Music Industry Research

Description: Musicians who are songwriters - performing written work in a cyclical structure of writing/contributing to the process of writing new songs, recording them, releasing them, and touring solo, with their band or with other performing artists to support and sell these songs via performances, streaming and sales, advertising etc.

Salary: The national average salary being situated at £48,470 in the UK with London being regional to around £55,854 yearly with entry level session guitarists being skewed more towards the national average (£39,832) however senior level session musicians (i.e. 8+ years of experience) situated in London will earn on average £69,038 Source

Entry Routes: Songwriters need luck on their journey to success with a willingness to self-promote, networking skills, and talent as performers in order to make it within the competitive field. Aspiring music artists should attempt to develop a consistent fan base via social media, local gigs, publishing videos, and self branding/band branding. Newer songwriters should seek out local opportunity in collaboration and cross-promotion (e.g. local films, gigs, shows, plays, community events). In order to suffice a stable income, performing songwriters who are early in their careers may utilise music industry connections to expand into becoming touring musicians, session musicians, backup singers, or staff writers. In contrast with the often unprofitable task of writing, recording, releasing, touring, and advertising their own compositions, gigs like these provide a catalyst for performing songwriters with an immediate income.

Education: No formal education is compulsory however it may help the average musician who wants to develop the neccesary skill required if they possess a degree and/or diploma in music - entries to a graduate diploma will require A levels with performance diploma courses generally requiring GCSE grades - associated Board Graded Examination passes for respective instrumentation are typically required for the performers' diploma course - with auditions necessary. However there are a significant amount of performing songwriters with no formal background education in music.

Skills and experience required:                                           Source: Buckethead on whats held him back as a musician:

• Ability to write lyrics                                                           "I have definitely let fear stop me, I definitely have been cowardly

• Ability to write melodies                                                      here's a lot of things because I'm scared and I think that fear has just

• Track writing                                                                      kind of kept me paralyzed for doing a lot of things I did, I know I

• Harmony                                                                            should do and I'm trying to constantly battle that". He then further

• Demo production of music                                                 elaborates on his anxiety and struggle with socialisation - how it has

• Vocal or instrumental ability (to a higher degree)               held him back from opportunities in networking, something essential.

• Constructive critique                                                           Buckethead himself saw his career emerge in 1988 when he entered

• Collaborative capability                                                       a home recording of his song 'Brazos' into a guitar player magazine

contest, it was a runner-up with critical acclaim, particularly with the magazines editor Jas Obrecht who then took him under his wing, a young Buckethead moving into his basement to help network and make a name for the young emerging guitarist.

Description: Paid musicians who provide recorded or live guitar for artists or projects on a short-term basis - often not permanent members of the band or project, being hired to typically provide live or studio guitar on a contract basis.

Salary: The national average salary being situated at £48,448 in the UK with London being regional to around £62,035 yearly with entry level session guitarists being skewed more towards the national average (£44,366) however senior level session musicians (i.e. 8+ years of experience) situated in London will earn on average £76,615. Source

Entry Routes: Most contemporary session musicians are independent contractors having freelance careers - until the development of a reputation in the music industry/community becoming the first priority as backing musicians for successful recording artists or producers. Some areas of every session musician's work life is devoted to finding gigs and picking up work - being freelancers. Most jobs are found through word of mouth - so networking with producers, artists, recording engineers, and potentially other session players (who may pass on certain gigs if they're unavailable) is essential for the development of a session musicians career.

Education: No formal education is compulsory however typically the average session musician will possess a degree and/or diploma in music - entries to a graduate diploma will require A levels with performance diploma courses generally requiring GCSE grades - associated Board Graded Examination passes for respective instrumentation are typically required for the performers' diploma course - with auditions necessary.

Skills and experience required:                                          Source: Steve being a session guitarist mentions about his personal life

• Improvisation capabilities                                               as a session guitarist and his involvement in recording in the studio with

• Sight-reading, understanding music notation                performing live and the process of performing as a session guitarist

• Knowledge of different musical styles                           in studio gigs such as with radio two. Having to be prepared for the worst

• Consistency, reliability                                                   in a live setting - with the minimal time you have in comparison to a

• Versatility                                                                      studio setting, having a "fly-rig". Focusing on preparation to have time

• Ability to network in the music industry                        and security in the process of performing and having everything sorted.

• Collaborative ability and receptiveness                        Not letting your anxiety and nerves get to you - knowing how to recover

• Instrumental proficiency                                               from dire situations as a live performer and session musician.

Description: A music producer, or record producer, helps to assist an artist with their recording project, bringing their vision to life , guiding their sound along the way by pulling together the separate parts of a recording process: writing, arranging, mastering etc.

Salary: The national average salary being situated at £43,530 in the UK with London being regional to around £54,837 yearly with entry level music producers being skewed more towards the national average (£39,943) however senior level music producers (i.e. 8+ years of experience) situated in London will earn on average £67,223. Source

Entry Routes: Many aspiring producers will start as an intern or apprentice under mentorship of an established music producer (as a production assistant). Handling details such as scheduling, emailing, setting or breaking down gear in the studio, and also assisting in sessions - whilst gaining experience, production assistants are in the position to make key connections and relationships. Such as with other producers, engineers, studio personnel, and artists. In particular these are the people or clientele who can give provide the career break necessary. While most producers at the top of the field are freelancers in their work, many producers will work in-house for record labels and recording studios, nowadays typically a lot of producers may work independently handling projects for others such as the aspiring producer culture on streaming services such as soundcloud.

Education: No formal education is necessary to become a music producer, but some producers will have a degree or some technical training through internship/apprenticeship. Some subjects and areas at degree or HND level are most likely to provide you with relevant skills or knowledge towards the role of becoming a succesful music producer: music, music production, sound engineering, multimedia.

Skills and experience required:                                         Source: Coming from a background of Chicago house music - with the

• Ability to arrange music well                                         collapse of disco - Daft Punk communicate about the creation of the

• Recording experience - knowledge                              album of 'Homework', replicating that traditional sound of working in

• Ability to mix music well                                                a home studio. Exploring the soul of sampling that was used in records

• Having a 'good ear' for tone and mixing etc                 replicating the 'golden age' within a new studio setting - with just a

• Electronic production                                                   blank canvas, as new-age producers. Travelling around the world, 

• Ability to use sample libraries and have access to samples.    visiting different studios and other producers for over "2.5 

• Ability to network in the music industry                                     years", layering the creation of their songs on the album once at

• Leadership                                                                                a time over each trip.

• Collaborative capabilities with other producers and artists