100 Careers in the Music Business

The music industry has undergone radical changes in recent years, but abundant career opportunities still exist for beginners with talent, imagination, and a love of music. The record industry and its dealers have suffered recent setbacks, but most other aspects of the music business continue to flourish--and this book tells beginners how and where to find rewarding jobs. Highly talented singers, song writers, and instrumentalists are always in demand, but many lesser known and rewarding career opportunities exist, with new avenues opening virtually every day. Among job opportunities described in this book are artists' agents and managers, talent agents, sound technicians, film and TV technicians, film and TV production managers, advertising illustrators and copywriters, publicists, and many others. The author tells beginners how to match their own qualifications with potential job openings, seek and find job interviews, and get into the music business. For each job designation, she lists the special skills needed, describes a typical workday, and presents actual case studies of men and women who have found music career openings, and have gone on to make the most of them. Sidebar features include at-a-glance career tips and "voices of experience" notes citing the best and worst things about each job. New in this edition is information on how today's new technologies have influenced careers and created opportunities in the music business. The book's several appendices include lists of names, addresses, and web sites of music unions, organizations, directories, magazines, and schools offering degrees in music business management. There is also a glossary of music business and technical terms.

The music industry is flourishing--and young men and women seeking careers don't have to be performing artists to land a rewarding job in the business. Today's music industry needs composers, lyricists, creative managers, sound engineers, video producers and directors, booking agents, concert promoters, publicists, writers, marketing professionals, and even lawyers and accountants. 100 Careers in the Music Business takes the mystery out of job titles like song plugger, product manager, and engineer, and presents easy to understand explanations of duties and necessary qualifications. Most important, this book gives an overview of the industry as it currently operates--describing the roles of music publishers, recording companies, record distribution groups, the musicians themselves, producers, management teams, and marketing and promotion operations. Here too are inspiring stories of men and women who have made it in many different areas of music. A glossary of terms defines music industry jargon, and an appendix lists major music organizations. 100 Careers in the Music Business gives readers the most complete picture of today's music industry available anywhere. It's a "must read" for anyone considering a career in music, and it deserves a place on the reference shelf of high school and college guidance counselors.

Tanja L. Crouch has spent several years on the business side of the music industry. She has worked on tours for major artists, placed music in movies and TV shows, and written extensively about the music industry.