“So You Want a Career

in the Music Industry”- Part II

By Shirley A. Washington, JD MBA

The second part of this article will cover how the Graduate Student and the Career Changer can break into the music business.

A. The graduate student.
Many of the same choices that available for the college student are available to the graduate  student including volunteer work, paid or non-paid internships, and part-time jobs. The following are additional options for the graduate student.

1. Gear your independent projects or term papers around the music industry.
As part of the music business graduate program at NYU the students are required to write a colloquy, a research project geared toward an issue in the music industry. Many of the students have used their colloquy as an example of the type of work product they are able to produce and subsequently have received job interviews or job offers based upon their projects.

2. Set up informational sessions and interviews with music industry related personnel.
Most industry “bigwigs” love to talk about themselves and offer advice about their positions and the music industry itself. They are usually very receptive to speaking with students who are thinking about having a career in the music industry. One may even take a special interest in you and become your mentor in the industry.

3. Attend industry related conferences and seminars, take a lot of notes, ask questions, and network.

Every month there are loads of industry seminars sponsored by a variety of companies, organizations, magazines within the music business. When I was in law school I used to attend one given by the American Bar Association- Entertainment Law Section. Since I was a student I paid a nominal amount as compared to the amount paid by practicing attorneys within the field. I absorbed every bit of knowledge I could about the industry and I made it my business to speak with someone on the panel at the end of the workshops so they would know who I was when I wrote them a thank-you note for taking the time to speak with me.

B. Career Changers

Today it is quite common to find individuals who have started one career and for a variety of reasons decide to begin another career in a totally different field. For those career changers you have the following options.

1. Lateral or upward move in your present job.
The present wave of mergers and acquisitions of companies directly or indirectly involved in the entertainment industry have created tremendous opportunities for those individuals who want to get their foot in the door or who already work at one of their subsidiaries. For example, if you work for the Disney Company you could potentially obtain a job at the ABC Television Network since Disney now owns ABC/Capital Cities. Look within your company to see whether a lateral or upward move is available at an entertainment related entity within your company. You might have to take a pay cut, but if you’ve proven your worth you’ll move up very fast and you won’t lose your benefits package.

2. Temporary jobs in the industry.
If you’ve been laid off, not sure what part of the music industry you’re interested in, or are re-entering the job market, sign up with a temporary agency. If you have computerized secretarial skills and are organized, administrative assistant or receptionist positions are usually plentiful. If you have bookkeeping skills or financial analysis skills sign up with a accounting placement company like Accountemps or Robert Half International, Inc. and request any type of assignment that comes through from an entertainment related company. There are even agencies that cater to the entertainment industry, as well as temporary agencies that have listing for individuals with experience in the entertainment industry. Again, you might have to take a cut in pay because of your lack of experience in the music business but if your skills are still very marketable and transferable you should move up quickly.

3. Volunteer.
Every successful award show you see on television including The Grammy Awards, Country Music Awards, MTV Awards, Soul Train Awards, American Music Awards are successful because of the assistance of hundreds of volunteers who work at these events. These folks just want to be in the “mix”. They want to go to the parties, mingle with their favorite stars, add a line to their resume and network. Contact the organization directly or the executive producer of the show and ask how one becomes a volunteer. But remember you are there to work not “floss” with the stars. That will come later when you become an industry bigwig yourself.

4. Actively participate in music industry related organizations.
Become a member of an organization that caters to the music industry and volunteer to work on the various committees within that organization. I became editor-in-chief of a newsletter that caters to the women in the music industry as a result of my volunteering to work on the newsletter committee immediately after I joined. Choose a committee
where you to have to reach out to other people in the industry. You can then talk to them about their jobs and informally find out if there are any openings within their organization or see if they can recommend other people to speak with. Remember, in the music industry it is clearly a combination of “what you know and who you know”.

5. Continuing education or certification programs.
To obtain the basics of the music industry, take continuing education courses in the music business field on a non-matriculated basis or as part of a certification program. New York University and The New School have certification programs and/or courses that are offered to the general public. See if you have similar courses in your area. Or look for online courses. I know Berklee School of Music (www.berkleemusic.com) has online music business courses that are offered to the general public.

6. Attend conferences and seminars, take notes, network and ask questions.
In Billboard magazine, the weekly trade magazine of the industry, there is a section called “UPDATE” that lists the monthly events in the industry. There are usually listings of seminars, workshops, trade shows and courses being given on a regular basis. Try to attend one within your geographic area. Attend the event, ask a question of the person who represents the area of the industry you are interested in, get his business card and follow up with an email or note acknowledging the time he spent with you.

For example, www.armusic1.com provides weekly Hookups  (informational workshops, critique and exposure of your music to industry professionals looking for the next new artist or songwriter for the in-house projects they are responsible for). The Hookups are a great way to talk and network directly with professionals and decision-makers in your area of interest. The best part is that you can network in major entertainment hubs like Atlanta, Nashville, Los Angeles, Miami and New York, by phone from the privacy of your home. Check their Hookup calendar and
join their mailing list to receive weekly updates on which company will be featured next.

7. Start your own company.
For those of you who are truly entrepreneurial in nature, you can start your own record label, production company, music publishing company, management company, public relations or any other business within the industry you are interested in. You can even start one of these businesses part-time and build the business so it can eventually support you on a full-time basis. With creative financing, savvy marketing techniques, use of the internet, sweat equity, and determination you can make it.

In conclusion, the music business is very exciting, always changing, and at times a very political. You must be persistent, creative and innovative. You also must constantly look for new opportunities and develop the skills necessary to take you to the next level.

Good Luck!!!

Shirley A. Washington