Careers, Jobs & Businesses related to the Music Industry. These are the areas in which you could potentially work, or may be even start a business. Explore the various opportunities that you may avail of once you have enough experience in the area of music production.
Introduction
A music record producer, by definition, is responsible for the production of songs. You will not only require knowledge of the technical aspects of music production, you will also need to be good at communicating with various people involved. A sense of the various style of music and a pulse of the current trends will also help you to do business independently. In a smaller studio though, this is how you may start your career, the role of engineer and music producers will most likely be combined.
However there are several other jobs in the industry that people do (and most of them have over-lapping functions).
Are you wondering how a music record producer’s profile is different from a music audio production engineer?
I know it sounds as if the profile overlaps, and to a considerable extent it does, especially if you are working in a smaller recording studio. But there are some differences…
If you have worked for a small firm/start-up, you tend to do more of multiple things whereas if you work for a huge organization, you have clearly defined career paths for particular skills and roles.
The same is true of a Music Record Producer, and for most other work that people do in the music industry; they are all donning multiple hats.
Music Record Producer Profile
A music producer in a big studio, or if he is independent and successful, will be involved in things beyond the technical/recording aspect of a song.
In a big studio, the record producer can avail the services of a dedicated studio engineer. The producer will work with the band members or session musicians or professional keyboardists, and the studio engineer to “produce” the final recordings.
Since songs recorded in different styles of music have to be treated differently, a record producer’s job involves providing guidance on how to make the final product sound more appealing. They could even be involved with arranging parts of the track or even writing it.
An independent record producer may also deal with clients directly and act as a consultant, discussing various aspects like – feasibility of the project, where to record, what musicians to hire and so on.
So for a Music Producer, in general, the following applies.
- Education / Degree – Good to have but not Imperative
- Must have – Technical Knowledge of software and recording equipment
- Good work ethics – Cannot work for just 8 hours. You work till you finish your job.
- Pleasing Personality – Should be able to assist or collaborate with anybody
Is Music College Really Worth It?
While attending a music college is a thought that comes to many youngsters, the obvious disadvantage of attending music college is that its expensive, and there are many experienced musicians and producers who (they may not openly say it though) agree that you can still make it without going to a music college.
However, the good thing is that Music grads nowadays are not just confined to their field of study, in fact they go on to do a wide range of jobs in a variety of different industries.
Read: Music Graduates Find it Difficult to Land a Job?
Various Career options, Job Opportunities & Businesses
In your initial working years you’ll be more of a hands-on person, but with more experience you’re more likely to undertake assignments for particular events and get them executed. This is because you’ll most likely know a lot of people in the industry, have contacts in various music related areas, and would know you much to charge from clients to get the job done.
Until that time, you’re better off looking for opportunities in various other music related areas, or even start your own music business.
Here are the more popular career options, job opportunities & businesses related to music:
- Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, Dealers
- Lighting Equipment Hirers/Service Providers
- Sound Rental Companies
- Sound Reinforcement/Live Sound Contractors
- FOH (Front of House) Engineers
- Sound Recordists
- Acousticians/Architects
- Installers/A/V System Integrators
- Engineers/Technicians
- Musicians/DJs
- Club/Discotheque Owners
- Event Venues/Stadium Consultants
- Sports Facility Operators
- Auditorium/Concert Hall Managers
- Event Management Companies
- Manufacturers of Equipment
- Film/TV Studio Managers
- Retailers/Hotel Owners
- Corporates
- Government Departments
- Multiplex Promoters/Theatre Owners
- Radio & TV Station Technical Personnel
- Theme Parks/Museum Project Heads
- Property Developers, and many more…
Here are some other music related areas where you could potentially work:
- Music Studios
- Technology / Production
- Education
- Music Therapy
- Music Composition
- Management
- Journalism
Music Production as a Career Choice
If you have a passion for music and can play any musical instrument, I am sure at some point of time you would have got that urge to create your own music.
Every now and then you listen to your favorite songs on the music CD, I am sure you would appreciate and wonder how the various instruments sound so clear in the song, or how the bass and the drums sound so pounding.
Welcome to the world of Digital Audio Workstations, Advanced Studio Software, Modular Synthesis, Production Mixing and Mastering…Welcome to the world of Digital Computer Music Production!!!
Professional quality Music Production is much within the reach of the average guy, who can just afford to have a home based studio.
When I say average, it is strictly from a budget perspective.
With computers becoming more powerful and cheaper, it is possible to accomplish a lot more with your personal computer.
But then there is a huge learning curve if you are just entering this field of music.
There are various aspects of hardware and software that you need to know and put into practice, to be able to create that dream mix.
And so if you want to cut down on your time and effort to learn these tricks, it makes sense to enroll in one of the courses offered by music production schools/colleges.
Here are some of the Careers/Jobs in the area of the Digital Electronic Music Production that you can explore once you have completed training courses form a good Music production school or college.
