With high school graduations taking place around the country, the latest episode of Music Biz considers whether or not aspiring music professionals need higher education.
People born in the late-1900s and early-2000s grew up believing that college was an essential stepping stone to a good life. If you want a high paying job, then you need a degree. If you want good job security, then you need to specialize. If your career path requires networking, then no place has more people hoping to become someone worth knowing than the campus of any college and university on the planet.
But times have changed. As student loan debt cripples generations of adults, young people today are rethinking the value of a college education. Most will agree that a degree is a must-have item in specific fields, such as engineering and medicine, but what music is another story altogether. For every person who excels through the music industry ranks thanks in part to their degree, someone else gets ahead thanks to hard work and strong digital networking skills.
Nearly every week, we receive questions from readers, listeners, and viewers about the importance of earning a degree in the music business. The answer is not simple, but today, we are going to do our best to put the issue to rest.
On the latest episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell examines the value of earning a degree in the music business. He looks at how industry programs vary between schools, the challenges presented by skipping college, and one major thing that both paths to success require individuals to do if they want to get ahead.
The short answer is that there are no simple answers. A college graduate and a hardworking person building a name for themselves outside the education system often have an equal shot at landing a career. What separates most future professionals is a combination of talent and determination, not to mention heart, and how motivated a person is to give their all to the industry.
In the latest episode of Music Biz 101, host James Shotwell speaks directly to those pursuing a career in music through higher education.
Most people are raised to believe that the only way to succeed in the workforce is by going to college. If you want to get ahead, people say, then you need a degree that proves you understand the work. We disagree.
As far as the music industry is concerned, degrees mean virtually nothing without experience. Aspiring professionals need to show proof of their knowledge through application rather than grades. No one will ever ask what your GPA is, but they expect to see how you apply the education you take on immense debt to earn.
To be clear: We think you should go to college. Higher education is the one path to success in entertainment that guarantees the time and freedom needed to chase your passion with the ferocity necessary to land the job of your dreams. Those who choose to focus on their interests while also balancing a traditional job often find the demands of a 40-60 hour workweek leave very little time and attention to spend on their craft. They may still find a place in the industry, of course, but the path to get there will be far more arduous than those who use their time in college wisely.
In today’s episode of Music Biz 101, host James Shotwell offers suggestions for maximizing the value of a college education. He speaks from his own experiences, as well as the lessons learned over a decade of full-time employment in the entertainment business. Check it out:
New episodes of Music Biz 101 drop every Monday. Subscribe to our official YouTube channel to ensure you never miss a lesson.
An open letter to music business students from a music business graduate (who actually found work in the industry).
Dear first-year Music Business students:
Let me begin by commending you for the decision to pursue a college degree. Music Business is not a common major to pursue. Before arriving at school, you likely faced questions and concerns about your future from everyone in your life. I believe they only want the best for you. They don’t know what the future holds, but they know music is a cutthroat industry. Their concern is an expression of their love. Remember that.
If anyone reading this still believes a college degree guarantees a career in your chosen field, know that is a lie. Just as countless musicians are aspiring to spend their lives performing and recording, there is an equal number of people vying for the low number of paid positions on the business side of the entertainment industry. The competition is fierce, and it is growing increasingly tough with each passing day. Your success in college will no doubt give you a leg up, but it is by no means a golden ticket. You will have to fight for every bit of success you find in music, and there is just no getting around that.
I’m writing to you today because there is one lesson no professor could teach me, and learning it has made all the difference in my career. Your time in college may determine the next decade or decades that follow, but the deciding factor will not be your performance in the classroom. What will define your career after college is how you utilize the free time you are afforded by pursuing a degree. There will never be another time in your adult life where you have the freedom you will experience during your college years. Some see this as a cause for celebration, and to some extent it is, but those taking their future seriously will recognize it as an opportunity to explore the business, find their passion, and begin developing a presence in the music business.
As you head into the fall semester, I want to encourage your curiosity about the entertainment business. ‘Don’t worry about landing your dream job just yet. Instead, worry about understanding how people do that job. Take into account what separates those who succeed in that skill set from those who do not. Reach out to those already doing the work you wish to do and ask for their story. Listen more than you speak. Learn to ask questions. Not general inquiries, but specific questions geared toward the day-to-day life of those doing the job you desire. Shadow them. If possible, become their intern. Make your name known to the people in the field you wish to enter and make sure to do so in a way that speaks to your professionalism.
