisk, and deadlines will be tight, so excellent time management skills are essential.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a music producer, it is essential to get started as soon as possible. Start by finding an internship or unpaid work at a record label to build up your resume and experience in the industry.
Music Marketing
Music marketing is a great way to build brand awareness, connect with fans, and make money from your music. A music marketing degree can help you develop the skills and confidence you need to build a sustainable career in this industry.
The career path of a music marketer can take you into various roles, including artist management, social media management, and event promotion. Some people in this field also work in licensing and rights management.
A good music business degree will teach you about copyright law, digital rights management, and how to market your original works – enabling you to launch a successful music industry career.
Effective music marketing involves creating content that maintains your artist identity, engages with current fans, and creates new ones. This means building a fan base through social media, email campaigns, and your website. It also includes sharing exciting and engaging content to help you make a story around your music.
Music Licensing
Music licensing is acquiring permission to use copyrighted music in various applications. It involves understanding music copyright law and securing the rights to music through a contract with the composer or owner of the song.
The career path of a music licensee can be both rewarding and challenging, depending on where you start. It requires a solid work ethic, the ability to attend after-hour events, and a willingness to travel occasionally.
Typically, a music licensee works for a record label, music publisher, ad agency, production music library, or music supervision/clearance company. They may also do licensing on their own, based on the specific skills that they have.
The most important thing to remember when considering the music licensing career path is that it requires a strong knowledge of the music industry. This means knowing how to pitch your music to brands and creatives, understanding the different types of music licensing agreements that are out there, and learning to negotiate the terms.
