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 Catalyst Publicity Group founder Jen Appel to discuss her work in music and much more. For forty-minutes Jen and James touch on the future of the alternative scene, life without Warped Tour (as we know it), and developing a sustainable career in music. This is Jen’s second appearance on the show, so if you like what you hear make sure to go back and listen to episode 34.
A lot has been written about the supposed dire state of the music industry, but truth be told there are a number of successful and growing companies, including record labels, that are thriving in 2016. In this column we bring together every job opening we can find from the companies responsible for building the future of the business and present them to you, our reader, in hopes of aiding you on your journey to join the global music industry professional family.
Each week we scour the internet for the latest and greatest job postings throughout the music industry. You can help us better serve our community by sending any job openings you find or have to james@haulix.com. Be sure to include the name of the company hiring, a detailed description of the position being offered, a desired start date, contact information, and any additional supplemental information you feel may be needed.
Job summary: As the assistant to the head of the Music Brand Partnerships department, you will be handling day to day responsibilities for the department head; you will also be handling deal logistics, contracts, creative, and department scheduling. This is a sales role where you will also have the opportunity to learn how to pitch and create deals between our roster of music clients and brands.
Job summary: We are currently seeking an Administrative Assistant to support the EVP of A&R at Capitol Music Group. He/she will help maintain a very busy schedule, handle heavy phone traffic, and serve as a point person for the department. The ideal candidate will come from music or entertainment and have previous experience supporting an executive. Must be very efficient and highly detail oriented; multitasking and working on tight deadlines in a fast- paced environment is crucial.
Job summary: Begin your career in the new music industry! As the first online digital AND physical music distributor to open its doors to independent artists, CD Baby was a major force in the dismantling of the major-label system; we worked with Justin Vernon before he was Bon Iver, with Jack Johnson back when everyone thought we were talking about the boxer, with Ingrid Michaelson before her songs were on every TV show known to man. If you’re excited by the idea of helping great independent artists make a living doing what they love without giving control of their careers over to people or companies that only care about the bottom line, then CD Baby is the place for you.We are looking for an experienced leader for our Data and Analytics team. This is a role for a technical manager who enjoys being hands-on with technology and writing code in addition to leading.
Job summary: We’re looking for an experienced marketing producer to provide exceptional leadership across Apple Retail marketing-driven projects for Apple Music, iTunes Store, and App Store
Job summary: Digital DJ Pool is an exciting music company, located in Brooklyn, that helps artists and record labels promote new music by connecting them with DJs around the world.We need a support specialist ready to be on the front lines for our users. We’re looking for a problem solver who is motivated by success; someone who is ambitious and pays great attention to detail; someone who is enthusiastic and has excellent decision making skills; a self-directed excellent communicator who can grow with our company and who is excited to be part of a startup.
Job summary: LACO’s marketing team is responsible for positioning the Orchestra in the community to create a positive and attractive image that promotes organizational pride, good publicity, robust and effective fundraising and realized ticket income. The team’s primary goals are to develop excellent relationships with existing and new patrons, reach annual sales goals, achieve full houses to develop patrons who become lifelong music lovers, and ultimately donors to support the Orchestra.In support of the marketing and advancement departments, the box office and patron services assistant provides support for box office, ticketing and patron services, serving as a front-line contact for LACO patrons at all times. This position embraces LACO’s tagline of “making great music personal” in all interactions with the Orchestra’s patrons and the community at large.
Job summary: Social Media Specialistwww.maddecent.comMad Decent records, founded by grammy nominated artist Diplo, is currently seeking a Social Content Specialist to join our growing office in Los Angeles. We are looking for the right individual with a passion for forward thinking music and social media experience at a label, ad agency, lifestyle brand, or entertainment company. This role with be responsible for helping create content for our digital presence across social media, online marketing initiatives (organic, paid, etc), Mobile, and PR strategy. This individual with also be continuously looking for creative and new ways to connect with our large fan base and drive digital, social and mobile projects.
