Jobs in Music if You Can’t Play a Chord for Your Life

Music is perhaps one of the few things that the world can bond over, whether it be the genre, the message you can find within the lyrics, or even the beat itself, it’s so versatile. You can do so much with just a few music chords and words, but let’s be real here, not everyone can be Beethoven.

On the brighter side, there are so many other careers within the music industry that are just as meaningful when creating a song, but they’re always overlooked. These careers can range from the business aspect of the industry to the technical side of music, so all my fellow peers who have struggled with music class can have a shot at it too.

First is business, where concepts from finance, data analytics, marketing, and even macro- and microeconomics are applied on a daily basis. Apps like SoundCloud and Tiktok have changed the way music is marketed and how artists gain an audience because of how easy it is to share over social media. Here are just a few that business students can consider getting into while having a business degree:

• Artist Manager: They are the main connection between artists and the rest of the music business, as they help their clients connect with other artists, to get any opportunities they feel would benefit them, and to help them excel in the industry.

• Tour Manager: They manage everything that will happen in an artist’s career while being on the road, such as scheduling their life for the next few months, finances, and any accommodations. On top of a business degree, they must also study “tour logistics, accounting principles, and daily scheduling management” in order to do their job well.

• Record Label Entrepreneur: These are entrepreneurs who start up their own record labels, and help new and upcoming with the creation of their projects, getting them into recording studios, hiring producers and engineers, and then advertising their new works. It is, however, a lot of hard work and requires connections in the music industry and enough financial stability to get themselves off the ground.

Another common aspect within the music business is engineering, where they can range from controlling the different sounds in the song to putting together the song itself. Some of these jobs include:

• Sound engineer: Sound engineers help with live performances, such as setting up the microphones and how they should sound throughout the performance, and setting up any instruments so that they can complement the microphone instead of clashing with it.

• Recording engineer: Recording engineers work with artists in the studio, and perform tasks such as recording, mixing, and layering audios, as well as editing all of the recordings to fit the artist’s taste.

Training in sound and audio engineering can help with getting experience in these two careers, however, interning at any broadcasting studio will aid the most.

Entertainment lawyers are also vital in the music industry because they overlook every legal agreement and negotiate any contracts they may receive in their career to prevent their clients from being trapped in a deal that may be detrimental to their wellbeing or their career further down the line. They can also help any new record label entrepreneurs with setting up properly to limit “potential liabilities and dealing with tax issues.” After graduating from law school, practices in various other types of law must be done before becoming an entertainment lawyer in order to gain experience with any and all types of events that could potentially happen in the music industry.

The idea of being successful in the music industry is a pretty hard thing to achieve for many, however, it is not impossible. These careers can help anyone with limited music talent to step foot into the industry, and hopefully win a Grammy or two!

by Fizza Chaudhry.

Works Cited

CareerExplorer. “How to Become a Recording Engineer.” CareerExplorer, 14 Nov. 2019, www.careerexplorer.com/careers/recording-engineer/how-to-become.

Careers In Music, Music Schools & Colleges. “A Recording Engineer’s Advice on Building a Career in Sound - Careers in Music.” Careers In Music | Music Schools & Colleges, 19 Feb. 2021, www.careersinmusic.com/recording-engineer.

“How to Become an Entertainment Attorney - Careers in Music.” Careers In Music | Music Schools & Colleges, 8 Mar. 2021, www.careersinmusic.com/entertainment-attorney.

“What Does an Audio Engineer Do? | How to Become an Audio Engineer - Careers in Music.” Careers In Music | Music Schools & Colleges, 12 Nov. 2020, www.careersinmusic.com/audio-engineer.

“Independent Record Label.” Entrepreneur, www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/independent-record-label. Accessed 9 June 2021.

“Learn About a Sound Engineer’s Important Role in the Music Industry.” The Balance Careers, www.thebalancecareers.com/what-is-a-sound-engineer-2460937. Accessed 9 June 2021.

Monster. “11 Distinct Careers for Music Lovers.” Monster Career Advice, www.monster.ca/career-advice/article/careers-for-music-lovers. Accessed 9 June 2021.

Online, Berklee. “Top 10 Careers in the Music Business (and How Much Money You Can Make) –.” Berklee Online Take Note, 29 Jan. 2021, online.berklee.edu/takenote/top-10-careers-in-the-music-business-and-how-much-money-you-can-make.