- Electronic musician
- DJ
- Remix Engineer
- Sound Designer
- Sound Effects
- MIDI Programmer
- Creating Loops and Ring Tones
- Music for Games
- Electronic Music Producer
- Assistant Sound Engineer
Here are some more career options that you may consider, once you have sufficient experience and if you have a flair for entrepreneurship.
- Digital Media Entrepreneur
- Consultancy in Education and Careers
- Music industry consultant
To many people, Digital music production means creating music for genres like electronic, hip-hop, techno, house, etc. But actually speaking, the scope is much wider and involves a lot of music arranging work irrespective of the genre of music. Besides knowing how to use the sequencer and the tons of effects that are available nowadays, you also need to have good understanding of music theory and harmony.
Recording Engineer/Music Production As A Career Choice
Question:
How is music production as a career choice? I have taken piano lessons as a child and I can play music keyboards quite well. I own a Casio wk-500 76 key keyboard and enjoy creating my own music on it. Of late, I have been using software sequencer to do some recording work on my computer. Nothing big yet, all simple stuff. Would like your opinions if is it worth joining a music production school or college from a good university. I have checked and these courses seem to be quite expensive. How is music production as a career? Can you make a decent living out of it? What if I learn on my own, do I still stand a good chance in the industry – Alan,
Answers:
I always thought the guys learnt music production on their own by buying gear and setting up things at home, or somehow getting a job at a studio and learning on the job. May be the industry is getting a bit organised now as I see a lot of colleges offering courses on music production. If you have the time and the money, then do a course. Career wise, I think there should be lot of opportunities in music production provided you are good at your job – Terry
Yup, do a course. You will make some friends and may be you will collaborate and make something great in the future. But as mentioned in the earlier post, be realistic about what you pay as tuition, and also be realistic about what you can expect to get paid for your music production work – Bob
Jobs after Completing Degree/Diploma Program from Audio Music Production School/College
Question:
What are the job prospects after completing a degree or diploma program from a good Audio/Music production school/college? Is it worth spending so much time and so much money doing these courses to get a break in the audio production industry? Will I get a job or is it that all jobs in this industry are freelancing ones and I will have to figure out my way to succeed. If jobs/career exists, what are different kinds of jobs that are available for graduates from these schools/colleges? Greg
Answers:
Most jobs are freelancing ones. But then big studios and media houses do employ audio technicians on their payroll. As for jobs there are plenty of opportunities. You can work for movies, television, music, commercial advertising, big websites, video game production and design. I’m sure you should find something suitable in these areas armed with your audio/music production degree/diploma program – Deb
Any media that require professional quality sound recording offers you an opportunity. Anybody can setup a studio at home and create music, record music, edit or mix songs. But the important thing is that the final mix should sound professional. It is not an easy task. If you decide to learn on your own, it will take years and still you may not learn it completely. These audio/music production schools/colleges provide you all the training to help you produce high quality music that will sound great for various occasions – be it studio, broadcasting, live concerts or to impress record label guys – Suresh
Expected Salary and Career Growth for Sound Engineers, Technicians, Music producers
Question:
Assuming one does a degree program in courses like Music Production or Sound / Audio Engineering, what sort of salaries can you expect to earn after a few years of experience? I have read that entry level salaries can start anywhere from $18k and the average salary can go up to $35k. Is that true? Personally I feel that $35k is a bit on the lower side considering that the cost of some of the sound engineering / music production degree programs can be much higher. Can somebody who has experience working in this industry please shed some light on what sort of remuneration one can expect in the sound engineering, music production area? – Kenny
Answers:
Where did you get these numbers from? Recording engineers, music producers usually end up working as freelancers. They get paid on per-project basis, unless they end up teaching in colleges or universities. The engineers and producers also work for bands, or labels or studios, in which case again it would be either assignment based or on per day rate…but no salary. – Rossy
$35k is less? If you are trying to get placed as an intern or if you are trying to get some experience then I am sure there would be students who would work for free as well. If you really like this field then don’t think about money. You will definitely get paid well if you are good at your work. I know lot of people who make in excess of 50k and a few around 100k but then they are really good and have been in the industry for long. A degree program in music production/audio engineering from a good college/university will help you to get placed initially, but it will also cost you more. – Lee
As mentioned in the earlier post, people in this industry usually work as freelancers. But even otherwise, don’t expect to get paid as much as a trader in financial markets, or a surgeon, not even an in demand Tech specialist. Money is not bad but most people work in this industry because they are passionate about their work. Music and Movies excite them. Here are some salary numbers as published by the US Department of Labor website – www.bls.gov
DJ: $23K
Music Editor: $41K
Broadcast Engineer: $28K
Sound Effects Editor: $38K
I am sorry if you do not find these numbers exciting. – DJ Ali
Job / Career Outlook for Recording Arts Technology (U.S. Bureau of Labor)
A degree in Recording Arts, Music Production, or Audio Sound Engineering which is available at most reputed schools, colleges and universities is what you need to help you get a break in the entertainment industry. As per the outlook provided U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), students who are keen to take up musical arrangers job can feel happy since the projections look promising.
