The competition for record industry jobs is quite fierce, as the positions are hard to find and the industry itself has been facing its own struggles, since the advent of digital media. Sound engineers are staples in the industry, however, and they may take record industry jobs in the studio recording musicians or travel on the road with live acts. Talent agents will scout out new acts and represent them when negotiating contracts with record companies. Web designers will build and maintain websites for various acts, and even work to distribute digital music content to the public.
The best way to get record industry jobs is to secure an internship with a record company or related business. You may or may not be paid for your work, but an internship is a great opportunity to learn as much as possible about the record industry and the jobs that may be available to you down the road. This is also a crucial time in which you will be able to develop contacts that may lead to a job later on. Entry-level record industry jobs that will pay an hourly wage or salary include studio assistants, secretaries and administrative assistants, and technical support staff.
Studio engineers work in a recording studio. Their jobs can vary, but most deal with setting up or tearing down equipment, effectively recording sound for digital content or for CDs and other physical media, troubleshooting recording systems, and tending to the needs of the musicians who will be recording in that studio space. Assistants will work with engineers to complete various tasks, and these assistants will usually be responsible for lower-level jobs and responsibilities. Studio musicians may also work in a studio to fill in on various recordings for artists who may not have a live band behind them.
Marketing is an important part of the recording industry, and a qualified candidate may be able to find record industry jobs that focus on advertising new musical acts, advertising a particular brand or record company, and coming up with graphics and digital content for a particular artist. Most positions will require that a candidate have a college degree in marketing or a similar field, and many companies may require the candidate to have previous marketing experience as well. Marketing professionals may work with events coordinators to create logistics plans as well as marketing items for events such as signings, performances, award shows, and much more.