What Will I Earn if I Graduate from College
with a Music Business Degree?
Learn what your earning options are when you graduate from a music business degree program.
Find Music Business Degree Programs
By Sarah Stevenson
A passion for music may be a starting point for a successful career in the music business, but the proper business training provides the knowledge of how the industry actually works.
A business degree in music from accredited colleges with music business degrees ensures that you have a solid foundation in the field, whether your employment goal is artist management, marketing and publicity, or music distribution.
Some regions may offer a more vibrant music business job market, while others might offer higher salaries or better job perks. In addition, the pay structure for different music industry jobs can vary widely:
- Artist managers may make a salary, but often they are paid a pre-arranged percentage of the musician's income, either instead of—or in addition to—the salary.
- Music agents, such as booking agents, receive a percentage of the fee a musician is paid for a particular gig, whether a live show or recorded performance.
- Music promoters earn money on ticket sales for shows they promote.
- Music PR companies usually make a flat fee for a particular publicity campaign, and possibly bonuses depending on the success of the campaign.
- A record label, very simply, makes money by selling records, but individual employees might earn an hourly wage or an annual salary, with the amount dependent on the size of the company and the nature of the job.
Regardless of your desired career in the music business, it is critical to be thoroughly familiar with the terms of your contract so that you know the amount of your salary and the conditions by which you earn your income.
Music Business Salaries by Career
| Overall Music Industry Salaries by Job Type | Median Annual Salary* |
|---|---|
| Music Brand Manager | $91,880 |
| Retail Store Manager | $36,480 |
| Artist Manager | $64,790 |
| Promotions or Marketing Manager | $108,260 |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data published March 27, 2012; First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers; Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers and Athletes; Advertising, Promotions and Marketing Managers. Salary.com, April, 2012; Product/Brand Managers.
*The salary information listed is based on a national average, unless noted. Actual salaries may vary greatly based on specialization within the field, location, years of experience and a variety of other factors.
"Money had never been the main thing for me. It's the legacy that was important."
Berry Gordy, Motown Records