Music management
jobs are some of the toughest gigs to find in the
entertainment business. That’s because most music
management companies come in two flavors – very, very
big, and very, very small. Competing for music management
jobs at large companies often involves heavy competition
along with grunt work as an intern. Music management jobs
at smaller agencies might be easier to come by, but require
long hours and offer low pay.
Music management jobs are rarely advertised online or in
the newspaper, since so many eager applicants send resumes
and cover letters directly to established companies. In
most cases, recent college graduates applying for music
management jobs find themselves working in the mailroom of
a large company. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s
true. At the same time, many influential Hollywood and
Nashville executives used these entry level music
management jobs to understand the inner workings of their
employers.
Other music management jobs exist, especially at smaller
companies outside the industry hubs of New York, London,
Nashville, and Los Angeles. Small music management
agencies, usually consisting of one or two managers and a
team of support staff, occasionally offer music management
jobs to apprentices. These jobs usually pop up when a
client’s career takes off a little ahead of schedule,
and the music management agency must choose whether to grow
into a larger firm or allow their client to step up to a
bigger company.
There is a third route to finding music management jobs,
however. You can always create your own music management
job by working directly with an artist that you admire. You
can start by helping them grow and lead an effective street
team. You’ll gain the satisfaction of watching an
artist succeed while building the specific experience you
need to start your own music management business or apply
for any of the open music management jobs on the market.
Many of the most influential music managers of all time
never held any music management jobs before working with
their first few clients. You can learn more about creating
a lasting music management career by reading some
free sample chapters of my book, Music
Management for the Rest of Us.
Joe Taylor Jr.
Editor, Spinme.com
Principal, Taylor Creative Management
