5 Essentials of Music Career Success
17/08/2019
Here are five essential practices to consider as you build a foundation for long-term success in the music industry.
1. Stay in the Loop The music industry is constantly changing. To keep up, you need to stay informed.
This is just as important for music business professionals as for artists. To land a job in licensing, product design, or marketing at a place like Spotify or Apple, youll need to speak to the changes driving growth in the industry. Similarly, a successful artist manager should be up to speed on industry tastes and trends, emerging niche markets, and changing perceptions around artist commercial viability.
The path followed by the majority of top executives and artists we know today was not narrow or linear. Like theirs, your path will involve ongoing learning, hustle, and investment in yourself.
Music distribution has changed completely in recent years, meaning artists no longer need a deal with a major label to be successful. Staying informed on platforms such as SoundCloud, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook's Sound Collection will help you promote your music and reach a wide audience.
Berklees Career Center team provides insight on relevant professional associations and help you find ways to stay up to date.
2. Meet Others in the Industry
The Berklee Career Jam brings industry movers and shakers to campus each year
Building a career and establishing a personal brand in the music industry requires honing your ability to create and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
You hear it repeatedly: Networking and creative alliances matter. Why? The music industry thrives on it just like any other people-based industry. So where do you start?
Step away from the studio, or your keyboard or microphone, regularly, and take advantage of face-to-face interactions with peers, colleagues, and established professionals. Industry conferences, trade shows, and festivals provide perfect settings for fun and organic interactions, but theyre not your only outlet for networking. Social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram have made networking easier than ever. If you aren't already on these or other platforms, create a profile and start connecting. Be thoughtfully persistent in building on new connections, whether in person or digitally. Keep track of who you meet and why you both might benefit from staying in touch.
Attend the Career Center's Internship Expo where you can speak to representatives from more than 40 companies.
3. Invest in Your Future with Internships and Working on Campus If there's one thing the music industry prizes, it's experience. How do you get experience?
Where to Start
Search and apply for jobs, internships, auditions, and gigs on the Berklee Career Manager.
Two ways to impress potential employers are internships or on-campus jobs. Internships are a highly valuable opportunity to test-drive career possibilities, develop skills, and gain insight into the work and lifestyle of an industry professional. They allow you to relocate for a short stint to major hubs like Los Angeles, New York City, and Nashville, or even abroad to international hot spots like Beijing and London. Employers frequently use internships to test out future employees. If theyre impressed, they are quick to make a job offer so they don't miss out on promising talent.
There are endless opportunities and ways for you to gain relevant experience. Internships and student employment are just two that will impress and appeal to employers.
4. Know Your Competitive Advantage Your list of skills is abundant. Take stock of your experience and what makes you different from everyone else. You'll need a carefully crafted pitch that tells the world who you are and explicitly sheds light on your distinctive combination of skills, experience, and presence.
As a musician and artist, youll be an incredible improviser, always prepared to pitch a song youve been writing or grab your guitar and walk onstage to fill in for a friend at a gig. Youll also possess solid project management skills. Whether it's handling marketing or event logistics for an upcoming campus program or organizing and rehearsing members of a band for a performance, you've mastered the art of time management, understand the need for attention to detail, and recognize the importance of being both a leader and a team player.
5. Stay Agile There is no prescribed roadmap for how to get from A to Z in the music and entertainment business. There is no guarantee you'll make a certain salary, secure a gig that lasts a lifetime, or cut a deal right out of the gate. It's best to acknowledge and accept that now. But your commitment to succeeding in this business has great potential to make an impact and be satisfying.
You must learn to be agile and comfortable pivoting from opportunity to opportunity, sometimes even needing to take on a non-music lifeline career so you can provide for yourself, a significant other, or a family. The path followed by the majority of top executives and artists we know today was not narrow or linear. Like theirs, your path will involve ongoing learning, hustle, and investment in yourself.
Dustin Gee is manager of employer development and engagement at the Berklee Career Center.
For more information on how to develop your career in music, visit our Career Center resources.
Related Reading
Hearing Women Berklee Today
Spring
2019
Volume
30
Number
3
Hustling and Joy: Madame Gandhis Tips for Success Drummer, electronic musician, and activist Madame Gandhi shared her advice and experience with students at Cafe 939.
Berklee Student Wins Live Nation Scholar
LINK: | https://www.berklee.edu/careers/essentialsofsuccess.html?ss=213221... |
See more stories from berklee |
More from Berklee
28/03/2024
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at The Huntington
Boston Conservatory to Present Center Stage Production of A Midsummer Night'...
