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News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #157: Memphis May Fire (Matty Mullins)

Memphis May Fire, Matty Mullins, Podcast

Memphis May Fire is evolving in a way that challenges longtime fans, and vocalist Matty Mullins is here to tell us all about it.

It seems like everyone in alternative music that rose to prominence around 2010 is trying hard to be someone other than the person they’ve been the last decade. From labels and publicists working behind the scenes to sign talent outside their comfort zone to established artists taking their sound in new directions, anyone who wants to continue working in music is scrambling to adapt to the changing nature of the industry.

Matty Mullins has seen and experienced a lot since entering the industry in 2007. The vocalist of Memphis May Fire, Mullins and his bandmates exploded onto the metalcore circuit with a series of strong early releases that quickly gained a devoted global following, which the band has since maintained through relentless touring and recording. Their most recent efforts find the group entering the world of active rock, and as Mullins will explain on our podcast, that decision comes with a lot of unexpected challenges.

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell calls Memphis May Fire frontman Matty Mullins for a conversation on growth in the entertainment business. Mullins and his band have been road warriors for over a decade now, and all the while they have carved a unique place for themselves in the world of music. The band’s latest release, Broken, finds the group entering the world of active rock with their hearts on their sleeve. It’s a move that did not come easily for the band, but as Mullins explains, it’s what they needed, and above all, it’s what they wanted.

https://soundcloud.com/inside-music-podcast/157-memphis-may-fire

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Artist Advice Business Advice Editorials News

What you should do while everyone else is at SXSW

The biggest music festival and conference in the world, SXSW, is happening right now in Texas, but you don’t have to be there to get ahead this week.

SXSW Music starts today, and if you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that you are not in attendance. Haulix has traveled to Austin for this amazing week of shows and networking before, but this year we are staying home and working hard to develop the next era of our company. It was a tough decision, as it is every year, but we saw this week of chaos in Texas as an opportunity for us to get ahead while the vast majority of the industry was distracted with the madness that is Sixth Street.

The same is true for you. Every year we hear from professionals and those looking for work about how they wish they could be attending SXSW. The event has done such a good job positioning itself as a cornerstone in the industry that anyone who isn’t attending can fall prey to thinking they are missing out on something that could be life-changing. Whether or not that is indeed the case is another point altogether, but you have to appreciate the power of good marketing.

If you did not go to SXSW, then you should consider this week a gift from the Gods of the music business. This industry never shuts down, but for the next few days things will be slower than usual, and that provides you with a rare opportunity to focus on self-improvement rather than the minute-to-minute developments of the music business as a whole. Once the event ends, promotion for summer kicks into high gear, and after that we will all be focused on the fall until things slow down once more in December.

With that in mind, here are some suggestions of things you should do while everyone else is away at SXSW:

1. Your brand needs work. No, seriously, It needs work.

Whether you’re searching for a job or trying to get the attention of an A&R rep, you currently have a set of tools and resources you use to distribute your information. No matter how good your brand is, it can always be better. Review your promotional materials, cut unnecessary fluff, your designs, and make sure every word represents you the way you want to appear to others.

2. While everyone is scrambling to make it to the next big name showcase or catch a specific panel, you are free to discover and learn at your own speed.

Austin has a dizzying amount of options at any hour of the day, leaving most to scramble from event to event, often while consuming alcohol and binging on food that is far from healthy. That is not the case for you. Time is on your side this week, and without the rigid scheduling of SXSW to hold you back there is no limit to what you can see, do, or otherwise accomplish. Dig into research for your next big interview, listen to that growing pile of promo invitations in your inbox, or catch a documentary you’ve been putting off for the last few weeks. Stay busy, but know you’re not under the same pressure to perform that you feel every other week.

3. All those projects and tasks you have been pushing off to the side? Now is the time. Clear your to-do list.

Trying to find a full time career or record deal is hard enough without also trying to handle all the other responsibilities that come with being a music industry professional, let alone being a fully-functional adult as well. Between things you need to do to survive, the things you need to do to get ahead, and the things you want to do before your far too limited amount of time on this planet is up, life can often be overwhelming. With a large portion of the industry at SXSW this week you should feel free to take a little time for yourself as well. Catch up on the stuff that really matters. Not just for work, but for your own happiness and well being. There will be another week of industry madness in just 9 sleeps.

