CAREERS IN MUSIC AND MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
Many music production graduates will want to use their degree subject in their work. However, due to the very limited number of openings, jobs in the creative industries can be difficult to obtain without determination and persistence. You need to get lots of (probably unpaid) work experience and to promote yourself. You have to be very single-minded. Major recording companies include EMI, Universal, Sony BMG and Sanctuary. See our page on the Creative Career Search for help on how to break into the industry. A creative CV would also help here.
Skills developed studying music production
Music production graduates develop a wide range of key skills through both the practical and academic content of their degree. These include:
- Music Technology: expertise with sound technology and electronics, good hearing and an ear for music. It helps to have good musical ability and the ability to play a keyboard.
- Communication skills: using speaking and listening skills when discussing recording and other work matters with colleagues.
- IT skills: using IT to manipulate sounds and to hold information and keep records.
- Attention to detail: a methodical approach, a passion for accuracy and excellent concentration.
- Numeracy: using diagrams, symbols and tables when positioning equipment. Using numerical skills when making recordings, and controlling audio equipment.
- Problem solving: analysing each project, and identifying the recording and other tasks to be carried out.
- Working with others to achieve agreed goals. Many artists are idiosyncratic and so you need to be good at working with others under pressure and staying calm.
Music and music technology links
Playing calming music can help motivate students and improve concentration and study skills. Research at the London Institute of Education found that children doing memory tests whilst listening to classical music performed better than children performing the tests in silence or listening to jazz. They also found that playing calming music such as Bach and Pachelbel's Cannon to disturbed children helped them achieve higher scores in maths tests |
Directories
- The Showcase Directory www.showcase-music.com lists almost every organisation in the UK music industry and many abroad. Excellent! Online version of the Music Business Guide (paper copy available in the University of Kent Careers Service Canterbury)
- UK Music Industry Directory www.music-media.co.uk
Professional Bodies
- The British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors www.basca.org.uk
- Music Producers' Guild www.mpg.org.uk represents all individuals involved in music production and recording professions.
- The Musicians' Union www.musiciansunion.org.uk
- The National Federation of Music Societies www.makingmusic.org.uk
- Incorporated Society of Musicians www.ism.org The careers with music section, includes useful addresses such as the Sonic Arts Network and spnm - promoting new music.
- BPI British Phonographic Industry www.bpi.co.uk includes advice on careers in the music industry. Founder of the Brit awards and the trade association of UK record companies
- Music Industries Association www.mia.org.uk/whatis UK trade association representing the interests of businesses selling musical instruments.
- Association of Professional Recording Services www.aprs.co.uk
Information Sources
I used to think anyone doing anything weird was weird. Now I know that it is the people that call others weird that are weird. Paul McCartney |
- Skillset www.skillset.org/film/jobs/music
- Careers in Music www.cnvi.com/applause
- BBC www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic music industry job descriptions.
Videos of people talking about their jobs www.bbc.co.uk/keyskills/gallery/index.shtml - Prospects sector briefing on the Creative Arts www.prospects.ac.uk
- The unsigned guide for artists www.theunsignedguide.com
- Pro-music.org www.pro-music.org
promotes legitimate online music services and confronts myths surrounding online music piracy. - Working in the Music Industry is available to read at webooks
www.howto.co.uk/careers/music-industry-jobs
Jobs
- Rhinegold Job Site www.rhinegold.co.uk
- Music Week www.musicweek.com
- Music Jobs http://uk.music-jobs.com A networking site for music professionals and companies, including jobs in the music industry and links.
- Music Leader www.musicleader.net advertises job opportunities
- Bandname.com www.bandreg.com registers band name but also includes information for bands and music opportunities.
- The Vocalist www.vocalist.org.uk/musicians_job_listings.html lists jobs for singers & producers.
Also has a listing of recording studios www.vocalist.org.uk/recording_studio_listings.html - StarNow www.starnow.co.uk/Musicians-Wanted Entertainment industry jobs, casting calls & auditions
- HMV www.hmvgraduates.com Information on careers for graduates including their retail graduates scheme.
Music Technology
A study by researchers at McGill University found that dopamine (a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for good moods) is released when you listen to music you enjoy. Even when you have listened to it many times, it can still arouse feelings of euphoria and craving. |
- Gamasutra www.gamasutra.com links for game audio resources
- Sound on Sound www.soundonsound.com Europe's best selling music technology magazine.
- Future Music www.futuremusic.co.uk Articles are available on-line from back issues of Sound on Sound except for the most recent issues. Follow links to Games Manufacturers or Film Production Company web-sites.
- International Computer Music Association www.computermusic.org "Resources" option gives links including to many of the major hardware manufacturers, probably the major recruiters for those interested in the engineering and product development side rather than performing side.
- Palatine www.lancs.ac.uk/palatine Performing Arts Learning and Teaching Innovation Network
- Professional Lighting and Sound Association www.plasa.org
- The Audio Engineering Society www.aes.org
- The Recording Workshop www.recodingworkshopuk.com/careers.htm careers in music production & sound engineering including lists of courses.
- Record Production www.recordproduction.com/JOBS.HTM Record production and studio portal with jobs section
- Music Connection www.musiconnection.com Record company websites
Other
- 1212.com www.1212.com database of music industry related web information in over 50 countries.
- The MCPS-PRS Alliance www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk home of the songwriters, composers and music publishers.
- Youth Music www.youthmusic.org.uk works alongside the formal and community-based sectors to support music-making and training.
- Arts Hub www.artshub.co.uk/uk publishes essential jobs and news information to professionals working in the UK arts and cultural industries.
- MusicTank www.musictank.co.uk business development network for the UK music industry,
- CreativePeople www.creativepeople.org.uk network for people who work in the creative industries.
Haydn last saw Mozart in the days before he departed for London in December 1790.
Mozart, worried about the old composer's ability to withstand the long, demading journey abroad, said, "Papa!" as he usually called him, "you have had no training for the great world, and you speak too few languages." "Oh," replied Haydn, "my language is understood all over the world!"
- The Brit School www.brit.croydon.sch.uk music careers links
Multimedia companies which incorporate music technology into their product range include:
- Drum and Bass Arena www.breakbeat.co.uk Internet based music and new media company
- Sibelius www.sibelius.com - leading developer of notation software.
Related courses
- University of York - Masters in Music Technology with AHRB funding: designed to develop the use of IT skills in Music for both Music graduates and Computing graduates.
- Dundee - MSc in Electronic Imaging
- University of Westminster at Harrow BA & MA/MSc courses in multimedia, including music technology
- Leeds Metropolitan University Degree courses integrates IT with Music.
Also see:
- Media Careers Links information on how to get a job in the media
- Multimedia Careers Page
Specialist careers information
You may find it useful to consult the specialist careers and industry publications in the University of Kent Careers Advisory Service. These include:
|
- How to Make it in the Music Business
- The Guerilla Guide to the Music Business
- International Showcase - The Music Business Guide
- The White Book - the essential Production Directory
- Working in Music
Last fully updated 2011