Careers in the Music Industry
The provided list of careers offers prospective and current Music Industry Program students insight on attainable positions within the music industry.
The list is organized into categories, each job title containing a brief description to provide a basic understanding of the position's requirements. It is important to remember that there are more careers and opportunities beyond what is listed below. The Music Industry Program at Fredonia offers an educational foundation that prepares students to enter any of the multitudes of fields and professions achievable within the industry.
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Box Office Manager
Interacting with artists, labels, and management to organize events and ticketing processes, the box office manager's job requires experience in sales, customer service, communication and computer skills.
Venue Manager
Supervising employees to ensure the cleanliness and efficiency of a venue, the venue manager is responsible for maintaining a full calendar while staying within budget.
Personal Manager
Acting as the artist’s representative, the personal manager has maximum interaction with a musician and guides all aspects of their career, including overseeing all business and creative decisions.
Retail Sales Manager
Having knowledge in sales, customer service, communication, and computers, the retail sales manager coordinates the distribution and promotion of records in retail stores.
Business Consultant
Providing advice in an artist’s career, the business consultant also assists the artist with constructing a business strategy.
Business Manager
Acting as the artist’s accountant, the business manager balances their income and finances, makes payments, and advises them financially.
Road/Tour Manager
Organizing the logistics while the artist is on tour, the road/tour manager also supervises equipment and sound setup at the venue and oversees lighting personnel.
Production Manager
Found on larger tours, production managers work closely with road managers and also assist the personnel of a touring company.
Technical Manager/Director
During an artist’s performance, the technical manager/director oversees set design, construction, and control.
Entertainment Attorney
An entertainment attorney specializes in artist contracts, copyright law, and production agreements.
Music Supervisor
A music supervisor licenses and acquires music to accompany a visual medium.
A&R Coordinator
Acting as a scout, the Artist and Repertoire (A&R) coordinator searches for new talent by attending concerts, listening to demos of undiscovered artists, and works as a liaison between the artist(s) and record label.
A&R Administrator
Working alongside the A&R coordinator, the Artist and Repertoire (A&R) administrator plans budgets and projects future expenses.
Advertising Account Executive
The advertising account executive creates advertising campaigns that promote the label and the label’s artists.
Salesperson
Negotiating with retail stores, a salesperson helps sell and promote the record label's products and merchandise.
Regional Sales Manager
A regional sales manager tracks and analyzes sales revenue generated in a specific region.
Marketing Representative
Analyzing record sales through trade publications and radio stations, the marketing representative develops and adjusts future marketing plans.
Field Merchandiser
Distributing merchandise and coordinating promotions, the field merchandiser, along with the marketing team, work to sell the record label's products.
Consumer Researcher
A consumer researcher observes and records the buying trends of consumers for marketing research.
College Representative
Promoting music by organizing listening events, the college representative interacts with local record stores and other shops in the community and remains highly active online. College Reps must maintain a high profile on campus and around the area in order to market the label’s music successfully. A college representative must be a student enrolled in college near the area specified by the record label.
Entertainment Attorney
An entertainment attorney specializes in artist contracts, copyright law, and production agreements.
Songwriter
Someone who writes the lyrics and/or composes music. A songwriter can choose to own or sell the copyright of the song to another party.
Artist
The artist(s) is the entity being marketed as performing the song(s) or other musical compositions.
Producer
Creating the artist’s sound, the producer guides a recording session and oversees the entire production process of the song(s).
A&R Coordinator
Acting as a scout, the Artist and Repertoire (A&R) coordinator searches for new talent by attending concerts, listening to demos of undiscovered artists, and works as a liaison between the artist(s) and record label.
Studio Owner
Studio owners rent the space, technology, and gear necessary for artists to develop and record their music.
Distributor
The distributor supplies products (mostly recorded albums) to retailers who then sell the products directly to consumers.
Music Programmer
The music programmer selects what will appear on a program for a recording or what may be heard by an audience.
Music Editor
The music editor is responsible for formatting the music to fit the artist's preferences, or to fit a TV/film background.
Coordinator
A coordinator is responsible for budgeting the expenses in a tour, such as lodging, travel arrangements, and other various services necessary.
Road/Tour Manager
Organizing the logistics while the artist is on tour, the road/tour manager also supervises equipment and sound setup at the venue and oversees lighting personnel.
Tour Publicist
The tour publicist is responsible for promotion through various media outlets including press releases, press conferences, and other special promotions.
Advance Person
Arriving at a venue prior to an event, the advance person ensures an accurate preparation of the scheduled concert. An advance person also delivers promotional press packages and album copies to the press and promoters at every venue.
Sound Tech
A sound tech is responsible for the sound checks and quality control of amplified music produced during a performance.
Concert Promoter
A promoter organizes, advertises, presents, and finances tour performances and must create and adhere to a budget in order to have a profitable event.
Box Office Manager
Interacting with artists, labels or management to organize events and ticketing processes, the box office manager's job requires experience in sales, customer service, communication, and computer skills.
Venue Manager
Supervising employees to ensure the cleanliness and efficiency of a venue, the venue manager is responsible for maintaining a full calendar while staying within budget.
Tour Manager
A tour manager’s responsibility is to manage an artist’s tours and performances.
Event Manager
The event manager oversees management responsibilities for an event, including accommodations for visiting artists, and ensures that all areas are covered and all jobs are being done.
Sound Operator
The sound operator runs the sound for artists and various events, ensuring that all sound equipment is working properly and providing great sound quality for the audience.
Lighting Designer
The lighting designer develops lighting specifically for large events, sometimes only touring with one artist and designing the lighting specific to their performance.
Audio Mixer
The audio mixer is responsible for mixing sound for music productions, concerts, and events.
Music Supervisor
The music supervisor licenses and acquires music to accompany a visual medium.
Re-Recording Mixer
The re-recording mixer is part of a post-production sound team, works with dialog, music, and sound effects to create a final soundtrack.
Independent Radio Promoter
Hired by a label, artist, or manage to increase the airplay of certain songs, an Independent Radio Promoter (IRP) creates strong relations with the program director to introduce and promote new music.
Program Director
Marketing the station by targeting specific demographics with the most effective content and advertisements, the program director also schedules programming, genres, playlists, and commercials.
Music Director
The music director coordinates with Independent Radio Promoters (IRPs) and labels to select which new music to air.
Disc Jockey
A disc jockey (DJ) plays music for radio stations, hosts talk shows, interviews guest artist/speakers, and manages time between shows and commercials.
Music Publisher
The music publishers’ responsibilities are recognizing talent, creating and negotiating contracts, developing promotion and marketing for a songwriter. The publisher also manages sales, royalties, and copyright materials.
Music Journalist
The music journalist works on entertainment, promotion, and press.
Music Editor
The music editor critiques music, projects, artists, and live performances.