There will never be a job opportunity in music where your GPA determines employment. In eight years of post-grad life, the subject has never once come up in an interview, nor has an employer asked for many details related to the classes I took. Employers ‘don’t care what you learned, but rather how you have applied the knowledge your degree claims you gained. It may sound corny to you now, but the ”show” in show business applies to aspiring professionals as much as it does musicians. People need to see proof of your talent before they will feel comfortable giving you money to live your dreams. That goes for entrepreneurs as much as people who wish to join already successful brands. No one is going to take a chance on you until you take chances yourself, and the time to do that is right now. Start a blog. Find a young artist or group you believe in and do everything you can to help them gain recognition. Hand out fliers for a venue. Book shows at a local coffee shop. Start small, but start nonetheless.
You also need to network. That can be difficult for people, especially those who believe themselves to be shy or otherwise introverted, but it is an essential component of success in the music business. Everyone who gets anywhere does so because of their ability to network. You may feel intimidated when contacting professionals, but remember that they were once just like you. Nobody enters the music business without first being a fan, and that shared fandom connects us all. Reach out to the people who are helping your favorite artists succeed and let them know you recognize the work they have done. I also urge you to connect with those in your class, as well as others just starting out. Together you could build the next company that revolutionizes the industry. At the very least, you’ll have someone to turn to when things get tough (and they will get tough). No one succeeds in this industry on their own. Find like-minded people and do what you can to uplift them. They, in turn, will do the same for you.
Lastly, pay attention to the industry at large. You may be passionate about a particular genre or scene, but understand you may one day find yourself working in a completely different area of the music business. This industry is continually evolving, and you will develop over time as well. The artists that inspired you to pursue this dream will retire or go on hiatus, ushering in new scenes and sounds that we cannot yet begin to imagine. When that happens, and it will happen, you will need to adapt if you hope to continue working in music.
Do not wait for this industry to come to you because it ‘won’t. If you genuinely want this, and your decision to take on student loan debt tells me you do, then you have to chase this dream with everything you have in you. I believe in you.
Keep an open mind, work hard, and you will go far.
We receive a lot of questions from high school and college students regarding the potential for paid employment that does not require several years of industry experience. While it’s true that such positions are often hard to come by, our friends and clients at The Syndicate have found a way to help aspiring industry professionals get their foot in the door through their Synner Nation program, which focuses on localized marketing efforts in select areas across the US. You may have seen our post on this group and their current openings earlier this month, but today we speak with program head Sam Nakhoul to further investigate what Synner Nation is and how it’s helping young people across the US learn a bit more about life in the entertainment industry.
Haulix: Let’s start simple and recap what Synner Nation is…
Sam: Sure. Synner Nation at its core is a street marketing team. We have a 300-person team across the country, and what we do is create awareness for basically everything in the entertainment world. We work with books, artists (mainly), and even comedy. Our team is really great at spreading the word, regardless of promotion.
Haulix: So who makes up the Synner Nation team?
Sam: Kids around the country. Basically what we do is make postings on job boards and music blogs seeking to find those who want to get their foot in the door of the industry. From there, we have a whole hiring process, and the best from around the country make up our team.
Haulix: Could you give us a few examples of recent Synner Nation projects?
Sam: We just returned from San Diego Comic-Con where we were promoting two new dystopian novels. We gave away literally thousands of books to people attending the con. We also just did a big campaign for Major Lazer by posting about the record around various major markets. Its been busy.
Haulix: How’s the program work from the top down?
Sam: I’m basically the manager of the team. I’m the person who keeps everyone in check, assigns projects, and reports back to the client. The team reports to me, and I then I oversee everything to ensure its being handled appropriately. I also have a support team here, including my bosses, who help to make sure everything project goes well.
Haulix: How would you describe the average Synner Nation team member?
Sam: They’re really energetic and go-getting. They’re really enthusiastic about music and art. I don’t want to say they’re people persons because that sounds weird, but they’re willing to talk to anyone about anything exciting. That is our typical team member.