4. There is ample entertainment to keep you going, and you don’t have to wait in any line to enjoy it.

The beauty of SXSW in 2019 is that the vast majority of important events that take place in Austin will be broadcast online or uploaded within hours of completion. There will be tweets, Facebook Live feeds, Instagram stories, and a wide array of similar social media content available in real time. You have the best seat in Texas, and you are not even there. Take in the panels, pausing as needed for notes, and don’t be afraid to kick back while streaming a set or two after your work is finished. Just because you’re trying to get ahead does not mean you cannot have a little fun after the work is done.

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News

Fans want to understand your creative process

At some point in the last decade, the focus of promotional materials pivoted from an exploration of the art itself to something more focused on the personalities of those behind said art. The problem is, there is a lot more that goes into most of it than just someone’s character. You may have heard a saying about how the funniest people often feel the most pain, and the same thing goes for music. Those able to make others feel better usually do so by first trying to heal themselves, but just because you make others’ pain go away does not mean yours will too.

The same thing can also be said for writing and any other part of the music business. We’ve all succumb to this temptation of believing people’s personality is wholly representative of who they are. Maybe they’re the quirky Twitter commentator who has held a longtime publicity job, or perhaps they’re the angry critic whose takedowns of music notables has paid their bills for last five years. Maybe they’re a musician who sings about exorcizing demons, so we believe finding peace is possible, or perhaps they’re a really positive promoter who always thinks about the artists on the come up. We learn to see people as caricatures because it’s comfortable both in the short team and over the long haul. When we get close things tend to get messy.

Now if we all do this and we all know we do this then why is it so hard to break the cycle? When did it become taboo to let your flaws be known? In an era where the idea body positivity is finally getting the kind of widespread acceptance it has always deserved, we seem to have become comfortable allowing the confidence we have in our outside appearance to speak to our confidence in about other areas of life. We see a smile or hear a laugh and think, at least in some small way, that person’s life must be pretty good. After all, only people who have figured out something about this crazy thing called life could have that kind of expression.

I too have fallen prey to this kind of thinking in both of the ways described above. I have taken people’s personality as a sign of their mental and physical health. I have also used my personality to mask my struggles, such as hiding pain with jokes and writing about nonsense when really there is something very specific I wish I could discuss. The simplicity of only understanding a person or thing enough to categorize them as something in your head (good, bad, beautiful, ugly, smart, funny, etc.) is a plague, and it’s making us lose connection in an age where we claim to be more connected than ever.

To combat this in my own small way, I started sharing my story, warts and all. It was not easy at first, but in time it got easier. I challenged myself to write about myself every day, and every time I told a story I tried to add at least one detail unique to that story that told people something about me. Maybe it was a way I thought about some bigger concept, or perhaps it was just a turn of phrase. Sometimes I detailed the things I ate and why, but other times I would just mention a song and its inadvertent relevance to whatever events were unfolding.

You know what I found? The more I exposed my true self to the world the more people seemed to give a damn. All the pushback and negativity I expected to encounter never amounted to much if anything. Instead, I was inundated with messages from people of all ages, some of whom were complete strangers beforehand, telling me how much they connected with some part of my story.

They say in marketing you only have a few seconds to grab someone’s attention or you may never get such an opportunity ever again. That may be true when it comes to physical products, but in the game of life and art, the real success is found in strong, lasting relationships. It’s not just about grabbing someone’s attention, but connecting to them on a level so deep they hunger for they grow to have a kind of dependence on that connection. A longing, if you will. And you,  the creator, will feel it too. Because at the end of the day all we have for sure is one another, and there is peace to be found in the communities we build together.

Whether you’re an artist trying to bring attention to your work or a person trying to connect with the world around you, the clearest path to success – not to mention the only real chance at happiness any of us have – is through the true expression of self. Let people into your world, show them ‘the process’ of being who you are and working towards who you want to become. Allow people to understand better that they share this journey called life with you, and through doing so hopefully, inspire them to create as well. Even if all you do is entertain them, you’ll know they’re taking in something real and true and representative of the struggles you overcome to do whatever it is you do.

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News

The Old School Music Marketing Trick That Still Works in 2019

Marketing is everything in today’s music business. Between the increased number of artists competing for attention and the shrinking amount of attention people are willing to give talent they are unfamiliar with, marketing has become the primary focus of most day-to-day music professionals. It would be easy to say that trend will change in the years to come, but the chances are high that the competition will only grow fiercer from here.

