About This Lesson
The most common career associated with music is probably recording artist. These are the musicians who record songs, release albums and go on world tours. However, there are so many different roles that make up the music industry. If you'd love to be involved in music, but don't want to be a recording artist, here are 5 professions in the music industry that might be right for you.
1. Music Educator
Music teachers can make a huge impact on students' lives. They can show young people just how powerful music can be. They can be responsible for helping someone's love of music blossom. That's why music education is an important part of the music industry. You may have heard famous recording artists, record label moguls or producers talk about a teacher that helped grow their love of music. With an online music masters degree, you may be able to make this kind of impact on the next breakout performer.
2. Songwriter
Pop music has used songwriters to make hits since the days of Motown. It's possible that some folks can be great songwriters, but don't enjoy performing. For them, it's just about creating that masterpiece, and passing it off to a performer who can really do it justice. Songwriting can be very lucrative, if your song is sold the right buyer. In most cases, though, songs are licensed to be used in the media. If you're interested in trying to get your songs licensed, you must first write, record and publish your songs. Afterward, it can help to get an agent who can shop your songs for appearances in films and commercials.
3. Sound Engineer
Recording artists need sound engineers to help them get the best audio capture possible for their songs. Sound engineers can be responsible for setting up microphones, running the sound board or digital audio workstation and so much more. In many recording studios, junior sound engineers act more as technicians who run the mechanics of the session while a producer helps the recording artist with songwriting, performance and delivery. In small studios, the roles of producer and engineer can be combined into one position. There are also masters of the craft who assume both roles because they excel equally at production and sound engineering.
4. Producer
As mentioned, producers can differ from sound engineers. However, all producers should know how to be sound engineers. It's integral that a producer understands the recording process and could run a recording session alone if in a pinch. If a producer doesn't understand the tools the recording artist is using to capture the performance, then the producer might not get the best capture or rendition of the song. That being said, a good producer can totally revolutionize the way a musician delivers their performance. Just ask the recording artists who were produced by NME's 50 greatest producers of all time.
5. Live Audio Technician
If you love live music, but aren't interested in being a performer, than perhaps you'd like to be a live audio technician. Audio techs are the folks you might see before a big concert who are setting up lights, speakers and instruments. This can also be a lucrative career, but you have to be someone who likes spending a lot of time on the road. As an upside, you may get to see some very unique and interesting places. Plus, you'd be around live music every day. Starting out, you might consider learning a live analog soundboard, and then movie on to learning a digital soundboard. Once you understand signal flow on analog and digital boards, you might be ready to test out your skills running sound at your local music venue.
There are so many important parts of the music industry that make it run smoothly. Recording artists are just one part of a much larger schematic that includes teachers, songwriters, engineers, producers and technicians.
