Graduation season is right around the corner, with many fresh graduates starting to look for their first jobs. For many music lovers, it can be daunting to think about what jobs are available in the music industry, especially for those who aren’t musicians. However, just because you’re not a musician doesn’t mean that you can’t pursue the field as a career.
In fact, the music industry is held together by people of different professions — writers, marketers, managers, social media teams, visual artists, and more — that make it possible to enjoy the music we love today.
With that, Billboard Philippines rounded up five jobs in the music industry, no music production skills involved.
Journalist
Do you enjoy writing about music and everything surrounding it? Music journalism may be right up your alley. While the music publication community in Asia continues to grow, many lifestyle, entertainment, or culture platforms are still looking for writers who can tell the story of the music scenes in the Philippines. Those looking to become music journalists can start out by contributing and pitching stories to different publications. In time, you’ll be able to build a diverse writing portfolio, whether you like writing news, features, and the like.
Artist & Repertoire
Artist & Repertoire, more commonly known as A&R, is usually a division of record labels that oversees their artist roster. This looks like managing the artists themselves, answering booking inquiries, or representing the artists in different capacities. If you’re the type of person who’s organized, not afraid of talking and networking with people, developing artists, or scouting new talent, A&R is the career for you.
Multimedia Art
Musicians can’t make music on their own. Visual artists like graphic designers, video editors, and photographers, are equally as important in the industry. Whether you like design or photography, there are opportunities to work either in-house with a label, production house, or with a publication. In fact, many music photographers have come along on tour with musicians or worked on an editorial shoot with artists.
Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing
In today’s digital world, marketing is a crucial part of any industry. People who work in advertising, promotions, or marketing for record labels often book their artists for spots on radio and TV, or create strategies on how to best promote their artists. This field is perfect for those who are marketing-savvy and enjoy a good challenge when it comes to making artists stand out in this busy music industry.
Events Production
Love concerts and festivals? It takes a whole team to put together a successful show and concert, from booking venues, logistics, organizing rehearsals, stage design, and everything in between. Events production is a good field if you enjoy being hands-on in the process of putting on shows. This is a great way to hone your skills in project management and event organizing.