Haulix: And people actually get paid to join the program?
Sam: Yes, we are one of the few street teams that actually pays our reps and compensates them. Instead of school credit, our reps get real cash, which is especially helpful for college students who join the team. There is no set schedule or anything, so people work when they’re able and get paid for doing it.
Interested in joining Synner Nation? Here’s some additional information:
The Syndicate is an award-winning music and comedy marketing agency. Through our grassroots and digital marketing initiatives, we’ve helped to promote the careers of marquee musical and comedy acts. SynnerNation Marketing Representatives are dedicated, self-motivated individuals who create awareness for musicians, comedians, brands, and events through grassroots marketing.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES:
Educate the public through word of mouth, hand-to-hand and guerilla marketing
Utilize knowledge of local market to successfully execute campaigns
Create thorough reports for each campaign
Efficient time management and meeting set goals and deadlines
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
Passionate about music and/or comedy
Self-motivated
Keen sense of critical thinking skills
REQUIRED TOOLS:
Car or transportation
Internet accessible computer
Camera
Smart Phone
BENEFITS OF BEING A SYNNER:
Monetary compensation
Attend concerts, shows, festivals, and events
Represent major record labels, comedy corporations, and brands as an extension of The Syndicate
Springboard to a career in the entertainment industry
SynnerNation is currently seeking representatives in the following US cities:
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the latest installment of our ongoing Journalism Tips series. This column is dedicated to helping the next generation of music blogging professionals advance their career, and for this particular article we have decided to highlight the work that must be done in the days, weeks, and months immediately following college graduation.
This blog exists to promote the future of the entertainment industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your entertainment-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
The vast majority of music bloggers get their start in the industry while in college, and it’s not hard to understand why. College allows young minds the time and space they need to explore the various paths open to them in life in order to find a career field that is best suited to their skill set. For those that believe music writing is their calling, that same time allotted for self-discovery can be used to create content. As time goes on, the student makes more and more time for blogging because they realize it’s a far faster way to connect with the music business than whatever access can be achieved through homework or long hours spent studying. This is not a bad thing necessarily, but it does set a precedent for that person’s ability to create timely content in large quantities that is almost impossible to maintain in a post-graduation world. Once the freedom of being a full time student has become a thing of the past, every single music blogger begins their own unique journey through what I like to call ‘the patience test,’ and today I’m going to explain what you can do to navigate these often troublesome waters.
Here is something no music writer currently in college wants to hear: You will probably not have a paying job waiting for you in the music business, let alone in music writing, when you graduate. The odds are immensely stacked against you, which has been the case for every person who has ever attempted to enter the entertainment business without family ties, and the sooner you are able to face that reality the better off you will be. The problem is, most do not seem to grasp this concept, and once their final internship comes to a close they are faced with the difficult decision of how to support themselves while continuing to pursue a dream that shows no signs of providing income in the immediate future. For some, this is a breaking point. I’ve come to believe that those who give up at this point in their journey were never all that dedicated in the first place however, so for the sake of moving forward let’s just assume everyone reading this now will not let a silly thing like their first post-college setback make them abandon the dream they’ve kept for years. Good? Good.
When you find yourself on the other side of the college experience with a degree in hand and a growing blog following online it’s important to understand that there is no way for you to continue posting with the same frequency you maintained in college unless you sacrifice the pursuit of a real world job. That is not an option for most people, and I am going to wager the same can be said for you. We all need to work in order to make a living and support ourselves, whether that be covering basic needs or paying off all that wonderful student loan debt you acquired over the last few years. Whatever the case, the first thing you need to focus on is finding work. The ideal situation would be something that keeps your nights and weekends free while putting you in front of a computer with little supervision during the week days. These jobs exist in every town and city nationwide, but whether or not there are openings that apply to you is something only further research will reveal. At the very least, you should try and find something that allows you to take time off whenever its needed for coverage or additional ‘dream job’ related events. Can you take off for Warped Tour? What about NAMM? Think about the demands of the industry you want to be in and consider them when seeking jobs in other fields. If you want to keep pursuing music, you will have to make time to do that, and grasping everything that continuing those efforts entails is key to properly preparing for your next move.
