Music Career Guide
Music Career Resources compiled by Dr. Michael L. Austin, Senior Lecturer in Music and Sound, Edge Hill University
Last Updated: October 2023
Music Career Resources compiled by Dr. Michael L. Austin, Senior Lecturer in Music and Sound, Edge Hill University
Last Updated: October 2023
If you have any additional resources to add, or if you notice any of the links are dead, please let me know: michael@mlaustin.com
There is a seemingly endless number of careers that you can pursue for which a music degree would prepare you - or at least put you on the right track to pursue. Many other careers do not seem like music careers at first glance, but they involve so much music that someone with a music degree would likely rise to the top of a hiring committee's list of preferred candidates. In addition to the very long list of possible career options below (developed and adapted from listed created by Berklee College of Music and many other sources), a music degree can prepare you for careers in music (and other emerging fields related to music) that may not even yet exist.
Here is an incomplete list of careers and job titles held by someone with a music degree (although, of course, some may require additional training or degrees):
Accompanist, Acoustician/Acoustic Engineer, Acquisitions Specialist, Administrator, Admissions Officer, Advancement Officer, Advertising Specialist, Advisor, Agent, Alexander Technique Instructor (Music), Alumni Relations Representative, Amplifier Designer, App Developer, Archivist, Arranger, Artist, A&R Administrator, A&R Representative, Artist Brand Shaper, Artist Development Representative. Artist Liaison, Artist Manager, Artist Development Specialist, Artistic Director, Artistic Planner, Artist-in-Residence, Arts Advocate, Arts Executive, Arts Manager, Arts Policy Writer, Arts School Administrator, Attorney (Music), Audio Designer, Audio Engineer, Audio Equipment Specialist, Audio Producer, Audio Technician, Audio UX Specialist, Audiologist
Background Vocalist, Backline Technician, Band Director, Band Leader. Blogger, Booking Agent, Booth Consultant, Bow Rehairer, Branch Distributor of Music, Brand Manager, Broadcaster, Broadcast Engineer, Broadway Performer, Business Professional, Buyer
Cantor, Cell Phone Music Developer, Chamber Music Coach, Chamber Musician, Choir Director, Choreographer, Church Music Director, Church Musician, Clinician, Club-Spins Tracker, Club/Restaurant Manager, Club/Restaurant Owner, Coach/Collaborative Pianist, College Professor, Community Engagement Representative, Community Music Facilitator, Composer, Computer Engineer, Concert Hall Manager, Concert Music Composer, Concert Promoter, Concert Soloist, Conductor, Consultant, Contractor, Copyist, Copyright Specialist, Costume Designer, Creative Music Producer, Cross-Cultural A&R, Crossover Ambassador, Crossover Strategist, Cruise Ship Performer
Dance Band Musician, Data Jockey, Development Officer, Dialect Coach, Diction Coach, Digital Marketing Specialist, Digital Media Specialist, Digital Workstation Operator, Director, Disc Jockey (DJ), Distributor, DIY Helpmate, Dramaturg, Drum Corps Performer, Drum Technician
Early Childhood Educator, Editor, Editorialist, Education Archivist, Education Administrator, Education Consultant, Education Director, Electronic Engineer, Elementary School Teacher, Endorsement Manager, Engraver (Music), Entrepreneur, Ethnomusicologist, Event Planner, Event Promoter, Executive Director, Executive Producer
Field Technician, Film Music Composer, Film Music Executive, Foley Artist, Foreign Language Translator, Forensic Musicologist, Freelance Musician, Front-of-House Engineer, Fundraiser
Game Audio Director, Game Audio Manager, Game Audio Producer, Game Audio Programmer, Game Composer, Game Developer, Game Sound Designer, General Manager, Geriatric Music Specialist, Grant Writer, Guitar Technician
High School Teacher, Higher Education Professional, Hologram Developer, Hospice Music Therapist, House Band Musician