Job summary: Duties will include working with all departments of the company including Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, Sales and Creative as well as artists and their support teams. The ideal candidate should be detail-oriented with an ability to handle multiple projects at once and prioritize within a fast-paced work environment. Excellent communication skills are a necessity.
Job summary: Sonos has the possibility to connect and engage with our audience like never before. Great brands connect with their audience in authentic and meaningful ways, with relevant and insightful messaging. We’re looking for a multi-talented CRM/Marketing expert to help connect us with our current and potential audience in real-time, to pour over analytics, identify themes, and generate intelligently-automated systems that help us fulfil our promise of filling every home with music.
Job summary: Ineffable Music is looking for a detail oriented, organized artist management assistant whose work ethic matches their love of music. We are a small company with a start up vibe and a family atmosphere. We are looking for a team player and out of the box thinker, who is ready to grow and innovate.
Job summary: Under the direction of the Associate Director of Digital Marketing and Social Media, the Digital Marketing Manager is responsible for implementing online and social media marketing campaigns to fuel awareness of the college, build interest in our programs, and drive high levels of engagement among targeted audiences to support college goals. Projects include executing social media marketing campaigns; synthesizing regular analytics reports detailing the college’s online presence including website analytics, online advertising campaigns, sentiment analysis, and social media; and developing Berklee’s social media presence on emerging platforms.
Job summary: As a customer service representative, you will work as part of a small team to obtain accurate information regarding purchases and communicate this information to our customers via phone/email/live chat. Customer satisfaction is always our top priority. You will need to know how to prioritize a sometimes heavy workload, be efficient, and follow up with customers in a timely manner. At times, data entry and updating the website may be required, so attention to detail and communicating with our team is very important.
Job summary: Spotify’s Global Business Development team develops strategic relationships with partners to distribute and promote our service and discover new business lines. You’ll help shape and launch these partnerships, by working with both external and internal stakeholders, including the rest of the business development team, operations, marketing, ad sales, analytics, product, finance, and legal.
Job summary: The Digital Marketing Manager will lead the building and execution of multi-channel marketing programs for Live Nation U.S. Concerts’ Tours & Artists. This role is a key member of our team to help maximize awareness for our national tours, as well as support Live Nation Artists with targeted marketing campaigns to promote ticketing selling and promotional programs to support new music and special projects. Key areas of responsibility include all aspects of building, trafficking and executing targeted email + mobile + website based marketing programs. The manager will also play key role in evaluating campaign effectiveness & driving performance improvements.
Job summary: As the Marketing Manager for the eCommerce team, you are a pro-active leader who excels at successfully collaborating with your cross-functional partners, internal and vendor based, to drive traffic to our site and improve the consumer experience. You will focus on strategy for your objectives while connecting with and establishing meaningful relationships with your peers. You will create detailed project proposals, and you are not afraid to get into the weeds. You will take this unique opportunity to use your analytical skills (#datanerd) and expertise in SEM to merge your innovative marketing and eCommerce skillset to create meaningful programs that reach our consumers. Your creative and strategic processes will drive and measure all eCommerce marketing efforts to successfully increase traffic, sales, and conversions. You will develop your team and influence them to grow to their greatest potential. You and your team are an instrumental part of showcasing our culture of creative expression as well as our vision and values through imagery and impactful brand stories.
Job summary: CBS Radio Washington, DC is looking for seasoned sales professionals to develop dynamic marketing campaigns for new and existing clients. The ideal candidate will be someone who can develop new client relationships through cold calling, networking and referrals from existing clients; have an innovative approach to client development and be a team player. This person will continually contact, develop and pursue direct advertising accounts for WPGC and WIAD (Music formats). These individuals are also held accountable for achieving sales budgets and collecting on the accounts. Candidates must have a positive attitude and a drive to win. Self-motivation is essential. If you’re interested in a position thriving in a highly energetic sales environment – this job is the opportunity for you!