A quick Google search for ‘Music Marketing Tips’ will return well over a million results, with dozens more added every week. The vast majority of these articles will offer you some variation of basic social media marketing tactics that apply to any business or personal brand. They will tell you to post regularly, preferably at peak traffic times, and to follow popular trends in an authentic voice. They will also encourage the creation of original content daily, and to make replying to comments or messages a priority.

All this advice is sound and valid, but it’s also what everyone — including your competition — will do in hopes of finding success. Everyone is screaming into the void that is the internet, just like everyone is doing their best to create original content that holds people’s fickle attention for long enough to promote or sell something.

When everyone is doing the same thing the chance any one person or group stands out is virtually non-existent. Social media is good for general engagement, but regarding audience retention and community development, its usefulness is limited.

The solution is, as it has always been, for artists to have their own newsletter.

Before social media gave everyone the ability to connect with anyone, newsletters were essential for creating meaningful artist to fan engagement. First distributed through the postal service before moving online with the rise of email, newsletters offer fans the chance to learn everything new and exciting about their favorite artist(s) without needing to cut through the clutter of the digital space. They provide album and tour information primarily, but they can be incredibly personal as well.

Starting a newsletter is easy. Most artists begin by signing up for a service like MailChimp or MadMimi. From there, artists can generate a shareable link that is then posted to social media (often on a recurring basis) and/or through a specific promotion, such as a song premiere. Fans then click the link and insert their email. All acquired addresses are kept on the newsletter platform, which then recalls the email information whenever a new mailing is created.

Some artists choose to make newsletters a premium offering similar to a fan club. For a small contribution, either one-time or monthly, fans can gain direct access to the latest news and information, as well as exclusive benefits such as music streams or tour pre-sales.

Given the low cost of creation and the potential for a high return on investment, starting a newsletter should be part of every artist’s promotional plans. It’s the one way to guarantee fans know what’s happening in an artist’s career, and it establishes a connection to an audience that no other service can offer (without regularly paying for ‘promoted’ content).

Cut out the middle man and take your relationship with fans into your own hands.

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News

[How To] Make A Plan To Succeed in 2019

“A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power.” – Brian Tracy

If you use any social media platform, then you have no doubt witnessed an avalanche of resolutions, hopes, and dreams for the new year being shared over the last few weeks. You may have participated yourself. If not, that’s okay too.

Resolutions are good intentions with a better name. Hopes and dreams are much the same. We all want to be better, and most of us tell ourselves each new year will be different than the last. Some of us make lists filled with changes we hope to make, while others choose just one or two areas of life they would like to improve. Both methods are useful, but neither one guarantees results.

Most people don’t understand that a declaration of a desire for betterment is not enough to create meaningful change. Most know what they want in life, and many try to get there, but the vast majority fall short of their goals for one simple reason: They don’t have a plan.

Resolutions are nothing without plans. As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

Maybe you want to sign a record deal this year, or perhaps you want to launch a label of your own. Maybe you want to write for your favorite magazine or speak at a half-dozen conferences. There are no apparent reasons for those goals, or any other (within reason), to be considered impossible. You can do more than you know, but even the simplest of goals can feel hard to achieve without a good plan.

To borrow a quote from Benjamin Franklin, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

This week, take some time to sit down with pen and paper. You can use a computer or phone if you desire, but studies have shown that writing — real writing, by hand — helps forge a meaningful connection to what you are creating.

Once you’re seated and comfortable, write out the things you hope to accomplish this year. Dream big and use as many details as possible. If you want a record deal, what kind of deal and with what label? If you’re going to write more, how much and for whom? If you want to write a novel, what will it be about?

After the goals are in front of you, grab a second sheet of paper and outline your plans to achieve every goal you’ve set. We all have to start somewhere, so where will your next journey begin? Details matter. You cannot go from writing once a week to churning out chapters overnight. Just like those who wish to lose weight must commit to lifestyle changes so must those who want to be more creative commit to changing their habits. Maybe you need to get up earlier, so you have more time to create, or perhaps you need to find a new career that allows you to express yourself better. Whatever it is, write out exactly how you plan to achieve that thing, step-by-step.