Indie Record Label Owner, In-House Videographer, Instrument Builder (Luthier), Instrument Designer, Instrument Distributor, Instrument Manufacturer, Instrument Repair Specialist, Instrument Restoration Specialist, Instrument Sales Representative, Internet Ad Sales Representative, Internet Broadcaster, Internet Music Distributor, Internet Radio Producer, Internet TV Producer
Jazz Artist, Jingle Composer, Journalist (Music)
K-12 Music Teacher
Label Expansion Specialist/Global Mktg., Language Instructor, Legal Professional, Lecturer, Librettist, Licensing Administrator, Licensing Executive, Life & Executive Coach, Lighting Designer, Liner Notes Writer, Linguist, Liturgical Development Specialist, Location Sound Engineer, Luthier, Lyricist
Magazine Editor, Magazine Writer, Manager, Managing Director, Marketing Specialist, Mastering Engineer, Media Producer, Medical Professional, Merchandiser, Metadata Repair Specialist, Middle School Teacher, MIDI Producer, Military Band Musician, Mixing Engineer, Monitoring Engineer, Multimedia Specialist, Multimedia Designer, Multimedia Marketer, Music Accessories Developer, Music Advertiser, Music Advocate, Music Analyst, Music App Designer, Music Archivist, Music Attorney, Music Booking Agent, Music Critic, Music Curator, Music Dealer, Music Director, Music Editor, Music Education Administrator, Music Executive, Music Festival Administrator, Music Historian, Music Industry Specialist, Music Journalist, Music Librarian, Music Lobbyist, Music Marketing Specialist, Music Operations Manager, Music Periodical Contributor, Music Producer, Music Publishing Executive, Music Researcher, Music Retailer, Music School Founder, Music Software Developer, Music Store Owner/OperatorMusic Supervisor, Music Therapist, Music Video Ad Sales, Music Video Booster, Music Video Director, Musical Theatre Performer, Musicologist, Museum Professional,
Nightclub Manager, Non-Profit Arts Professional
Online Music Teacher, Opera Coach, Opera Singer, Operations Manager, Oratorio Musician, Orchestra Conductor, Orchestral Musician, Orchestrator, Organist, Organizational Manger, Outreach Coordinator
Performance Coach, Performer, Personal Manager, Personal Documentarian, Personnel Director, Piano Technician, Piano Tuner, Pit Musician, Playback Operator, Playback Supervisor, Playlist Promoter, Playlist Scientist, (Song) Plugger, Podcaster, Pop Artist, Post-Production Assistant, Primary School Teacher, Private Studio Teacher, Pro Audio Technician, ProTools Operator, Producer, Product Demonstrator, Product Marketing Specialist, Product Placement Manager, Production Manager, Professional Manager, Profile Manager, Program Director, Programmer, Promotions Manager, Promotional Agent, Prompter, Psychologist (Music), Public Relations Rep., Publicist, Publisher, Pyrotechnics Developer
Radio Ad Sales Representative, Radio Broadcaster/DJ, Recitalist, Record Label Owner, Record Producer, Record Store Owner, Recording Engineer, Recording Studio Engineer, Recording Technician, Reed Maker, Rehearsal Pianist, Rehearsal Studio Owner, Research Coordinator, Resident Sound Technician, Reviewer, Road Manager, Royalties Miner, Royalties Wrangler, Research Coordinator, Resident Sound Technician,
Sales Representative, Satellite Radio Broadcaster, School Administrator, School Organizer, Scoring Composer, Scoring Conductor, Scoring Consultant, Scoring Contractor, Scoring Engineer, Scout, Secondary School Teacher, Section Leader, Security Director, Self-Publishing Consultant, Session Musician, Singer, Site Manager, Social Entrepreneur, Social Media Amplifier/Brand Evangelist, Social Media Manager, Software Developer, Solo Musician, Song Monetizer, Songwriter, Sonic Branding Specialist, Sound Designer, Sound Editor, Sound Engineer, Sound Recordist, Sound System Innovator, Sound Technician, Special Collections Librarian, Speech Pathologist, Sponsor Manger, Sports World Liaison, Staff Publicist, Stage Crew Member, Stage Director, Stage Manager, Stereo Designer, Streaming Music Specialist, Streaming Storyteller, Stringer (Journalism), Studio Musician, Subscription Manager, Subscription Radio Manager, Supernumerary, Synth Programmer
