Music Industry Jobs

  An introduction and listing of various music industry jobs for your consideration.

Though this site mainly aims to help guide aspiring MC's, it is also a source for fans of hip hop music to come to build a base of knowledge about the craft. This section will highlight numerous jobs and careers in music. Not all music industry jobs listed will directly involve the music business but all revolve around a passion for hip hop culture.

Even if you only want to become a rapper or MC, it would be highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the various "music industry jobs" listed below. Dabble in them a little and understand them well because you will be required to interact with some, if not all of them in one way or another if you decide to pursue a career in music. It is essential that you understand some jobs (manager, song writer, producer, booking agent, etc.) as a means of "learning the ropes" of the music business.

Here's an example of how the value of certain jobs in the music business are overshadowed by the performers and underestimated by the general public. Not only has R&B singer Ne-Yo written some very popular hits for some very big names in the past few years but he's gone so far as to say that he made more money as a writer than as a singer/performer. This is because the cost of shooting video's, etc. all end up being deducted from the artists' cut of the profits while the person who wrote the songs does not have these deductions. Then again the artist does get all the groupies, but moving right along...

At the end of the day there is much more money to be made in hip hop through alternative means, than through the traditional "artist" role. Below and on the following page are some examples of various music industry jobs along with brief descriptions.

---

A Listing & Description of Various Music Industry Jobs and more...
Artist - This is the most common job people are looking for in the music industry. It is not, obviously, the position with the most openings. If you are interested in becoming a rap artist and you're absolutely not interested in any other jobs in the music industry, you can skip ahead to page two and check out our resource links at the bottom for advice on getting a music industry job (as an artist or otherwise) and places where you can find them.

Booking Agent - You might be familiar with the job of an "agent" if you have read our Recording Industry section. In brief, a booking agent or agent will be in charge of finding you work or "booking" your shows. There are various types of agents and some do very well financially. If you are also an artist it is also possible to be your own agent. No specific degree is required as in this field music industry knowledge and experience is most valuable.

Club Owner - The right club in the right spot can bring in a lot of money. Having a good business plan, booking appropriate artists/entertainment at the appropriate time, and understanding demographics and the nuances of various music types and subcultures will help largely determine your success.

Dance Instructor - If you are skilled at hip hop dance you might want to consider pursuing other forms of dance and excercise as well to sharpen your overall abilities. Hip Hop dance courses are popping up all over and are gaining popularity with people of all ages (mainly women) who want to stay fit and learn the latest trends in hip hop dance. This has spurred a great demand for hip hop dance instructors. You might also want to consider creating an instructional video if you have the appropriate expertise and marketing strategy.

Disc Jockey - There is no specific degree required to be a DJ but many nowadays have at least studied music appreciation/theory through some form of higher learning. DJ's can get jobs doing anything from birthday parties, proms and dance clubs, to radio show jobs. Required skill will vary from job to job but at the very least you should know how to work turntables, microphones, and the technical setup of equipment.

Entrepreneur - Start a magazine, a website, a hip hop advertising company, a record label, clothing line, or maybe all of them. Entrepreneurs follow the money, they are knowledgable risk-takers that are never constrained by one industry. Think Jay-Z owning clothing lines, record labels and sports teams. This "career" requires a clever and savvy personality and though college is obviously not required as you will be working for yourself, more and more entrepreneurs do go to college whether they graduate or not.

Graphic Design Artist - In addition to the great graphic design jobs and creative marketing positions avaiable out there for those who pursue this field in college or trade school, graphic design skills can come in extremely handy when doing your own marketing as an artist or entrepreneur. You should at least master Photoshop and Excel (for graphing charts) in order to succeed in this field.

Lawyer- Intellectual property lawyers and/or Transactional lawyers are highly sought after in all sorts of fields from entertainment to pharmaceuticals. These lawyers are sometimes required to hold a major in law with a minor or an undergraduate degree in a field related to their specialty (ie. broadcast media, biochemistry). These lawyers should be experienced in litigation, strategic intellectual property counselling, licensing and other complex business transactions.

Manager - An "entertainment" manager's duties will vary but if you will be representing talent (ie. an artist/actor) you will basically need to be able to do the following: Interface with agencies & personnel, coordinate and negotiate entertainment booking, ensure timely execution of contracts and payments, make site visits at performances to insure performer satisfaction, list and track schedules, provide site/venue information on an as needed basis and provide necessary information to enable appropriate departments to provide successful performances. You must be able to work independently and efficiently and should be very familiar with entertainment industry terms and jargon.

Magazine Writer/Editor - The Source, XXL, Murder Dog, Urb, Down Magazine, and Vibe are just a few of the magazines that employ music reviewers, and support hip-hop related journalism. You can also go your own route and create your own magazine (online maybe?) Most major magazines will require a degree in journalism and/or a portfolio of your work to be considered for a position.

 More Music Industry Jobs...