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News

How to Set Better, More Attainable Goals in 2019

Winter is here. I have tried to deny this fact since Thanksgiving, but the ice clinging to snow-covered grass outside my front door has forced me to admit the truth. Winter has set in, and before the weather gets warmer, we will be saying goodbye to 2018 and all it did (or didn’t do) for us. Are you ready for a new year? I like to think I am, but to be honest, I’m not sure.

Working online is a constant battle between what you want to be doing and what cultural trends demand that you do. Maybe you want to write a daily editorial on something that matters to you, but you also need to exist on social media, actively market your existing work, and plan for what you will do over the next several days, weeks, months, etc. Heck, I’ve been trying to program social media content to post automatically during the holidays in hopes of gifting myself some time away from screens. That work will help a little, but I know all too well I will still be glancing at my inbox periodically every day during my so-called “time off.” I bet many of you will do the same.

So there I was, avoiding the cold and contemplating the coming new year. The one thought running through my mind over and over was what it was I wanted to do in 2019 that I have as of yet been unable to accomplish. I’m sure many of you have or will find yourself internally debating this same question in the days to come if you have not already begun to do so. Most of us never thought we could get a foot in the door of this business, so usually we’re pretty happy just to be here in the moment working on whatever is immediately in front of us, but we owe it to ourselves to look up and think about what could lie on the horizon. It took a world of belief in yourself to get this far, so you – and I – can’t stop now.

Here are a few things I encourage you to  ask yourself when contemplating the places you will go in the year ahead:

Is what I’m doing right now making me truly happy?

No one gets into music because they dislike music, but just because you’ve gotten your foot in the door or found a role that helps pay the bills does not mean your journey has to come to an end, or even stall. We have all spent our lives being told that next to no one makes it in the entertainment business, and because of this, we have a tendency to not want to risk what little success we have already found. This may be good for the sake of security, but in the grand scheme of existence, all you are really doing by not chasing after exactly what it is that you want to do is restricting a part of yourself. You are preventing yourself from becoming the person you feel you were meant to be to please someone or something other than yourself. That may provide short-term happiness, but it will create longterm regret. 2018 should be the year you focus in on what makes you happy and pursue it with all the strength you have in your bones.

Am I making the most of my time?

Laziness is a disease that infects us all to varying degrees. What few people will tell you is that the extent laziness impacts your life is entirely in your control. Just like how we all have a habit of settling for the first opportunity that comes our way we also have a habit of wasting time we know could be better spent focusing on our goals. Maybe you tweet too much (guilty), or perhaps you scroll Facebook even after complaining to everyone you know about how awful Facebook is these days (also guilty). Maybe you sleep until the last possible minute every morning and rush to work without eating a good breakfast or exercising (guilty again). Whatever the case, there are things you do on a regular basis that deep down you know is nothing more than a waste of time and resources. Identify those elements in your life and set to minimize them in the new year. I’m not saying you shouldn’t relax, but if you feel something you are doing is not right, you need to listen to that sensation and correct your path.

How can I work towards my goals without sacrificing something I need (work/money/etc.)?

Reaching almost any goal requires some kind of sacrifice on your part, but you have to be smart about what you sacrifice or else you may get yourself into trouble. If your passions lie outside your current workplace and you have no other way to make money, then you probably shouldn’t quit your job to pursue your dream full time. Dreams require money. Life requires money. You have to make sure your needs are met to have the mental clarity needed to pursue your passions. I like to say people should sacrifice within reason, or sacrifice what they are able, as long as it does not interfere with their quality of life in such a way that they are doing harm to themselves and/or their families.

What can I do to improve life for those around me?

If your bucket list for the new year reads like the agenda of a person who has the world’s biggest ego, then your brain is leading you down a broken path. Happiness in life comes from much more than personal gain. You know that saying about how it’s cold at the top? People say that because they often reach the pinnacle of their personal journey and realize they have left behind the people, places, and things that mean the most to them. Victory doesn’t have to be a lonely thing, but you have to be conscious about your actions if you wish to lift up everyone around you in 2019. Helping others often improves happiness far more than personal accomplishments, and it does so while developing better relationships with those who mean the most to you.

How will reaching my goals for 2019 help me in 2020 and beyond?

Life is about the journey, not the destination, so you shouldn’t be looking at 2018 and thinking it will be the last year you ever have goals. Knowing where you want to be in two, five, or even ten years can help you figure out what you need to do in the coming months to achieve your long-term goals. Once you reach them, set more and repeat the process over and over again until you die. Life is for the living. Keep your head up, your hopes high, and never let a bad day, week, month, or even year deter you from chasing after the things you want.