Talent Agent, Talent Manager, Talent Scout, Teacher, Teaching Artist, Technical Director, Technology Development Agent, Technology Director, Technology Manager, Textbook Author, Theatre Musician, Theme Park Musician, Themed Environment Developer, Ticket Service Director, Tour Manager, Tour Publicist, Touring Agent, Touring Musician, Transcriber, Trauma Counselor, TV Composer, Twitch Music Strategist
University Faculty Member
Venue Operations Manager, Venue Owner, Video Game Composer, Video Jockey (VJ), Video Technician/Designer, Vinyl & Record Sales Manager, Virtual Concert Producer, Virtual-Star Creator, Voice Activation Expert, Vocal Coach, Vocalist, Voice-Over Artist, VR Distributor
Wardrobe Consultant, Wearables Designer, Web DesignerWebmaster
Youth Ensemble Director
GENERAL SUPPORT
Freelancers Union: https://www.freelancersunion.org/
HIRING TRENDS, CAREER OUTLOOK and EXPLORATION, ETC.
O*NET-Online: http://www.onetonline.org (U.S. Department of Labor)
Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
My Future.com: http://www.myfuture.com (U.S. Department of Defense)
TAX RESOURCES
Musician Tax Guide (American Federation of Musicians): https://www.neworleansmusicians.org/more-resources-for-musicians/tax-guide/
GENERAL - CONTENT
Music Resume Builder (Eastman School of Music - Institute for Music Leadership)
The Musician's Resume Handbook (Eastman Institute for Musical Leadership)
The Resume Handbook (College of Fine Arts, University of Texas at Austin)
"What it Means to 'Tailor Your Resume'" by Lily Zhang: https://www.themuse.com/advice/what-it-really-means-to-tailor-your-resume
My Perfect Resume (online resume builder); https://www.myperfectresume.com/
GENERAL - FORMATTING
CV and Resume Formatting Tips (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
Resume 101 (New England Conservatory)
PERFORMANCE & COMPOSITION
Music Performance Resume Handbook (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
Performance Resume Samples (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
MUSIC EDUCATION
PK-12 Music Teacher's Resume Handbook (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
MUSIC INDUSTRY
Tips for Writing Performance and Composition Resumes (New England Conservatory)
Tips for Writing Teaching Resumes (New England Conservatory)
Tips for Writing Arts Admin Resumes (New England Conservatory)
The Musician's Cover Letter Handbook (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
Tips for Writing Cover Letters (New England Conservatory)
"Bios that Inspire" by Gerald Klickstein: https://www.musiciansway.com/blog/2012/08/bios-that-inspire/
"Why do you need a bio?" by Dan Kimpel: https://www.dankimpel.com/biowriting.html
"Getting to Know You (writing a good bio)" by Edna Landau: http://www.musicalamerica.com/mablogs/?p=1350
Web Presence for Musicians (New England Conservatory)
"How My Personal Website Helped Me Land My Dream Job" by Erin Greenawald: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-my-personal-website-helped-me-land-my-dream-job
"10 Principles of Great Musician Website Design" by Melanie Kealey: https://bandzoogle.com/blog/10-principles-of-great-music-web-design
Publicity for Musicians (New England Conservatory)
Promo Kits (New England Conservatory)
Musician's Personal Statement Tip Sheet (Eastman Institute for Music Leadership)
Write Application Materials (Oberlin Conservatory)
Atlantic Records Internship Program: https://www.atlanticrecords.com/internships
Big Internships (music listings): https://www.biginternships.com/tag/music/
Chegg Internships: https://www.internships.com - Music Listings: https://www.internships.com/music
Country Music Hall of Fame Internships: https://countrymusichalloffame.org/internships/
Entertainmentcareers.net: https://www.entertainmentcareers.net/
Internships Abroad (music listings): https://www.goabroad.com/intern-abroad/search/music/internships-abroad-1
Internships in Video Game Music/Audio