27/03/2024
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols
15 Latin Artists Who Became Musical Idols Listen to iconic Latin musicians across genres in this playlist and read about how they've influenced Berklee st...
22/03/2024
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berklee on the Road Program
Berklee, A3 Communication, and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival Launch Berkle...
19/03/2024
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon
What Is Dembow? Tracing the Roots of a Global Phenomenon The story of the dembow beat, which can be found in reggaeton, hip-hop, pop, and far beyond, speaks t...
19/03/2024
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architecture
Berklee's Roger H. Brown Jr. Building Honored by Boston Society for Architec...
19/03/2024
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics
Applications Open for 2024 Berklee at Umbria Jazz Clinics The 39th edition of the program will be held from July 9-21. By Callista Chan March 21, 2024 Ima...
14/03/2024
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment Industry
Berklee Career Jam Concert Showcases Student Artists for Music and Entertainment...
14/03/2024
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17
BPMI to Host 22nd Annual Showcase at Brighton Music Hall on April 17 The Berklee Popular Music Institute will showcase performances from six rising stars who ...
08/03/2024
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature
Berklee Presents the Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature The Signature Series concert honors the King of Pop, surveying the entirety of his iconic career. ...
07/03/2024
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With
Bruce Hornsby Is Still Seeing What He Can Get Away With Since The Way It Is, the visionary songwriter has made his mark on so many genres. His latest, Deep Se...
06/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar
Student Spotlight: Mehrpouya Daneshvar The clarinetist from Iran talks about discovering a love for Iranian classical music and how coming to Berklee has allo...
02/03/2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024
Applications Open for Berklee in Puerto Rico 2024 Registration is open now through April 11. By Colette Greenstein March 1, 2024 Students perform at Berklee...
01/03/2024
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj
Student Spotlight: Shivaraj Natraj The vocalist, konnakol beatboxer, and percussionist reflects on his musical journey from Oman to India and beyond, and how ...
01/03/2024
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval
Berklee to Present American Master Award to Arturo Sandoval Berklee will recognize the Cuban-American legend's legacy and impact on jazz and Latin music. ...
28/02/2024
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof
Announcing the 2024 Issue of STAGES Magazine: Future Proof This issue takes a deep dive into how a Boston Conservatory education lays the foundation for futu...
28/02/2024
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates Professors Lil John Roberts and Mimi Jones, part of the team leading the upcoming Michael Jackson ...
27/02/2024
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol
The Rubin Brothers Bring Circus Spectacle to American Idol Berklee alum Colescott Rubin and his brother, current student A.J., rode unicycles and sang about lov...
24/02/2024
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs
Berklee International Hip-Hop Symposium Spotlights Local Artists, Entrepreneurs SAMMUS, DJ Troy Frost, and DJ WhySham are among featured guest speakers for th...
22/02/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Vibraphone Master, Composer, and Educator Joel Ross
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Vibraphone Master, Composer, and Educa...
17/02/2024
Boston Conservatory Dance Students Perform in New Music Video by Pop Artist Piao
Boston Conservatory Dance Students Perform in New Music Video by Pop Artist Piao The video for Neopet features choreography by commercial dance major Sofia ...
17/02/2024
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Five Organizations
Berklee Awards Fenway Neighborhood Improvement Grant to Five Organizations A total of $25,000 will be distributed amongst the Boston-based nonprofits. By Co...
14/02/2024
Cecil Adderley Named President-Elect of the National Association for Music Education
Cecil Adderley Named President-Elect of the National Association for Music Educa...
14/02/2024
Cecil Adderley Named President of the National Association for Music Education
Cecil Adderley Named President of the National Association for Music Education The chair of Berklee's Music Education Department will serve as NAfME's...
14/02/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Great American Songbook: Night and Day-A Celebration of Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Berklee's Signature Series Presents Great American Songbook: Night and Day-A...
09/02/2024
Sounds of Black History at Symphony Hall
Sounds of Black History at Symphony Hall Boston Conservatory Orchestra will showcase works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Margaret Bonds, Valerie Coleman, and ot...
09/02/2024
Berklee Valencia Alumni Recognized at the Grammy Awards
Berklee Valencia Alumni Recognized at the Grammy Awards Carla Patullo, Gracie Laboy, and MT Aditya Srinivasan took home awards on musics biggest night. Febr...
09/02/2024
Lee Berk Tribute Concert Honors Legacy of Music Education Pioneer and Former Berklee President
Lee Berk Tribute Concert Honors Legacy of Music Education Pioneer and Former Ber...