It’s important to note that not all goals have to be long term. If you want to eat the world’s biggest slice of pizza or work your way to running a 5k those things can be done in a relatively short amount of time. My advice is to balance the big goals with smaller, more easy to accomplish ones so that completing those tasks will help keep you motivated to fight for the bigger picture.

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News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #137: Goin’ DIY with Connor Skelly

Inside Music is a podcast about the lives of professionals in the music business. Each week, host James Shotwell chats with an artist or industry tastemaker to learn how anyone can navigate the world of entertainment.

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Beyond The Music founder Connor Skelly to discuss DIY with a catch. Instead of discussing bands finding success outside the traditional music business system, James and Connor chat about professionals who take their careers into their own hands and start something themselves. Connor recently quit his job with this very goal in mind, and though he’s only been at a few weeks he’s already seen some amazing results. Connor tells James of the trials he faced when trying to start something new and even offers advice to those hoping to follow in his footsteps.

In other news, Inside Music is now available on YouTube! Click here to stream the latest episode on our official channel. You can also subscribe to the show on iTunes, as well as any other podcast streaming service.

https://soundcloud.com/inside-music-podcast/137-going-diy-with-connor-skelly

Prefer video? We’ve got you covered:

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Job Board News

Music Industry Job Board (November 19, 2018)

The music industry is growing, and it needs people to helpm build the future of entertainment. If that describes you, our job board is waiting.

New openings:

Recruitment Coordinator, Music (Amazon – Seattle, WA)

The Digital Music team in Seattle is looking for an enthusiastic Recruiting Coordinator who will work closely with a team of recruiters supporting the businesses hiring needs. Our Recruitment Coordinator will serve as an integral member of the team, responsible for scheduling interviews, managing the recruiting process, and building candidate relationships. The Recruiting Coordinator serves as the primary candidate advocate, ensuring an outstanding candidate experience and a seamless interview process.

The successful candidate will be an organizational guru, motivated by creating streamlined recruiting processes to continually improve efficiency. You will be expected to leverage strong communication and interpersonal skills to partner effectively with internal clients and candidates. Finally, the successful candidate must have the ability to shift gears at a moment’s notice, exercising sound judgment and communicating an air of calm even when dealing with ambiguous situations.

Booking Coordinator, Urban Music (Paradigm Talent Agency – NYC)

The Booking Coordinator in the Hip Hop & Urban department is responsible for performing a variety of tour-related tasks while providing a high-level of organizational and administrative support to the Agent(s) in all client and internal matters. The possibility of promotion to Agent exists for top performers.

Sr. Coordinator, Copyright, Film & TV (WMG – Los Angeles, CA)

You will be working at a major music publishing company, interacting with numerous departments (Legal, Licensing, Royalties, and Finance). Here, you’ll help to administer a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide; serving as a key contact for our Film & TV copyrights. You will be part of a team which is responsible for the set-up, circulation, and registration of US copyrights and commercials.

Music Director/Programming Assistant/On-Air Talent (Radio One – Indianapolis, IN)

To competently* and professionally* optimize all music elements; assist with administrative duties in the Programming Department. To competently* and professionally* provide continuity and surveillance information in a professional, knowledgeable and entertaining way and will be active in pre-show strategy and execution while staying within the negotiated job responsibilities at all times.

Christian Music Marketing Manager (Marketing With Wisdom – Lenexa, KS)

Looking for a Christian music marketing expert to join our growing marketing agency. Must be action-oriented, forward-thinking, dependable, trustworthy, and a people-person. Must have proven track record.

Must have at least 2 years of experience marketing Christian music, artists, and/or organizations.

Administrative Assistant, Promotion (Sony – NYC)

This position will provide administrative support to the Executive Vice President, Promotion and other members of the Radio Promotion team. This includes (but not exclusive to) answering phones, arranging travel, maintaining expenses, processing invoices, pulling data and reports like industry charts, station playlists, sales data, and streaming reports. The Assistant will help to ensure the efficient day-to-day operation of the Radio Promotion department.