Musical Organizations with Internships (listing by Eastman School of Music - Institute for Music Leadership): https://iml.esm.rochester.edu/careers/internships/
Performing Arts Abroad: https://www.performingartsabroad.com/discipline/music/
Showbizjobs.com Entertainment Industry Internships: https://www.showbizjobs.com/internships
Sony Music: https://www.sonymusic.com/careers/
Universal Music Group: https://www.universalmusic.com/careers/
Young Artist Program Tracker: http://www.yaptracker.com
Youtern: https://www.youtern.com/
Warner Music Group: https://www.wmg.com/careers
The American Association of Independent Music (music industry jobs): https://bit.ly/3o6iW15
American Choral Directors Association Career Center: https://acda.careerwebsite.com/
American Guild of Musical Artists (opera audition notices): https://www.musicalartists.org/auditions/
Americans for the Arts Job Bank: https://jobbank.artsusa.org/
American String Teacher's Association: https://careers.astastrings.org/jobs/
Arts Admin Jobs: https://artsadminjobs.com/
Association of Performing Arts Professionals: https://jobbank.apap365.org/jobs/
Association of Teaching Artists: https://teachingartists.com/jobs/
Audition Café: https://auditioncafe.com/
Backstage.com (musical theater, theme park, and crew gigs): https://www.backstage.com/casting/
Careers in Music: https://www.careersinmusic.com
ChoralNet: http://choralnet.org
Choristers Guild Job Bank: https://www.choristersguild.org/4DCGI/jobbank/index.html
Chorus America: https://www.chorusamerica.org/jobs
The Composer's Site (composition gigs): http://www.composerssite.com/
El Sistema USA: https://elsistemausa.org/jobs/
Entertainmentcareers.net: https://www.entertainmentcareers.net/
Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance: https://www.baltimoreculture.org/programs/jobsplus/all#.YYfpkNNKh26
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance: https://www.philaculture.org/what-we-do/job-bank
Gospel Music Association: https://gospelmusic.org/jobs/
International Society for the Performing Arts: https://www.ispa.org/networking/opening_search.asp
jobs.gameindustry.biz (Video Game Audio Design job listings): https://jobs.gamesindustry.biz/jobs/sound-music
Landau Music (cruise ship musician jobs): https://www.landaumusic.com/
League of American Orchestras: https://jobs.americanorchestras.org/jobseekers/
Music Australia: https://musicaustralia.org.au/jobs/
Music Vacancies: https://www.muvac.com/en/ (primarily in Europe)
MusicalChairs: https://www.musicalchairs.info/jobs
Musical America: https://jobs.musicalamerica.com/
Musicians Page: www.musicianspage.com
MusicJobs: https://www.music-jobs.com/usa
National Association for Music Education: https://careers.nafme.org/
National Association of Independent Schools: https://careers.nais.org/jobs/
National Association of Teachers of Singing: https://www.nats.org/cgi/page.cgi/job-center.html
New Music USA (composer opportunities: https://newmusicusa.org/get-funding/
New York Foundation for the Arts: https://www.nyfa.org/classifieds/
National Guild for Community Arts Education: https://nationalguild.org/job-board.aspx
Offstage Jobs (theme park and audio/crew gigs): http://offstagejobs.com/jobsearch.php
Opera America: https://www.operaamerica.org/jobs/
Orchestras Canada: https://oc.ca/en/job-board/
Playbill Jobs (musical theatre gigs): https://www.playbill.com/job/listing
Proship Entertainment (cruise ship musician gigs): http://www.proship.com/#opportunities
RhinegoldJobs (UK and Europe): https://www.rhinegoldjobs.co.uk/
ShowBizJobs: www.showbizjobs.com
SingerSource (vocal/choral jobs in Washington, D.C. area): www.singersource.com
Society for Composers, Inc. (composer gigs): http://www.societyofcomposers.org/
SonicBids (gigs for bands and performers): https://www.sonicbids.com/
Suzuki Association of the Americas: https://suzukiassociation.org/teachers/jobs/
Top School Jobs (music): https://www.topschooljobs.org/searchjobs/?Keywords=music&radialtown=&LocationId=&RadialLocation=20