07/02/2024
Berklee Abu Dhabi Music Summit Aims to Empower Aspiring Artists
Berklee Abu Dhabi Music Summit Aims to Empower Aspiring Artists The third annual event will focus on essential music business principles that enable creatives...
06/02/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee's New Music Festival Highlights Original Student Works
Boston Conservatory at Berklee's New Music Festival Highlights Original Stud...
05/02/2024
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Win at the 2024 Grammy Awards
Berklee Alumni and Faculty Win at the 2024 Grammy Awards Laufey, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Miguel Zen n, and Carla Patullo were among the winners of musi...
02/02/2024
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins Prestigious Ditson Conductor's Award
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins Prestigious Ditson Conductor's Award The Boston Conservatory faculty member joins a group of legendary conductors who have received th...
01/02/2024
Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition Puts the Fun in Fundraiser
Dancing with the Stars: Berklee Edition Puts the Fun in Fundraiser The annual dance competition exceeded fundraising goals, fully endowing a new Dance Divisio...
01/02/2024
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor's Award
Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor's Award The Boston Conservatory faculty member joins a group of legendary conductors who have re...
31/01/2024
Berklee Receives $1.8 Million Donation to Fund Innovative Student Success Initiative
Berklee Receives $1.8 Million Donation to Fund Innovative Student Success Initia...
27/01/2024
Pop Culture Icon Cyndi Lauper Gives Keynote at Berklee NYC Career Expo
Pop Culture Icon Cyndi Lauper Gives Keynote at Berklee NYC Career Expo The entertainment legend was joined by performing arts industry leaders from Broadway t...
27/01/2024
Berklee and the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Culture Expand Partnership
Berklee and the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Culture Expand Partnership The two organizations signed a student credit transfer agreement in January 20...
26/01/2024
Berklee Welcomes Dani and Debora Gurgel Quarteto for Signature Series Concert
Berklee Welcomes Dani and Debora Gurgel Quarteto for Signature Series Concert The virtuosic foursome will visit the college for a weeklong residency, culminat...
24/01/2024
The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Hosts 15th Anniversary Concert
The Berklee Global Jazz Institute Hosts 15th Anniversary Concert The Signature Series event will commemorate the life and artistry of the late Wayne Shorter. ...
20/01/2024
Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education Announces Inclusive Teaching and Learning Capsule
Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education Announces Inclusive Teaching and...
19/01/2024
Carla Patullo Howls and Heals on Grammy-Nominated Ambient Album
Carla Patullo Howls and Heals on Grammy-Nominated Ambient Album On So She Howls, the film composer, songwriter, and alum guides listeners through a cycle of h...
17/01/2024
Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight
Berklee Alumni Win Emmy Awards for Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and Kung Fu Pand...
12/01/2024
Alums Make Big-Screen Debut in Musical Adaptation of Mean Girls
Alums Make Big-Screen Debut in Musical Adaptation of Mean Girls Francesca Castro and Matilde Heckler bring Band Freak energy to the cinematic version of Tina ...
11/01/2024
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Celebrates Black History Month
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Celebrates Black History Month This powerful performance, featuring Anita Hill reciting the words of Martin Luther King Jr., wil...
05/01/2024
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2024 Sebastin Yatra Scholarship
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2024 Sebasti n Yatra Scholarship A four-year scholarship providing up to $200,000 in financial aid towards a bachel...
22/12/2023
The Best Music of 2023 Was Made with Berklee Artists
The Best Music of 2023 Was Made with Berklee Artists Behind the mic, at the boards, or in the band, Berklee artists made some of the year's best music in ...
21/12/2023
Berklees Top News and Stories of 2023
Berklees Top News and Stories of 2023 From AI in the classroom to music licensing 101, 50 years of hip-hop to the next great American jam band, take a look at...
19/12/2023
Student Spotlight: Yamur Soydemir
Student Spotlight: Ya mur Soydemir The Berklee graduate student discusses her greatest inspirations, her love of ultimate frisbee, and the process of reworkin...
16/12/2023
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2024 Sebastin Yarta Scholarship
Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Announces 2024 Sebasti n Yarta Scholarship A four-year scholarship providing up to $200,000 in financial aid towards a bachel...
15/12/2023
Berklee Professor Releases Heartfelt Hanukkah Song
Berklee Professor Releases Heartfelt Hanukkah Song Mike Sempert recently released Hold On to the Light, a catchy track with a sincere message about what it me...
14/12/2023
Olivia Soler Espinosa Brings Cuba's National Instrument to Berklee
Olivia Soler Espinosa Brings Cuba's National Instrument to Berklee The college's first woman tres player discusses the instrument's distinctive so...