Guest Lecture Career Talk
Overview: Music Business Professions – Skills Assessment for Undergraduate Music Majors
Many industry veterans I have spoken with over the years wish they had a helpful and clear minded resource that detailed the varied positions throughout the music industry when they were starting out. I believe music business students could use important and practical help with an honest self assessment as to where they may fit within the business of music. I could not find one, so I created one.
When you have decided that your career will not be on stage, yet you know you want to work on the business side of music. Or, maybe as a performer you wish to have more than just a basic knowledge of mechanical licensing, publishing royalties, synchronization opportunities or music copyright and seek to be better equipped to negotiate a record label contract or performance agreement. There are roles in the music business where your skills and personality traits will thrive. I’ll help you find them.
(I was inspired by the Western Illinois University infographic above and on their site: http://www.wiu.edu/cofac/musicbusiness/areas_musicbusiness.php)
The questions that require an honest investigation:
- How do my current skills and personality align with my selected career path?
- What skills do I need to acquire? Which do I have no interest in?
- What do I believe I can be expert at, if given the proper instruction?