A job in the music industry might sound like a fantasy reserved for lottery winners and other blessed types, but it’s a big field. Without loads of people working in it, there’d be no gigs, famous bands or decent albums. Of course, something as popular as music is sure to make for a competitive environment. To break in, you’ll need talent, drive, hard work and passion – which is at least relatively easy to find when it’s for something you love. Here are some of the paths you could take into the industry…
Session musicians
There’s no doubt that Amy Winehouse is a phenomenal singer, but her songs wouldn’t sound half as good without those musicians backing her up on drums, horns, bass and guitar. These people are called session musicians, and they play the accompanying music for most singers and solo artists. They’re like musical free agents, available for hire by anyone because they don’t belong to any one band or group – although many play with the same artists for years. They could go on tour with a band; play on a recording; perform on a cruise ship or at a resort; or provide extra instrumentation for a band. And being a session musician doesn’t mean you’ll never be a star – half of Led Zeppelin were once session musicians.
What you’ll need: Musical talent, hard work and networking skills, so practise those scales and play as many gigs as possible. While you don’t need any formal qualifications, a degree or college course in Popular Music or Performance could prove useful.
What you’ll get: Pay varies wildly, depending on the project. You can visit the Incorporated Society of Musicians’ website (www.ism.org) for recommended rates of pay for session musicians.
Music production
When a band goes into the studio to record an album, they have a vision of what they want to achieve, and it’s the producer’s job to make that happen. For example, if a band is electrifying live, a producer will make decisions in the studio to translate that energy into the recording, whether it’s by doing the recording all in one take or using particular equipment. The producer will also work closely with the sound engineer to oversee the recording, mixing and mastering of audio. It’s a creative and technical role that makes as much impact on an album as the musicians themselves.
What you’ll need: A good ear, loads of creativity and excellent knowledge of music and sound. You could also pursue formal qualifications like a foundation degree, HNC/HND or degree in Music Production.
What you’ll get: Salaries start around £12,000 and rise with experience. Some producers are as famous as the musicians they work with, so the sky’s the limit.
Music promotion
Musicians don’t magically appear on the cover of NME and clubs don’t randomly become hot – it’s the result of lots of hard work from music promoters. Music promotion is the engine that drives the music industry, and as a promoter you could work for a record company, band or live venue. Working for a record company or band involves organising and publicising tours, scouting for new talent, setting up interviews and negotiating contracts. Being a promoter for a live music venue involves booking bands, dealing with agents, publicising events and dealing with budgets. As a music promoter, you could play an instrumental role in a band’s rise to fame – and how many people can say that?
What you’ll need: Drive and ambition with great communication skills and sales ability. You could also pursue a foundation degree, BTEC, HND or degree in Music Management; or gain experience by promoting local bands, organising local gigs or getting involved in student radio.
What you’ll get: Starting salaries in record companies run around £11,000 to £15,000 a year, but with experience it can go up to £40,000, with top salaries reaching £100,000.
Sound engineering
When you break things down, music is a science of soundwaves, frequencies and vibration and it only takes a bit of tweaking to turn a nice sound into a horrible one. Sound engineers understand this science and perform one of the most technical jobs in the industry. Using complex electronic studio equipment, they could record anything from an album to music for a film. A sound engineer’s work includes planning recording sessions with producers and artists, setting up studio equipment and microphones, operating equipment for recording, mixing and mastering and recording each instrument onto a separate track. With experience, a sound engineer could act as studio manager, own their own studio or go on to become a producer.
What you’ll need: Excellent hearing (so wear earplugs at all gigs!), knowledge of electronics and acoustics, and a keen interest in sound. For qualifications, you could start with an NVQ/SVQ Level 2 in Sound Recording and Studio Administration or go on to get a foundation degree, HNC/HND or degree in areas like Sound Engineering, Audio Technology or Music Technology.
What you’ll get: Starting salaries can be around £14,000 to £17,000 a year, and with experience the figure can rise through £20,000 to £40,000.
Read more
Music Advice Guide – full of information about the music industry
(www.themag.org.uk)
BBC Radio One – great tips on how to get started in music
(www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/howto)
Music Education Directory – a listing of music courses in the UK and Ireland
(www.bpi-med.co.uk)
CUKAS – the Conservatoires UK Application Service is the UCAS for applications to specialist conservatoires (www.cukas.ac.uk)
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