Heavy Metal, Punk, Rap, Funk, Folk, Bluegrass, Jazz… whatever your musical preference, chances are you remember exactly what songs were popular when you first fell in love, attended your high school prom or went to your first funeral. Music holds memories. It can soothe us when we’re nervous or angry, motivate us when we’re feeling lazy, even get us to do an extra leg lift during an aerobics workout. We use it to worship, mourn, celebrate, and mark other passages in our lives, big and small.

All this means that people in the music business have a lot of power. What they teach, write, perform, and record is disseminated to millions of people around the world, often becoming an intimate and important part of their lives.

But though most of us are music fans, we don’t know much about the music business. In fact, we normally associate only one or two careers with this line of work. We think of struggling musicians waiting for their big break. Or we think of music teachers (who are sometimes also struggling musicians hoping for their big break).

The truth is, however, that there are dozens more jobs in music, many of which have don’t involve actually performing and playing music. All of these jobs bring their own rewards.

Some people in music are principally concerned with selling, marketing, producing, and distributing music. They manage record companies, labels, stores, or artists themselves. They can work in advertising and marketing firms or with a record label as staff publicists, promoting certain acts. Others work on the creative end of the business. They scout new acts and talent to sign to record labels or they may write and perform songs and film scores, arrange them, and record them.

There is a whole range of jobs involved in creating and recording music. Some work as record producers or recording engineers, or live sound engineers. Still others handle the technical aspects of music-making. They run sound or recording studios, or design and build the synthesizers and instruments that musicians use.

Still others in the business help artists run tours while others are principally involved in education, teaching music in public and private schools, at universities, or in private lessons.

But even this doesn’t begin to describe all the niches in music. Some people work as instrument sales representatives, music shop managers, musical instrument builders and designers, record shop managers and clerks, piano tuners, or subscription and ticket service salespeople. Others become radio disc jockeys or music journalists for newspapers and magazines. Still others become music librarians, historians, or music therapists. careers in music are as wide-ranging as the melodies we hear on the radio.

Everybody loves music and many people want to make a profession out of it. Because of this, it’s not so easy finding a job in music. Talent alone is generally not a guarantee of success. In fact, many people become discouraged and leave the profession each year simply because they cannot find a job or make a living solely from music. Most musicians have to endure long periods of unemployment between “gigs.” The job outlook is particularly rough for those on the performance side of the business. Musicians and singers in bands and orchestras may find the job outlook best working for religious organizations and groups. Otherwise, people in this field are likely to have the best prospects teaching music in schools and at universities or in giving private lessons.

For more education on careers in the music industry, check out: www.Music-Career-Guide.com

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