Once you find a job, be it full time or part, you will need to outline your new work schedule and see how your week shapes up. Some jobs will have rotating schedules, which makes planning far more difficult, but most will be the same or close to it from week to week. If seeing this schedule causes you to stress about your ability to pursue the music industry then try and take a little pride in the fact that your drive for music continues in spite of the less than ideal situations you find yourself in while trying to reach your goal. Most don’t have that kind of drive about anything in life because they never had the opportunity to find what really speaks to them. You have, and though it’s not coming your way as fast as you would probably prefer you are taking the steps necessary to be the person you hope to become. That’s more important than almost anything else in life as far as I’m concerned, and if you can remember how fortunate you are to possess such self-awareness then you can also find the strength to push ahead and begin your new – hopefully temporary – role outside of music.
I spent two years after my initial college experience trying to find a job in music, and in all the time in between those two moments I was working jobs I’d rather not admit to having worked. The tasks asked of me were never all that difficult, but they were also not at all fulfilling in any way. I simply showed up, did my part, cashed my check, paid bills, and then went back and did it all again. I could support myself and buy whatever I wanted to, but I wasn’t doing anything that I felt held any kind of significance in the world. Anyone could do what I was doing, and the only time that was not true were the moments I made an effort to create content for my music blog. Time was rarely my friend, as I was able to find full time employment that required long hours, but anytime I sat down with a blank word document it felt like every other task I had to complete to get to that point was worth it. I had a platform and a voice and it was being put to use. I was saying things I wanted to say that reflected the way I truly felt and it was making an impact on artists and music fans alike. My efforts were not as constant as they were in college, but in some ways they were more rewarding because of the release I felt being able to focus on something I loved.
Making time to write was not easy for me, and it probably will not be easy for you. Once you begin a new job you will have a new world of things to think about and focus on, which in turn will pull you further away from music. If you want to remain connected it’s almost entirely up to you to make an effort to stay an active part of the industry at large. I cannot tell exactly you how to do that, but I can say that making it a point to write and create every single day is incredibly important. As Brian Clark once wrote:
“Write. Write more. Write even more. Write even more than that. Write when you don’t want to. Write when you do. Write when you have something to say. Write when you don’t. Write every day. Keep writing.”
There are going to be a lot of days when you wake up and want nothing more than to relax until the workplace beckons for you, but those who choose to live that way never reach their full potential, let alone achieve their dreams. To make your dreams a reality you must make sacrifices, and that begins with setting aside time every single day for content creation. Be it a feature or a news post, create something everyday that can be posted in the immediate future. This keeps your name out there and gives people a reason to check your site every day, but it also strengthens your abilities as a creative person. When that dream gig does come your way, the skills you refined during this time will be very important.
Speaking of your dream gig, never stop looking for opportunities to get your foot into the industry you desire. The hunt for jobs is tiresome and often leaves people feeling defeated, but unless you’re constantly on the prowl for opening good opportunities will pass you by. Check job boards regularly, join sites like LinkedIn, and ask everyone you network with to keep you in mind should they learn of any new positions within the industry. Skills are only second to connections in this business, and if you have both you might as well be unstoppable.
I decided to call this period in life the patience test because that is the one thing every writer needs to keep in mind when going through this period in life: Patience. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and unless your resume goes viral for some random reason your career in music will also take a while to take shape. That’s just the way things are in music writing today, and truth be told the competition will likely on grow more cutthroat in the years to come. The best thing you can do right now to ensure you have a more successful future is continue to write, every day, without fail. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but as time goes on that commitment is harder to keep, and you will find it necessary to make various sacrifices in order to continue making time for creativity. If you slip, that’s okay, but you must get back into your routine as soon as possible. When the industry does call they will expect you to be informed, skilled, and ready to begin working immediately. Getting into the habit of writing every day, whether you feel like it or not, will aide you in prepare for when that day arrives, There will be no question of if you can do something, only how soon they want it to be accomplished.