Manager, Creative Music & Licensing Strategy (Viacom – NYC)

The Manager of Creative Music and Licensing Strategy will work with SVP and VP to manage the use of music within Viacom content from a creative and licensing Point of View, working closely with Production, Development, Brand Creative, Digital, Social, MML and Business Affairs.
The ideal candidate will have strong creative music supervision skills and a comprehensive knowledge of music, its history, genres, and styles, and must be up to date with current music. This position reports to the VP Music and Media Licensing.

Manager Artist Relations (Madison Square Garden Company – NYC)

The Manager, Artist Relations will act as the main liaison to promoters, artist management, record labels, and agencies for all performances at all MSG NYC and Chicago venues (Arena, Radio City Music Hall, Beacon Theatre, Hulu Theater at MSG and The Chicago Theatre). S/he will be responsible for identifying new marketing opportunities to drive MSG Live forward, as well as gifts, hospitality and promotional initiatives that will help nurture the business relationship between the company, the artist and the fan.

Social Media & YouTube Marketing Coordinator (LiveTheBiz – NYC)

We’re currently looking for someone to help lead the online marketing & promotion of our LiveThe.Biz brand. This person should have experience in creating strategies to organically grow social media followers for Instagram & Facebook, increase

YouTube subscribers & online engagement on all of the aforementioned platforms. This is a volunteer based position which can grow into a paid position.

Loyalty Marketing Manager (Zumiez – Lynwood, WA)

The talented hard-charging marketing team at Zumiez is looking for an experienced and creative Marketing Manager to lead the Zumiez Stash to new heights. The Zumiez Stash is a unique reward and recognition program that engages and gives back to Zumiez best customers. This position will be the lead in developing fun and engaging ways to give back to Zumiez Stash members across all of Zumiez channels.

As the leader of an interdepartmental team this position will build and lead omni-channel marketing strategies, partnerships with our brand partners, manage vendors and drive innovative promotions across all channels.

As part of a dynamic, multi-hat wearing team, qualified individuals will be: able to work well in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment; excel at building relationships and connecting teams; Have excellent oral and written communication skills; strong analytical mindset; represent and speak on behalf of the customers perspective; be self-motivated; flexible; extremely organized; very detail-oriented; tenacious yet tactful; confident and diplomatic in dealing with competing departmental objectives and varied personalities; a strong problem solver; able to work well under pressure in order to meet project deadlines; and will have a positive attitude.

Artist Day-to-Day Manager (Indie-Pop Music – Los Angeles, CA)

Indie-Pop is a boutique music management firm based in Los Angeles. The company is seeking a day-to-day manager to join our team of highly motivated, positive, and pro-active music managers.

Associate, Creative Licensing TV (Sony – Manhattan, NY)

The focus of this position is frontline contact with major TV broadcasters and content producers. The primary function of this role is servicing the diverse needs of network and post-production clients. Looking for the perfect addition to our hard-working, and fun-loving team in NYC!

Associate, Marketing, Pitchfork Live Events (Conde Nast – Chicago, IL)

Pitchfork is looking for an Operations Manager to reinforce and develop processes and systems in its events department. The right candidate will play an integral role in the future expansion of Pitchfork’s events business. This role stands at the center of the events department, supporting and communicating everybody’s needs, and stands as the first point of contact for many matters. This position is based in Chicago and reports to the Director of Operations.

Producer, Music Content (SiriusXM – NYC)

The Music Content Producer creates digital content to help promote SiriusXM’s music programming. The content producer works as the liaison with SiriusXM’s music programming department to produce, shoot, write, and edit music content to be distributed across the company’s weekly newsletter to 18 million subscribers, website, social media platforms, and YouTube channel.

Apple Media Producer (Apple – Santa Clara Valley, CA)

The people here at Apple don’t just create products — they create the kind of wonder that’s revolutionized entire industries. It’s the diversity of those people and their ideas that inspires the innovation that runs through everything we do, from amazing technology to industry-leading environmental efforts. Join Apple, and help us leave the world better than we found it. We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced producer with top-notch project management, communication and collaboration skills, to lead profile promotions across the movie, TV and book store.

Assistant Coordinator for Creative Agency (Ephany Creative – Richmond, CA)

Ephany Creative is a small, multimedia company that produces commercials, music, TV shows, and films. We are actively seeking an Assistant Coordinator to assist with the coordination of our projects.

We are looking for a like-minded creative that is excited and passionate about the entertainment and creative industries and is eager to grow with our company.

