Music Industry

Why did the speaker enter the music industry?

Starting high school, she didn't really have any idea of what she wanted to do because she didn't have a strong passion until she started getting into alternative music.

Going to live shows and interacting with other fans really opened a new world
Even though she didn't have the musical talent to be in a band, she is a very organized person that's able to foster a successful career in another way
Working your way up in the music industry can be hard work with little thanks, but those who are in it for the passion will find that it's worth it

Required Educational Background

There is no "required" background -- it's true that it's all down to who and what you know.
But if the answer to that question is nobody and very little, it can help to go to college to network and learn.
Recommends a music industry major, but almost any major is fine.
Take full advantage of clubs that record or put on shows, seek out internships

She went to Northeastern in Boston, which has a great music industry program.
Other schools with phenomenal programs: USC & NYU.
suggests taking a Copyright Law class as well as Recording classes.
Others have completed music majors, and a couple people didn't go to college at all
they were luckier in the opportunities they received without it. (Most entry level jobs require a Bachelor's degree if you weren't personally referred to the position.)

Required Skills

Common skills for any job at a label, studio, agency, management company, etc.

attention to detail
adaptability
maintaining confidentiality

Training will come from internships. You'll have to start with one unpaid internship--labels are the most common route--and then move up from there.

Internships are a must.

Find opportunities by googling for postings by specific companies and joining networking groups on Facebook.

Daily Routine

Works full time as a personal assistant to an international celebrity

When the principle is in town this includes accompanying them to meetings and events to take notes and help wherever needed. When they are out of town, she helps to maintain the office and assist their manager.

Who do you work with?

Works for a musician, their manager, and the studio assistants.

everyone is pretty laid back, but this isn't always the case.
An assistant role: you have to learn your boss' personality and preferences to succeed in your job.

How much is routine?

Maybe 50/50 (there is some structure)

expect a meeting almost every night
but those meetings are new every time and require creative solutions.

Stress/ Pressure: normal amount of stress, about as much a starting role in any other industry.

How to Prepare for this Field

just start doing things
you will fall behind if you don't actively seek out opportunities
ex: reached out to online press outlets to see if I could shoot shows for them in high school
got her into shows for free, learned her way around a professional camera / photoshop.
seek internships throughout college
when she graduated, she had an advantage over friends who just completed their classes and enjoyed their summers.

Career Paths

Common Career Paths

Booking agent
producer
manager
tour manager

touring photographer
marketing department
promoter
A&R at a label

Related Career Paths

photography
ex: touring photographer for a band
videography

Pros and Cons

Pros

working in a studio now and then allows her to observe the recording process
what goes into creating an album or track, then bringing it to live on a stage
free travel and meals when accommodating her boss
she gets to see a little bit of everything, from recording to booking to filming.
in a booking agency: only got to oversee the live shows
in a label: only able to learn about releasing music.

Cons

the pay
many wont see a high paycheck for a few years even after graduating
for any entertainment job (including film and TV).
So many people think they want to do it, so lots are willing to work for free or little pay
a lot of competition.
often needs to put the needs of her boss before her own
If they're in town, she has had to move her own schedule around.

Common Misconceptions

it's easy work
so many people get told "it's all who you know,"
they see a lot of people coming up working for their friends so they assume it's all just a good time 24/7
completely depends on the company and the job but working in music can be incredibly stressful
will know right away if you want to actually work in the music industry, vs. whether you'd rather just enjoy it from afar and not "sit where you eat."

The industry is constantly evolving

a shift from selling recorded music to making money off touring and merchandise
stopped looking so much at sales and radio play
more at streaming numbers and Spotify playlisting
several years ago: barely any touring women or female CEOs.
still a gender gap but more and more intelligent women are entering the industry
in another 10 years time there will probably be even more equality.

Advice

start reaching out and exploring it as a career option to really weigh if it's worth it for you
completely normal to be "starstruck" in the beginning if you work with artists you're a fan of
absolutely vital to maintain confidentiality
there is always a way if you want something bad enough to really put in the time and effort
she dropped out of school and just completed her GED, went to community college
it didnt look like she'd ever even make it to university, but she put in the effort to get the grades she needed and transferred to a private school on the east coast.
This is in NO WAY necessary for the music industry.
even when things seem hopeless, take some time to yourself to get your head on straight
High school can be so incredibly stressful with the pressure over SATs, college acceptances, friends/relationships, etc. Just breathe, it will all be okay.

don't take a photo of an artist in an office
don't misbehave backstage
don't drink if you're under 21
use common sense

Interested in the music industry?

Here are some great resources with even more information!

The video talks about how technology is causing the music industry to change and evolve.

This video mentions several potential career opportunities in the music industry.