You can expect to find work for film, television, gaming or music companies depending upon your skills. One can expect steep competition from other students trying to enter the market. A degree in recording arts from top schools, colleges or universities will definitely give you the advantage. Here are some Good schools for recording arts: Full Sail University, International Academy of Design and Technology, University of Phoenix, American InterContinental University, The Art Institutes, Kaplan University, Walden University, Liberty University.
Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop): Most successful Music Critic
Anthony Fantano (aka The Needle Drop) reveals the secrets that has made him the most successful Music Critic today.
Every musician would love to make a nice career out of performing music, and composing music. But then those are not the only careers you could take up in the music industry.
Here’s the example of Anthony Fantano, also known as The Needle Drop, who is the busiest and the most successful music critic today.
Anthony Fantano says he’s “the internet’s busiest music nerd”.
And how busy is he? Just take a look at the amount of work (music reviews) he does every month.
Anthony reviews around twenty albums a month, along with weekly compendiums of new songs, monthly roundups, then there are one-off rants, explorations of his vinyl purchases, and so forth.
And in the last few years (since 2009) he’s uploaded over two thousand videos to his YouTube channel (on an average, one video per day).
So how does he listen to all this music?
“I consume music in a way that’s different than your average listener. I have to ingest music at such a high rate, in such an efficient way, that I can’t afford to be sitting around and listening to the same album for weeks and weeks and weeks on end.” Anthony Fantano. Full story here.
Top Music Placement Opportunities Available To Musicians
Music placement and licensing opportunities lets you get your music feature in TV and films, and into the hands of decision makers at labels (this is what every musician dreams of). Here’s more on how to get started.
What Types Of Opportunities Are There?
People are spending more time on YouTube than every before. Netflix is producing more content than ever before. If you’re looking to find placement opportunities, ignore these trends at your own peril.
Though things have become more competitive, its also a great time to get your music into the hands of music supervisors, radio hosts or DJs, and even major label A&R representatives.
You can get your music placed in:
- TV shows
- Commercials
- Online videos or a web series
- Radio
- Podcasts
- Video games
- Films and movies
- And more
Although there are never any guarantees, its possible to find songwriting opportunities or get your music in front of major label people by going through the right channels (Music Gorilla claims to do this).
Where Can I Go To Find Placement Opportunities?
Its not that difficult to find opportunities, although finding the right ones can be challenging.
What most musicians assume is that just because music supervisors are looking for something specific (say Rap and Hip-Hop music right now), you cannot send them something else (say Smooth Jazz). You can always write Smooth Jazz and see if you can get your music placed; its a more opportunistic approach.
Here are some sites you can join to find potential opportunities. Few are free, but the better ones cost money, but they also provide better opportunities.
- ReverbNation
- Sonicbids
- TAXI
- Broadjam
- Hitlicense.com
- Music Gorilla
- MusicXray
- Third Side Music
- Film Music Network
- ThinkSync Music
- Transition Music Corporation
- And many others
Go ahead and sign up o a few sites (unless you have some sort of exclusive agreement), create a library of music (if you don’t have one already), and start applying.
Should You Submit to Music Libraries?
While it sounds tempting to submit to ‘ALL’ the Music libraries, and then sit back to collect royalties, here’s what actually happens in practice.
Exclusive deal: In this case, the music you create can’t be licensed anywhere else. However, a thing to remember.
Since music libraries have massive catalogs, the chances of them randomly picking your music out for a placement opportunity is relatively slim. I’m not saying they won’t help you get some bites, but they may not have a reason to prioritize you over thousands of others.
Non-exclusive agreement: Seems like a better choice, but has its drawbacks too. The only problem with this approach is that having multiple companies representing your music could cause some issues with music supervisors. They may get pitched the same music by multiple sources, leading to confusion and irritation. Plus, you might end up losing money. If multiple parties are looking to collect public performance royalties, it can end up in a situation where no one gets those royalties, including you.
This is the reason why it isn’t always advisable to join more than one music library. It’s definitely worth working with at least one music library to help get your music placed (just find one that’s right for you).
Its also important to go through other parts of the agreement before making a commitment; there’s always more than meets the eye, and it’s best to talk to someone with experience – or even an entertainment lawyer – before you sign the papers.
How Can I Compete With Major Label Acts?
TV shows and movies are always looking for original music. The great thing about music placements is that even demos and independent releases often get placed in TV shows and movies.
And as mentioned earlier, supervisors do require music that sounds retro (from past decade or from the 70s), which means genre and what’s popular today may not always be a factor.
If a song evokes the right mood for the specific scene, supervisors will suggest using that song.
So, if you’re a songwriter, composer, or independent recording artist, you should definitely consider tapping into all these opportunities.
Article from Musicindustryhowto feed. Read full story here.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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