Top 10 careers in the music business

From the young, up-and-coming musician to the seasoned industry professional, everyone has their view of what it means to work in music. But one thing is for sure: It’s lucrative. However, the music business is more challenging to break into than other sectors. There is a lot of competition, but if you hone your skills, build relationships with the right people, and put in the effort, you can pursue some of the careers in the music business listed below, along with information on their average pay and more.

Record label director

A record label director oversees the entire operation of a record label and its artists. The position is similar to that of an executive producer but has more responsibilities. A record label director also tends to be involved in every aspect of their artists’ careers, such as writing songs, producing albums, and marketing them.

A record label director needs excellent communication skills to effectively lead and inspire a team. They must also have strong financial knowledge and experience working with budgets for recording studios or other expenses associated with producing an album. This includes negotiating contracts with music producers or editors who work on these projects and researching which type of equipment will be needed for each project based on what genre it falls into (e.g., pop music vs. rock & roll).

Record company sales representative

If you love listening to music and have a knack for promoting new artists, this job might be right up your alley. A record label sales representative is responsible for selling records to retailers and distributors and promoting contemporary artists. 

They choose which songs are played on the radio and where they can be heard, in other words. They spend their days ensuring that everyone can listen to the newest music so they can all enjoy it.They usually listen to music before anyone else does so they know what’s happening in different genres of music before others do—and that means if you work hard enough at it, someday you could be one too!

Music publicist

If you love the music business and want to get into the inner circle, a career as a music publicist is for you. A music publicist’s job is to generate publicity for their client’s projects. They can be in charge of everything from press releases and social media posts to arranging interviews with media outlets and getting their clients on talk shows or podcasts.

A bachelor’s degree and some experience in marketing or advertising will help prepare you for this position, but knowing how to play an instrument may be even more valuable. This is because producers often hire musicians with good public relations skills rather than just those who are great at playing instruments (although both are important). The job outlook is expected to grow by 20% over ten years (much faster than average), with salaries reaching up to $68K annually by 2022.

Music manager

Being a music manager is both a challenging and rewarding profession. The job entails overseeing all aspects of an artist’s career, from recording to touring to marketing.

When it comes to becoming a successful music manager, there are few formal requirements. Aspiring managers typically need minimal experience in the industry—maybe they’ve worked at a record label or become an assistant for an established artist—but not much else. Some would argue that having too much knowledge about the business can be detrimental when starting because it makes you overconfident about what you can do for others.

That said, there are some necessary qualifications that all aspiring managers should have: patience and determination; good communication skills; compassion towards others; strong organizational abilities; an ability as ‘people-pleasers’, willingness/ability to take risks, and so on.

A&R (Artists and Repertoire) Rep

As an A&R rep, your job is to find new talent and sign them to a record label. A&R stands for Artists and Repertoire—the people at the top of record labels who are in charge of finding new artists, signing them, and then ensuring that those artists get their music out into the world through marketing and promotion.

A&R reps hear demos all day long from bands trying to get signed; sometimes, they’ll give the band feedback on how they can improve their demo or songwriting skills, but often they’re just looking for something unique that will stand out in a sea of similar music.

 Suppose an A&R rep hears something different or unique. In that case, they may listen again later when they have time—and if he likes what they hear enough times (usually three or four), they will invite you into their office where you can play some songs live so they can get a better understanding of what it is about your band’s sound that appeals to them.

Music marketing manager

Music marketing managers are the people who manage an artist’s career and make sure they get the exposure they deserve. They work with artists to create a plan that promotes their music, such as how to enable it in stores or on social media.

As a music marketing manager, you’ll need to know how to write contracts and perform other business-related tasks. You will also have to be able to think of creative ways to promote music through advertisements or other means—things like a radio play, television appearances, etc. 

They also negotiate details (such as payment) with those who will help you promote your artists’ music. The salary range is from $30k-$70k per year depending on experience level; benefits can include health insurance and 401(k) plans.

Music lawyer

Music lawyers are the legal experts who help musicians to negotiate contracts and copyright issues, ensuring that their work does not get plagiarized. They also help musicians manage the financial aspects of their careers.

If you love music, but hate math and science, becoming a music lawyer is an exciting option. You’ll be helping artists earn more money while also doing something meaningful.

To become a music lawyer, you’ll need some basic knowledge of law and business practices. You may also want some experience working in the music industry or as a musician yourself—but this isn’t required unless your goal is to work at one of the major record labels or in publishing houses (which would require multiple years of experience). The average salary for people with these jobs was $96k in 2014; however, those at large firms could earn up to $160k annually.

Concert event planner

A concert event planner covers all the details of producing a show. They work with musicians, venue staff, and other partners to ensure the concert goes smoothly. The role also markets and promotes shows, informing the audience of upcoming performances.

Event planners may handle event sponsorships and coordinate merchandise sales at concerts. Event planners communicate with vendors and suppliers for special needs, such as booking hotels for performers or setting up equipment at venues.

Key takeaways

• The music business is an ever-changing one. It has been around for hundreds of years and will continue to be a part of our lives for many more decades. 
• The people who work within this business are as diverse as the music itself. From record label executives to managers and producers, there are plenty of opportunities for those who want to pursue careers in music.
• Many different types of careers fall under the umbrella term ‘music business.’ Most of these jobs require skills from many other disciplines

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FAQs

Q1. Is a degree in music business worthwhile?

Ans- As an emerging musician, music business degrees can be worthwhile. Your career might be transformed if you choose the right degree. Your ability to market yourself as a performer will improve thanks to your practical knowledge of financial management, music licensing, law, marketing plans, sound engineering, and production.

Q2. What do you learn about the music business?

Ans- Aspirants majoring in the music business can focus on various topics, such as how music is produced, commercialized, and consumed, music publishing, licensing, copyright law, and royalties. Some music business programs will demand fundamental courses like keyboarding, ear training, music theory, music history, and music production.

Q3. Can you have a career in the music business?

Ans- In terms of career options, singers and musicians may be the most visible jobs in music. Still, you could carve out a career in several areas, including performing, songwriting, composing, live music entertainment, music education, music production, artist management, marketing, and PR or music journalism.