Music Producer/Beat Maker (The Superlative Club – Durham, NC)

After-school program seeking an energetic music producer/ beat making instructor who loves teaching children the fundamentals of music and beat making.

Sound Designer, League of Legends (Riot Games – Los Angeles, CA)

As a Sound Designer, your technical and creative audio skills will combine to bring life to the broad range of characters and experiences in our games. Joining efforts with a multi-disciplinary team, you’ll help drive projects from their inception. Using your passion, creativity, and critical thinking, you will help guide team decisions and provide valuable feedback to your peers. As a member of the audio discipline, you’ll strive to find ways to teach and level up those around you while continuing to challenge and grow yourself.

As a Sound Designer within our Personalization initiative on League of Legends, you’ll tap into your creativity to design sound across a wide variety of thematics. You’ll work closely with designers, artists and engineers, breathing life into alternate fantasies for our Champions with your deep understanding of audio.

Please note, this position does not involve the creation or production of music.

Sound Designer/Operator (Ephrata Performing Art Center – Ephrata, PA)

The Sound Designer/Operator is responsible for creating all sound effects and a mic plot, as well as operating the sound board for each performance.

Events Manager (Future US – NYC)

This candidate will be responsible for running a portfolio of 10-12 events per year in education technology as well as pro audio visual/information technology sectors. If you are interested in education and technology, this is the gig for you! You will be surrounded by the movers and shakers in this space as nearly half of the events will be hosted buyer, meaning only the cream of the crop gets invited to attend for free.

Sound Engineer (The Ritz Raleigh – Raleigh, NC)

Responsible for ensuring the success of show and event productions by performing the technical aspects related to the show(s) production. Assist in all aspects of stage operations, assist in all on-site A/V operations. While providing excellent professional service

Afternoon Drive/Music Director (KKWF – Seattle, WA)

Seattle’s Wolf is looking for the next star to host afternoon drive in one of America’s most dynamic markets. Ideal candidate must be great on air, thrive on hosting live events, share their life freely, exhibit a clear love for country music and have an unwavering desire to connect with an extremely passionate listener base. Format experience not required.

Entertainment & Music Memorabilia Cataloger (Heritage Auction – Dallas, TX)

Are you an experienced writer with an interest in Entertainment & Music-related memorabilia? Then apply for this position and immerse yourself in our unique and innovative auction environment! Heritage Auctions (HA.com) is the third largest and one of the fastest growing auction houses in the world with sales in fine jewelry, luxury accessories, watches, wine, coins, books and manuscripts, fine and decorative arts, entertainment, music, and more!

Music Academy Assistant (Axis Music Academy – West Bloomfield, MI)

Axis Music Academy, Michigan’s premier source for music education is seeking experienced Customer Service professionals to help run both of our Metro Area music lesson studios. (West Bloomfield and Birmingham) Our Academy Assistants report directly to an Academy Director and help to operate our daily lesson enrollment through customer service, client interaction, lesson plan renewals and customer account maintenance.

Axis Music currently operates 2 locations and central offices. Ideal candidates will have had previous customer service and retail sales experience. Strong knowledge of multiple music styles, instruments and genres a plus.Growth potential is to become an Academy Director and managing your own team of assistants and instructors.

Director of Entertainment (Erie Seawolves – Erie, PA)

The Director of Entertainment will have primary responsibility for delivering a quality family entertainment experience.

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News

Brace yourself: The Annual Music Industry Slowdown is Coming

On the final Friday of October 2018 more than 120 albums were released into stores, with countless more being released by independent artists from around the globe. That number was a high point for the industry in a year that has felt flooded with new albums, but it also marked the end of what many to believe the last big ‘push’ the industry makes to grab consumers’ attention before everyone begins fighting for their cut of the holiday spending rush. There will still be albums released between now and the end of the year, of course, but the volume of releases has begun to taper off in anticipation of changing consumer behavior.

With this in mind, now is the perfect time to recognize that the seasonal music business slowdown is fast approaching. Traditionally launching one week before Christmas, this is a period where many of the industry’s most prominent corporations give their employees an extended holiday break. Those fortunate enough to be employed full time may see anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks of free time, if not an entire month. Emails will be minimal, calls will be sent to voicemail, and announcements – often the lifeblood of many music blogs – will slow to a crawl (or be nonexistent).

