Jobs in the music industry
Sound technician
average salary: 29,515
As a sound technician, it's your responsibility to assemble, operate and maintain the technical equipment used to record, amplify, enhance, mix or reproduce sound. You don't need a degree to become a sound technician, it's important to show a good understanding of the physics of sound, technical aptitude (including an awareness of current sound technology and equipment), good aural skills, excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
The work of a sound technician is very critical in managing and manipulating audio equipment to achieve high-quality sound for live performances, recordings, or broadcasts. Sound technicians set up, operate, and troubleshoot various audio systems, including microphones, mixers, amplifiers, and speakers. By understanding acoustics, electrical engineering, and signal processing, they need to adjust sound levels, equalize frequencies, and eliminate unwanted noise. Sound technicians in live environments have to immediately adapt to ever-changing dynamic settings, balancing a multitude of audio sources, coordinating with performers and directors to make sure sound is clear and at its best. Very often, they also work together with artists, producers, and engineers to produce a desired sound or effect for a concert, film, theatre production, or recording session. Second to this, sound technicians must also update themselves with state-of-the-art technologies and equipment since this field keeps on changing. Needless to say, the job requires not only technical ability but great detail in accomplishing a task, analytical acumen, and the ability to work under pressure since there is little room for error in live performances or recordings.
Performer
Salary depends on several factors, including the genre of music, experience, location, and whether the performer is full-time or part-time.
A professional music performance would combine outstanding musical talent, intensive practice, and knowledge of the music industry. Successful performers continually have to perfect their technical abilities, often acquired through years of formal training combined with self-discipline. In addition to personal musicianship, professional music performers need to be able to interpret and communicate their music in ways that resonate with their audience; this requires deep emotional understanding of the music being performed. The nature of a music performance career is so much more than live playing alone; it involves the business side of the industry, such as managing contracts, negotiating with agents, and finding gigs. In addition, performers are often expected to cope with pressures related to the maintenance of their public image and the balance between creative expression and commercial viability. Touring, traveling extensively, and working on unstable schedules round out the lifestyle. Added to this, the professional musician is challenged to continue relevance within a rapidly changing profession that demands agility in terms of new trends, technologies, and audience preference. The career in music requires blending artistic passion with business and personal perseverance.
Teacher
average salary 34,345 (depends on location)
Music teachers give music lessons to people of all ages and abilities. They work in schools and colleges, and with individuals and community groups.
Entry requirements 2 or 3 A levels including music, or equivalent qualifications, a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study. Most music teachers start out by studying for a degree in music. You may follow a route to train to teach all subjects with a subject specialism in music to teach music in a primary school. You can also train to teach music as a single subject or in combination with teaching another subject to work as a music teacher in a secondary school. You may also need to study a postgraduate music qualification, have a recognised profile as a performer and teaching experience to work in a music college, conservatoire or university. When you come to apply for a music degree or postgraduate course, you will usually be required to attend an audition. You may be required to have at least Grade 6 on a main instrument.
Becoming a music teacher upon completion of a UAL performance course is possible but might entail several steps toward qualification depending on level and nature of teaching. Here's a structured guide on how you can go ahead with your plans: If your course has been more performance-based, inclusive of areas such as music performance, composition, or production, then that is certainly a good asset. However, teaching usually requires knowledge in pedagogy along with performing ability.
Industries
recording
the recording industry is a dynamic industry that focuses around the production, distribution and promotion of recorded music. Record labels, producers, engineers, and artists work together in this very interesting area, which involves the creation and marketing of music across formats, from vinyl and CDs to digital downloads, streaming, and mobile platforms. These streaming services, which include Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, changed the consumption habits of music listeners and changed revenue models and methods of distribution. The industry faces many challenges, including copyright issues, piracy, and shifts in consumer tastes, along with the need for innovation through the use of the latest technologies, including artificial intelligence and high-definition sound formats. For all these challenges, the music recording industry continues to be a huge cultural and economic force, moving along trends in entertainment, fashion, and media.
management
singers and musicians may hire several people with other important skills to assist them with their career. A manager oversees all aspects of an artist's career in exchange for a percentage of the artist's income. The management of an artist's music career involves everything from day-to-day activities to long-term strategy. It acts as a liaison between the artist and the record label, booking agent, promoter, or publicist. Managers interpret contracts and negotiate deals for their clients, in addition to overseeing proper development and maintenance of the artist's brand. Apart from logistical issues, such as booking shows, managing finances, and overseeing marketing, music managers are also supposed to emotionally and professionally support artists by being some kind of trusted advisors. With the rise of social media, managers today need to be tech-savvy, adapting to newer ways of promoting artists and connecting with fans. It is a fast-paced and sometimes volatile industry, where managers need to be resourceful and responsive to rapidly changing trends and opportunities in the music business.
publishing/royalties
It was vital that music publishing and royalties play a major role in reaping benefits from the work for songwriters, composers, and artists. The process of music publishing involves owning, licensing, and distributing musical compositions, whereby publishers work on promoting songs to secure placements within films, television shows, adverts, and more. The income that these individuals generally make is through royalties when their songs or works are performed, recorded, or broadcast. Examples of royalties that songwriters and composers receive include performance royalties, those due when music is played in public or on the radio, and mechanical royalties, which derive from the sale of physical copies or digital downloads. The industry is complicated, with a number of middlemen between the user and the artist, but it is vital to the intellectual property of artists and ongoing revenue from creative work. With digital streaming services continuing to surge, the future of music publishing and royalties is constantly in flux, with new challenges and opportunities opening for creators and industry stakeholders alike.
Career plan
Main career plan
Hopefully after passing both years of this UAL Performance course I am hoping to pursue a teaching qualification.
After hopefully completing second year, I would like to look at pursuing a high level qualification in music and after that going onto completing a PGCE or a school direct training program to be able to teach in schools. During that time I would be doing teacher training to gain experiance to pu towards the qualification. After this I would of hopefully be looking for a perminant job in a secondary school to improve my skills as a teacher and to gain more expericance. At this time I would like to also do private tutoring for drumming in my own time to also give myself experiance and also for financial reasons. After gaining experiance as a teacher and after a couple years I would like to advance my career, that might be finding something in another school setting with a higher pay or working towards a higher posistion where I might be working.
This is the entry requirements for PGCE secondary music at the university of Chichester a well as the course overview.