Careers In The Music Industry

If you are a music lover, you know that you want a career in the music industry and just do not know exactly what you want to do. There are lots of different career jobs in the music business, and just because you love music doesn’t mean that the music career you choose will turn into a dream job. My top three musical career interests are: a music promoter, music manager and music agent.

            My interests as a concert promoter are because I love and enjoy live music. The main job of a music promoter, usually simply called a promoter, is to publicize a concert. Promoting shows are exciting, fast-paced and lots of fun. I enjoy publicizing a show or concert because they are the ones in charge of making sure the word get out. Promoters also are the ones in charge of booking the venue and artist, negotiating deals with bands or agents on dates for the show and provide accommodations. They also promote the upcoming show to the local press and radio, print flyers, put up posters and email their mailing lists.

             A music manager is my second career interest in the music industry because I love and enjoying interacting with different artist. The music manager (aka the Artist Manager, Band Manager, Talent Manager, Personal Manager and Band Manager) has the most interaction with the artist and is the most important person in the artist’s musical career. They are involved in planning, coordinating and organizing the career of the artist. They are involved in counseling, and advising the artist on all matters related to their musical careers. The personal manager should research the music industry and know all about record labels, publishing companies, producers, booking agents, promoters, publicist, stylist, photographers, recording engineers, graphic designers, video directors, music licensees, etc., and how they integrate themselves into the overall career plan. The more contact the music manager has, the more effective they will be at their job.  

             A music agent is my third and last choice as musical career interest because they are they are the ones who make the live music happen. A music agent is also known as a talent agent, simply agent or booking agent. They are also responsible for negotiations with promoters and venues when it comes to arrangements for things like backline and accommodations and to the pay of performances. In addition, they arrange contracts with promoters regarding pay, rider, guest list, and equipment. The most common arrangement between a band and an agent is for the agent to get between 10% and 15% of the money paid to a band for a gig, though 18% or even 20% is not entirely unheard of. For this reason, it is obviously in the best interest of an agent to get the most money possible for a band from a promoter - the more money the band makes, the more money the agent makes.

             If you are a music lover, you know that you want a career in the music industry and just do not know what you want to do. There are lots of different career jobs in the music business, and just because you love music doesn’t mean that the music career you choose will turn into a dream job. My top three musical career interests are: concert promoter, music manager and music agent.

References

http://www.artistmanagementresource.com/music-manager-roles.html

http://musicians.about.com/od/otherindustrycareers/p/musicagent.htm

http://musicians.about.com/od/otherindustrycareers/p/Promoter.htm