That is all good news for those fortunate enough to have full-time employment in music, but it is often frustrating for those on the come up. Bloggers and music writers, for example, have to work harder and harder to keep their readership up as industry announcements slow and people spend less time on their devices due to plans with family/friends.

Similar frustrations exist for independent professionals in management, publicity, production, and all other corners of the industry. Unless you are making enough money to live comfortably for a month without any new income, the end of the calendar year always seems to add a bit extra stress to daily life. Family and holidays can help to ease the mind, but such downtimes can start to feel like an attempt at financially treating water if one does not plan.

To avoid such difficulties, we want to advise everyone caught up in the struggle to begin thinking about how to use the slowdown to their advantage. Here are some ideas:

  • Starting today, make a calendar from now until the end of the year detailing all the work you hope to accomplish. If you’re an artist, outline your goals as a creator as well as your promotional ones. If you run a blog, describe your planned features and when you want them to run. Be specific.
  • Speak with any collaborators, parents, or bandmates you may have about holiday travel plans. Everyone deserves time to disconnect and be with family. Knowing when people plan to unplug prevents any problems over responsibilities and activity from interrupting someone’s time with their loved ones.
  • Make a plan to disconnect yourself. Contrary to what that crazy voice inside your head may be telling you there are very few, if any, people expecting you to be steadily churning out new work throughout the final two weeks of 2018. All websites see a decline in traffic around Christmas and New Year. Many artists see a decline in attendance at shows as well. People are still enjoying music and engaging with it, but their focus is mainly on other, far more important things. Don’t miss out on time with your family because you believe you need to be the creative that changes this global trend. For once, accept that you, like everyone else, need a break.
  • Set goals for the new year. Once you plan the remainder of 2018 and set aside time for relaxation, you might as well get a head start on your plans for 2019. You’ll no doubt want to hit the ground running once the holidays have all passed, and having a plan of action in place is a good way to ensure that happens.
  • Take time to reflect on – and take pride in – what you have accomplished this year. All creative people that I know are hard on themselves far more often than they should be because they have an insatiable thirst to see what else can be done. While a drive to keep pushing forward is admirable it can also be problematic. There will always be another task to complete or achievement to unlock. The mountain never ends, so if you’re waiting to reach the top before celebrating your successes that time will never come. The end of the year slowdown creates a unique opportunity to disengage from the day to day struggle long enough to look at your body of work as a whole. Don’t miss out.
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News

Learn to control your high

Working in music can feel like a 24/7 party, but professionalism always matters.

There are a lot of bad things said in regards to the music business and how it can sometimes appear to be an endless party where adults can act like perpetual children as long as actual young people continue to support their craft. There may be some truths to that, but as a whole, the industry is filled with people who know how to focus when it counts. That doesn’t mean the temptation to indulge does not exist, nor does it suggest that professionals always refrain. If anyone knows how to have a good time it’s music professionals, but it’s how people handle those moments that determines their career trajectory.

Commit this to memory: Control your high.

What is a high? A high is anything you do to cut loose. That can be drinking, smoking marijuana, eating fast food, combining all three, or doing something else entirely that makes you feel good and helps you unwind. Whatever that thing is that you think of when work is at its worst, that is your high.

A high can be good. Everyone deserves to relax and have a little fun after working hard. As long as no one gets hurt, including the individual, people should be able to do whatever they please to enjoy life a bit.

The problem is, not everyone can control their high, and some find themselves in a losing battle with the thing they thought was an aide. Addiction is a beast like no other. It has claimed countless industry lives, both on the artist and professional side. Attached to the monster, but also a creature in its own right is depression. There are more killers out there, but these two are in a league of their own, and many see the opportunities working in the music industry presents as a means to ignore the pain in their lives.

Let’s be clear: You should have a good time. There are perks to working in entertainment, and one of them is the opportunity to experiment with a variety of lifestyles and behavior.

If you want to drink, you should drink.

If you want to smoke, you should smoke.

If you want to do anything that does not harm yourself or others, that is your decision.

AND – If you want to success in business and live a long life, you must learn to do all these things in moderation.

You have to control your high because you cannot afford to have it control you, and that is what will happen. If you are lucky, there will be people along the way who help keep you on track, but you could as easily meet people who encourage behavior detrimental to your well being. You have to look out for you. Your life depends on it.

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