The length of the patience test is different for everyone, but with constant dedication to your craft the industry should begin paying attention to what you have to say a lot sooner than most. Remember: It’s not about the destination as much as it is the journey. Work hard and stay focused, but don’t keep yourself from enjoying all the good that comes with each level of personal growth. Take in the sights and sounds at the bottom, so you can reflect on them as you rise to the top. I know it feels like it will take forever to get there, if you ever reach those heights at all, but trust me when I say that good things do indeed come to those who work hard and remain patient. You can do this. I believe in you.
Hello and welcome to the beginning of a new week that is guaranteed to leave you more informed than it began. We have packed the coming days with content on everything from the importance of college, to the life of music’s biggest publicists, a continuation of our music photography efforts, and a blogger spotlight highlighting someone making a big impression in the blogging world through video. If you have any questions regarding the content of this blog, or if you would like to learn more information about the services offered by Haulix, please email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.
If you follow our ongoing Spotlight series you will have no doubt noticed a discrepancy between various professionals on the necessity of a college education when attempting to enter the music industry. It is absolutely true that there are many professionals working today who have never stepped foot on a college campus, but there is also a very large segment of the industry that has, and whether or not it’s right for you will depend on a number of factors. Not every job requires a college education, but there are times when having the extra knowledge gained from such experiences can give you a leg up against the competition. At the same time, those who enter the industry at a young age and stick with it tend to excel faster than those who only begin to find their footing while in school.
We can (and in the future, will) go back and forth on the topic of college and its importance for your desired career, but this post is intended for those either attending or planning to attend college while pursuing full time employment within the music industry. Higher education may not offer the hands-on learning experience others gain by touring or otherwise entering the industry work force for at a young age, but it does offer several unique opportunities to practice and prepare for entry into the industry that Highlight Magazine editor Jenn Stookey has volunteered to discuss with us today.
I have been told time and time again that college is important for those going into “normal” jobs such as nursing or banking. But on the opposite side, I have heard that college is a waste of time if you are pursuing a life in the music industry. Having just finished my junior year of college, I have had this conversation with my friends too many times to count. I strongly believe college is important, but in this risky business, it is only what you make of it. Therefore, for those of you who follow in my path, a path down four more years of school before being released into the wild, here are steps of what to do in college to prepare you for the industry. Because again, college is what you make of it, and you need to make the most of it while you still can!
1. Get involved in school programs, and set your eyes on the prize!
School programs in college are much different from high school. They allow you to have real freedom of what you want to accomplish without a principal denying you a simple pleasure. They also provide opportunities of learning without a textbook. I’m talking real life opportunities. You will gain contacts, personal skills, and maybe even a bit of knowledge in event planning. Whatever it is, get involved. You will meet many aspiring students like yourself who will be an inspiration to your future aspirations. And don’t forget to set your eyes on the prize! Whether that means to go for the goal and apply for a leadership position, set a goal for how much money you want to raise and surpass it, or attend a conference your program has not yet gone to, it can be accomplished. The only thing stopping you is yourself. Not to mention, being involved in school programs are a much better resume builder than “being a hostess at Red Lobster for three years.”
2. Get an internship and get an internship in something you don’t like
Internships are the most beneficial learning experience while in college. If you’re lucky, you might even get paid just to learn! But here’s my advice, get an internship every semester of college you can manage. The contacts you make at an internship are extremely vital to how you are perceived after you leave. Word of mouth in the industry is more relied upon than a flawless resume. But also do it to find out what you like and what you don’t like.
Try and intern at multiple different places. If you need some convincing here, every section of the industry works together and the more you know about each, the more of a well-rounded professional you will be once you graduate college. It’s very eye opening for an employer to look at your resume and see you interned at a venue, a publishing company, a record label, and a management company, instead of just seeing you interned at four different PR firms.
I also invite you to intern with a company you know you are interested in and one you are not. Taking an internship at both may surprise you. Internships are not jobs, and they are there for you to find out for yourself what you like and what you don’t. If you went to college interested in artist management, you may find out you hate having a 24-hour job. On the opposite side, if you thought you would hate working in music supervision, you may see that you love finding out about new music and acquiring the licenses for it to use in film.
Both sides are very beneficial and you will be five steps ahead of your classmates who either never had an internship in college, or even only had one.
