There are several people working behind the scenes to polish, promote, and sell the artist’s music and image for every musician who performs in front of an audience. Those who enjoy music but do not create it can still pursue a variety of music-related careers.
Most musicians who want to make a living as musicians will need to visit a recording studio at some point. If these musicians want to add vocals to their songs but don’t know how to write lyrics, they can work with lyricists who specialize in writing lyrics for singers. Musicians need a music producer to oversee the arrangement of their vocals into songs for an album as they record tracks in the studio. Many musicians will also hire a manager or agent to help them arrange studio bookings as well as live performances at coffee shops, nightclubs, and stadiums.
In order to get their artist “signed” to a label, agents and managers will communicate with record label executives. Record labels, like most businesses, employ people in a variety of departments. Those interested in working in the music industry should apply to the human resources, graphic design, IT, or administration departments of a record label. Record labels also rely on sales and marketing personnel to ensure that the album is distributed and promoted properly.
Artists frequently embark on cross-country or international tours in order to promote their albums. Stage technicians and tour bus drivers (also known as “roadies”), wardrobe stylists, vocal coaches, makeup artists, hair stylists, and backup dancers are all needed at this stage to work with and for the artist.
There are also numerous job opportunities that cross over into other media such as television, print, and film. Making a music video will require the assistance of an entire production team for artists who want to express their music visually. Set designers, wardrobe stylists, video editors, and other personnel may be included in this group to bring the video to other industry professionals, such as TV Video Jockeys (VJs). Music journalists and critics, whether they work for newspapers, music magazines, or the Internet, are included among those who work in the music industry. Those who write or perform jingles for TV commercials, as well as those who compose or perform scores for film and stage productions, can pursue careers in music.