Business
Artist manager
- First steps
- Create a release and touring plan for an emerging act.
- Skills
- Planning, Negotiation, Communication
- The reality
- Income may depend on artist earnings.
Booking agent
- First steps
- Study venue capacities and draft a realistic routing proposal.
- Skills
- Market knowledge, Negotiation, Relationships
- The reality
- Commission structures differ.
Concert promoter
- First steps
- Budget a small event including venue, insurance and ticketing.
- Skills
- Budgeting, Marketing, Risk management
- The reality
- Financial risk can be significant.
Music publisher
- First steps
- Trace a song's writer, publisher and licensing chain.
- Skills
- Rights administration, Pitching, Metadata
- The reality
- Contracts require close attention.
Sync licensing specialist
- First steps
- Build a metadata-rich catalog and mock pitch.
- Skills
- Catalog search, Clearance, Briefs
- The reality
- Both master and composition rights may need clearance.
A&R representative
- First steps
- Write evidence-based artist assessments.
- Skills
- Artist discovery, Repertoire judgment, Communication
- The reality
- Jobs are scarce and outcomes uncertain.
Music publicist
- First steps
- Draft a targeted campaign and track measurable coverage.
- Skills
- Storytelling, Media outreach, Campaign planning
- The reality
- Coverage cannot be guaranteed.
Digital marketing strategist
- First steps
- Run a small consent-based campaign and assess results.
- Skills
- Audience research, Analytics, Creative testing
- The reality
- Platform rules change frequently.
Music rights administrator
- First steps
- Map a hypothetical release's rights and registrations.
- Skills
- Metadata, Royalties, Documentation
- The reality
- Accuracy is essential to payment.
Tour manager
- First steps
- Plan transport, lodging and a daily tour schedule.
- Skills
- Logistics, Budgeting, Duty of care
- The reality
- Long hours and travel are common.
Other chapters: Performance · Voice · Creation · Production · Education · Technology
Job titles, training and working conditions differ by country and change over time. No credential or portfolio guarantees work. Pay, training and entry requirements vary by country and change over time.
Open the Music Careers Atlas →