American Federation of Musicians - New Orleans Chapter: https://www.neworleansmusicians.org/more-resources-for-musicians/music-career-development/
Archdiocese of New Orleans (Roman Catholic): https://nolacatholic.org/employment
Arkansas Education Jobs: https://arkansas.schoolspring.com/
Arkansas Music Teachers Association: https://www.arkmea.org/jobs
Louisiana Baptists: https://www.goservela.org/search
Louisiana Music Educators Association: https://www.lmeamusic.org/
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: https://lpomusic.com/about-section/employment-opportunities/
Mississippi Department of Education - Job Search Assistance: https://www.mdek12.org/OTL/OTC/job
Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge: https://diobr.org/employment-opportunities
Southern Teachers Agency: https://southernteachers.com/louisiana
Teach Louisiana: https://www.teachlouisiana.net/
Texas Music Educators Association Job Vacancy Search: https://www.tmea.org/jobs/search/
American Guild of Organists: https://jobs.agohq.org/
Anglican Church in North America: https://anglicanchurch.net/jobs-2/
Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries: https://www.auumm.org/networking/
Association of Lutheran Church Musicians: https://alcm.org/jobs/
Catholicjobs,com (music): https://www.catholicjobs.com/search/music
ChurchJobs.net (Music & Worship Pastor category): https://www.churchjobs.net/jobs/category/worship-pastor/
Church of God Ministry Opportunities: https://churchofgod.org/ministry-opportunities/
Church Music Association of America: https://forum.musicasacra.com/forum/categories/job-openings
Church Staffing: www.churchstaffing.com
The Christian Chronicle Classifieds (Churches of Christ): https://christianchronicle.org/classified/
Episcopal News Service (The Episcopal Church): https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/jobs/
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: https://www.elca.org/Call-Process/Current-Openings
JewishJobs (music search): https://www.jewishjobs.com/search/music/-
Just Church Jobs: www.justchurchjobs.com
Louisiana Conference (United Methodist Church): https://www.la-umc.org/classifieds
The Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) Career Opportunities: https://www.lcms.org/serve/careers
Metropolitan Community Churches - Job Listings: https://www.mccchurch.org/connectnow/job-listings/
National Association of Pastoral Musicians: https://npm.org/jobs/
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): https://www.presbyterianmission.org/who-we-are/work-for-the-church/
Reformed Church in America: https://www.rca.org/jobs/
SBC Job Postings (Southern Baptist Convention): https://jobs.sbc.net/
United Church of Christ - Ministry Opportunities: https://oppsearch.ucc.org/web/default.aspx
United Methodist Church - Find a Job: https://www.umc.org/en/find-a-job
Yale Institute of Sacred Music - External Job Listings: https://ism.yale.edu/job-listings
Glassdoor.com: www.glassdoor.com
Indeed: www.indeed.com
LinkedIn.com: www.linkedin.com
Monster: www.monster.com
Simply Hired: www.simplyhired.com
Acoustical Society of America: www.acousticalsociety.org
America Bandmasters Association: www.americanbandmasters.org
American Choral Directors Association: www.acda.org
American Composers Forum: www.composersforum.org
American Federation of Musicians: www.afm.org
American Musicological Society: https://www.amsmusicology.org/
American Music Therapy Association: https://www.musictherapy.org/
American School Band Directors Association: https://www.asbdaband.org/
Association of Independent Music Publishers: https://www.aimp.org/
Association of Music Producers: https://www.ampnow.com/
Association of Recorded Sound Collections: http://www.arsc-audio.org/index.php
Audio Engineering Society: https://aes2.org/
Canadian Association of Music Therapy: https://www.musictherapy.ca/
Canadian Music Educators Association: https://cmea.ca/
Chamber Music America: https://www.chamber-music.org/programs
The College Music Society: https://www.music.org/
Country Music Association: https://www.cmaworld.com/