3. Never pass up an opportunity
Never pass up an opportunity. Again, never pass up an opportunity! Let us all bask in that word, opportunity. I’m not going to lie, I do believe grades in college are important to some extent, but I strongly believe opportunities are even more important. When it comes to studying so hard to get an A on a test, or going to a show or event where you have the chance to introduce yourself to at least one industry professional, choose the latter. The contacts you make in college are the people who will start the beginning to the rest of your life. Opportunities you are given in college may not come after, so give it a go and choose opportunity over everything else.
4. Converse with people you normally wouldn’t
If you aren’t a people person, I think you might be in the wrong industry. The industry is less about entertainment, and more about relationships. One of my freshman year professors told us once, “Look around you, these are the people you are going to work with for the rest of your life. Do you see someone in this room that you don’t like? Too bad, suck it up and be nice because you’re going to be partners sometime in the future. Do you see someone you don’t know? Get up and introduce yourself.”
So please, I ask you, talk to people you normally wouldn’t. This business is all about relationships and if you make many good ones now, you will have that plus more down the road when you need their assistance the most.
5. Work on the balance of patience and timeliness
The entertainment industry, both music and film, is a world unlike any other. You probably know that, and that is probably what drew you in. However, it is also a tricky business. There are times when stories need to be thrown together on the spot, and others where the person who lost a publishing deal did so because they weren’t patient enough to wait out the time. These are two skills that you need to start perfecting while in college. They are both massively important and prospective employers will congratulate you for having both.
6. Start reading trade magazines and websites
You may think that what you’re learning in school is the only information you will need when entering the real world of entertainment. False. Trade magazines and websites such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, Hypebot, Hype Machine, ect, are important to be introduced to while in school. Instead of spending an hour of your time reading your Facebook news feed, spend it reading one of these. It will keep you informed on the trends in the industry, what is wrong with it and what is working, and the newest artists who are going to blow up. We all have a part of us who loves to shove in our peer’s faces that we discovered something first, and if you are taking the time to read trade magazines while in college, you are set. This is real and current information that cannot be taught in a class that is using a textbook from five years ago.
7. Contact industry professionals for afternoon tea!
Okay, maybe not afternoon tea, but let me fill you in on a little secret; industry professionals will help you when you’re in school, but the moment you graduate, their assistance to you is not as well welcome. They were once in the same position as you, looking for an internship or job, surfing around to find the best fit, and they love bragging to people that they helped a young college student start their career.
Send an email or be mutually introduced to an industry professional who you value their opinions and want to learn more about their job. Invite them for coffee or lunch, on their own time, and offer to pay for it. You have class at the time the want to meet? Skip it. You have $20 to your name? Pay for lunch anyway (most of the time they will pay for you anyway). The contacts you meet with and gain while in college, the better. The more about each section of the industry you know, the better.
Because you reached out on your own time, it lets them know you are serious about your future and the industry at large. They will fill you in on real secrets that your friend who sits next to you in that class you skipped for this meeting, can only dream about one day knowing. But don’t forget, the moment you graduate they won’t be so obliging. Take this information and use it as much as you can before your time is up.
8. Create a Linkedin account
If you already have an account, wonderful! If you haven’t heard of Linkedin, it’s time to make an account. I know, creating yet another social media account may be a bit daunting, but this is one that will strongly help your future. Not only will it allow you to showcase to others who you know, it will allow you to find important contacts through your friends and already connected professionals you are linked with. Plus, it saves loads of time when trying to search for a contact you might want to find and ask to coffee!
9. Create a visually pleasing resume
The music industry is all about being creative, even when you’re applying for a job or internship that’s more business related. Although the industry is a small part of America, there are thousands of young adults who believe they can make it, just like you, so you need to set yourself apart from the rest not just in content, but visually.
I can’t tell you how to write your resume or give you a template for how it should look, because a resume is about you. Make it interesting to look at all the while conveying who you are.
**Note: I will say one thing; make sure there are no spelling mistakes. Just a secret about the industry, people can be lazy, especially if they have 100 resumes to read. If there is a single spelling mistake, it is likely they won’t even consider you. So please, proof read 1,000 times and again!
Jenn Stookey is a regular contributor to Highlight Magazine and one of the most promising young professionals we have ever met. If you enjoy this article, please make it a point to follow her efforts on Twitter.
