The music industry offers many career opportunities that go far beyond performing on a stage, such as songwriters and composers, production, sound engineering, music distribution and promotion, music business and management, music publishing, music journalism, marketing and social media, touring and live events, and visual and creative roles. These are the silent heroes of the industry, sustaining the music we love by contributing to the creation, production, and distribution of music.
Songwriters and composers are responsible for writing the words and melodies that make up the songs we love. They write for themselves, other artists, and for TV and film. GRAMMY-award winner, singer-songwriter, and producer Ryan Tedder has become a household name in the industry, working on songs like “Rumour Has It” by Adele and “Happier” by Ed Sheeran.
Music producers, sound engineers, and live sound technicians are essential in the recording process and ensuring that live events go smoothly. Producers help the artist bring their vision to life by shaping and arranging a track. Sound engineers work on recording, mixing, and the mastering of a track. A live sound technician is responsible for managing sound levels during a concert, ensuring that everything sounds just right. These roles can all be classified under production and sound engineering. Benny Blanco, a world-renowned record producer, songwriter, composer, and musician, has become a huge name in this field, working on songs like “Love Yourself” by Justin Bieber and “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry.
Music distributors and promoters execute marketing campaigns, media exposure, and audience engagement. They are essential in creating a loyal fanbase, organizing live events, and getting the music featured in media outlets. Amuse is a global music company that provides services like funding and distribution to artists.
Music business and management careers are essential in overseeing the talent. An artist’s manager negotiates contracts, books gigs, and strategizes long term goals. A&R representatives scout new talent and help them develop into a recording artist. Troy Carter is a well known manager, with clients like Lady Gaga and John Legend on his roster.
Music publishers manage the rights to a song and are responsible for paying songwriters and composers royalties. A few big music publishing companies include Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music, and Warner Music Group.
Music journalists write album reviews, interview your favorite artists, and create content for blogs, magazines, and other media outlets. Music marketers and social media managers create professional strategies that help promote a new release, specifically online ads, merchandise sales, and partnerships.
Tour managers handle the logistics of going on tour, managing finances, arranging travel accommodations, and coordinating with promoters. Booking agents and event coordinators organize music festivals and gigs. Before retiring in 2022, Patrick Stansfield was a highly respected tour manager, managing artists like The Rolling Stones and Neil Diamond while out on tour.
Visual and creative roles help make album covers and music videos a reality. They are responsible for creating the visual aspects of an album cover and merchandise designs. Music video directors and producers make a song come to life visually and capture the story behind a song. Sam Cahill is a prime example of this field, directing music videos like “Lonely Road” by Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll.
As you can see, the music business offers a variety of careers, all of which are vital for shaping and sharing an artist’s creative work.
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