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Music Business Career Resource Guide

Find the information you need to get a business college degree in music and start your music business career.

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By Sarah Stevenson

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"I wish there had been a music business 101 course I could have taken."

Kurt Cobain, Nirvana

music business professional with guitar

If you have a passion for music and a talent for business or management, a business college degree in music can open the doors to an exciting career in the music industry.

Overall employment in the music industry continues to grow along with the demand for professional musicians, so job opportunities in the field are diverse, yet keenly competitive.

The range of jobs available to those who hold a business college degree in music covers a broad cross-section of the industry, from managers who work directly with artists, to publicists who promote the touring of a musical act.

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Categories of Music Business Careers

Music business jobs primarily fall into a few general categories:

  • Music management careers include everyone from the musician's personal manager or agent to entertainment attorneys to retail sales managers.
  • Record label business careers cover the various jobs you might seek out at a record company, such as A&R (artist & repertoire) coordinators and marketing representatives.
  • Music publishing business careers include acquiring and administering song copyrights.
  • Tour/road work careers involve coordinating, publicizing and overseeing the technical side of a touring musical act.

Jobs in the music business tend to be most plentiful in areas of the country where the entertainment and recording industries are centered, such as New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago and Nashville.

There is a wide array of employers in the music business industry:

  • Professional orchestras and opera companies
  • Record labels
  • Radio stations
  • Music publishing companies
  • Musicians
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What Jobs are Available with a Business College Degree in Music?

Despite the enticing array of careers in the music business, success in the field requires persistence, flexibility and, of course, networking skills. The music industry is a highly desirable occupational path, with high numbers of job seekers relative to the number of openings available. Those with a pertinent degree from an accredited music business school have a leg up on the competition—as well as those with relevant work or internship experience in the industry.

Different jobs in the industry also have different demands in terms of skills and temperament. Some jobs, particularly those in the touring and road work sector, require a great deal of energy in order to keep up with the irregular hours and extended time on the road dictated by a musician's performance schedule. Marketing, sales and public relations careers in the music industry may also require a fair amount of travel, not to mention excellent interpersonal skills. Road managers and sound technicians need physical stamina in order to handle musical equipment.

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Getting Into the Groove

Music is a multi-billion dollar industry, and the good news is, you don't necessarily need to be a musician to enjoy a fulfilling career working in the business. The multitude of job possibilities does mean that there isn't any one sure-fire path to success in the music business, but there are a few general characteristics that are valuable to cultivate if you're planning to make a living in the field.

  • Be Persistent, but Flexible – Remember that it takes a lot of drive to make it in an industry where there is so much competition for jobs. Do your best to excel in your chosen area and familiarize yourself with the appropriate technology and business models. However, it also pays to be versatile and willing to take on a variety of responsibilities early on in your career, from organizing a local concert series to writing reviews of your favorite new CDs. Internship programs are also a great way to gain experience in the music industry. As you build your resumé, you'll become more marketable to potential employers.

  • Network, Network, Network – The ability to network will not only serve you well as you search for work in the competitive music business marketplace, it is also a critical job skill. The entertainment industry is as much about who you know as what you know, so taking advantage of internships at record companies or volunteer opportunities at concert venues can help connect you with employers in the music business. Once your career gets going, those relationships that you've cultivated can help you find additional opportunities to learn and grow within the industry. If you're a publicist or promoter, your career might hinge on those connections.

  • Knowledge and Passion – Even if you can't hold a tune or play a single note, a sincere passion for music and the knowledge to back it up is a prerequisite in the industry. In particular, expertise in the music genre you plan to work in, whether it's rock and roll or reggae, country or classical, can lend you the kind of credibility that gives you an edge over the competition. A business college degree in music provides the practical background that will enable you to put your love of music to work in the business world.
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