The reality of the music business

There are so many paths and careers in the music business, not every is competing to be a performer. When someone asks me about music, they usually assume I’m trying to write the next big hit song and that I’m trying to land on the charts. I’ve found most people don’t really understand my goal as a songwriter. Look at all the possibilities below.

Artist/Musician/Performer: Solo acts, band members, singers, instrumentalists, DJs, and live electronic performers.

Session Musician/Vocalist: Highly skilled instrumentalists or singers hired to record on albums or perform live with various artists.

Composer: Creating original music for film, TV, video games (Media Composer), commercials, or for concerts and commissions.

Songwriter/Lyricist: Creating melodies and lyrics, often for other artists to perform, or for use in publishing catalogs.

Conductor/Music Director: Leading orchestras, choirs, bands, or theatrical productions.

Accompanist/Collaborative Pianist: Playing piano or another instrument to support solo singers, instrumentalists, or dancers in rehearsal and performance.

Music Producer: The creative and technical overseer of a recording project, guiding the artist’s vision and managing the studio process.

Recording/Audio Engineer: Operating studio equipment to record, edit, and mix music (Mixing Engineer).

Mastering Engineer: The final technical step in music production, preparing the final mix for distribution and ensuring optimal playback across all devices.

Live Sound Engineer/Technician: Managing the audio for concerts and tours (Front-of-House (FOH) and Monitor Engineers).

Studio Technician/Maintenance: Installing and maintaining the complex equipment in recording studios.

Instrument Technician/Luthier: Repairing, building, and maintaining instruments (e.g., guitar techs, drum techs, piano tuners).

Artist Manager/Personal Manager: Guiding the artist’s overall career, handling business decisions, and coordinating the team.

A&R (Artists and Repertoire): The talent scouts for record labels, responsible for finding, signing, and developing new artists.

Booking Agent: Securing live performance opportunities and negotiating fees and contracts with venues and promoters.

Concert/Tour Promoter: Marketing and financially backing live events, from small club shows to massive festivals.

Tour Manager/Road Manager: Handling the logistics of a tour, including travel, lodging, daily schedule, and finances on the road.

Music Publicist/PR Specialist: Managing the artist’s public image, media relations, and securing press coverage.

Music Publisher: Managing the copyrights of songs, issuing licenses for usage, and collecting performance royalties.

Sync Licensing Agent/Music Supervisor: Licensing music to be used in film, television, video games, and advertisements.

Music Lawyer/Entertainment Attorney: Specializing in contracts, intellectual property, copyright, and royalty disputes.

Digital Marketing Specialist: Running online advertising, social media campaigns, and managing an artist’s digital presence.

Music Educator/Teacher: Teaching music at the K-12 level, university level, or offering private lessons.

Music Therapist: Using clinical and evidence-based music interventions to help clients achieve individualized goals in a healthcare or educational setting.

Musicologist/Theorist: Researching and writing about music history, cultural significance, and theoretical concepts.

Music Librarian/Archivist: Managing and preserving collections of sheet music, recordings, and music-related historical documents.