Entertainment Software Association: https://www.theesa.com/
Jazz Education Network: https://jazzednet.org/
International Association for the Study of Popular Music (US Branch): https://iaspm-us.net/
International Association for Women in Music: https://iawm.org/
International Computer Music Association: http://www.computermusic.org/
International Conductors Guild: https://www.conductorsguild.org/
International Entertainment Buyers Association: https://ieba.org/
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry: https://www.ifpi.org/
International Society for Music Education: https://www.isme.org/
Music Business Association: https://musicbiz.org/
Music & Entertainment Industry Educators Association: https://www.meiea.org/
Music Library Association: https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org
Music Publishers Association: https://www.mpa.org/
Music Teachers National Association: https://www.mtna.org/
Nashville Songwriters Association (International): http://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/
National Association of Teachers of Singing: www.nats.org
National Association of Music Merchants: https://www.namm.org/
National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences: https://www.grammy.com/
National Association of Recording Industry Professionals: https://www.narip.com/
National Association for Music Education: https://nafme.org/
National Band Association: https://nationalbandassociation.org/
National Music Publishers Association: https://www.nmpa.org/
New Orleans Musicians' Clinic & Assistance Foundation: https://neworleansmusiciansclinic.org/
North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents: https://napama.org/
Opera America: http://www.operaamerica.org
The Society for Ethnomusicology: https://www.ethnomusicology.org/
Society for Music Theory: https://societymusictheory.org
Society for the Study of Sound and Music in Games: https://www.sssmg.org/wp/
The Society of Composers and Lyricists: https://thescl.com/
Society of Professional Audio Recording Services: www.spars.com
Women's Music Business Association: https://www.wmbanashville.org/
70,000 musicians comprise the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM). We perform in orchestras, backup bands, festivals, clubs and theaters—both on Broadway and on tour. AFM members also make music for films, TV, commercials and sound recordings. As the largest union of musicians in the world, we have the power to make the music industry work for musicians.
The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK’s professional body for musicians and a nationally recognised subject association for music.
Musicians' Union is the UK trade union for all musicians representing over 33,000 musicians across the UK working in all sectors of the music business. As well as negotiating on behalf of members with all the major employers in the industry, we offer a range of support services for musicians.
UMAW aims to organize music workers to fight for a more just music industry, and to join with other workers in the struggle for a better society (US)
Where possible, the English version of each website has been provided.
Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society, Ltd. (APRA AMCOS) 🇦🇺
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) 🇺🇲
Gesellschaft für musikalische Aufführungs und mechanische Vervielfältigungsrechte (GEMA) 🇩🇪
Indian Performance Rights Society, Ltd. (IPRS) 🇮🇳
Japanese Society for Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers (JASRAC) 🇯🇵
Korea Music Copyright Association (KMCA) 🇰🇷
Music Copyright Society of China (MCSC) 🇨🇳
Phonographic Performance, Ltd. (PPL) 🇬🇧
Performing Rights Society for Music, Ltd. (PRS for Music) 🇬🇧
Societe des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique (SACEM) 🇫🇷
Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC) 🇪🇺
Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE) 🇪🇸
Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori (SIAE) 🇮🇹
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) 🇨🇦