Job summary: 66 Audio is a fast-growing, successful startup working on exciting projects in the space where music and sports collide. We’re looking for a passionate person who’s eager to learn and excited to wear different hats. You’ll have the opportunity and freedom to do everything sports, audio and technology related, while bringing your own ideas to the table and executing them as a team. As a small startup company, there is a lot of room to move up and expand your role at 66 Audio based on performance. Risk is encouraged, your voice will be heard, and you’ll work intimately with a winning team to grow the future of a thriving consumer electronics brand – worldwide.
Job summary: The Coordinator, Digital Operations will work closely with the Digital Operations and Digital Marketing & Sales departments to oversee video registration and distribution for all RED labels.
Job summary: O-Town Music Group is seeking an Artist & Repertoire Manager. A&R Managers are creative people with good business skills and a solid understanding of the music marketplace. It is not enough to like the music, an A&R Manager needs an excellent knowledge of the contemporary music scene and to understand what sells.The main job is picking acts that will be successful and then working with the act to find the right producers and writers. The process is very much a nurturing one to ensure the band or solo artist impacts at the right time with the right material. Besides scouting for new artist the a&r manager also manages the current roster of artist. Duties include booking performances for artist, updating social media for artist,booking tv appearances and publicity for artist, booking recording studios for artist and much more.
Job summary: Develop and implement short and long term strategies & plans to drive overall revenue and profitability; increase attendance at Ryman and Opry House concerts; encourage consumer, partner, artist and community engagement; grow Ryman brand. Work with VP/GM to develop and implement special and proprietary projects and programming. Lead Ryman marketing and box office departments
Job summary: As a junior member of the Live Nation Northern California marketing team, your job is to provide multiple levels of marketing support to the local marketing team. This is an ideal role for someone who wants to learn all aspects of the live music marketing world.
Job summary: Pandora is looking for an experienced Account Strategist who has a background in digital advertising with a proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships. This individual will partner directly with the sales team to build strategic media partnerships while providing a high level of client service for assigned Advertisers, Agencies within the Automotive vertical.
Job summary: The Marketing Associate’s focus is frontline contact with clients and assisting the team in servicing the diverse needs of our professional music user clients. This involves contacting clients via email, telephone and in person on a day to day basis, and all other aspects of client relations.
Job summary: Member of the Label Relations team, responsible for leading on the designated label partnership for Apple Music. Seeking a highly motivated individual responsible for all facets of the label partnership, maximizing sales, and driving customer engagement with key content release strategy across Apple Music and iTunes. A strong advocate for our label partners, with a major emphasis on delivering on editorial and business priorities for Apple Music. This role works cross-functionally to facilitate partner, business and operational needs with the ultimate goal of identifying and driving collective growth opportunities.
Job summary: In this dynamic position, the Marketing Coordinator will serve as key component of the marketing team, acting as the administrative support point person for Capitol Music Group’s marketing department. The ideal candidate will possess strong administrative, organizational, and creative skills. Prior marketing and administrative experience in the music/entertainment field is required.
Job summary: Pandora is seeking a Data Journalist, Next Big Sound to support our editorial efforts, curation and analysis of the Next Big Sound suite of charts. The role will be responsible for curation, analysis, and annotation of existing and future charts charts on a weekly basis. You will work closely with our editorial, PR, communication, and marketing teams to develop and publish articles based on chart analysis and data-driven research. You are familiar with statistics and data visualization, and comfortable communicating complicated concepts to any audience. You are excited to propose the stories and projects you believe have the highest impact and value for an audience at the intersection of music and data. In addition, familiarity with relevant programming languages such as Python and Javascript (D3.js) is desired, but more importantly you are a documented self-starter and eager to learn.
Job summary: Assist Marketing Manager, Partnerships and Promotions with planning, execution and tracking of promotional programs for both Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl seasons.
Job summary: The Copywriter develops, writes, edits, and proofreads content for EMP’s marketing collateral, press materials, website, and other communications as needed. Our ideal candidate is a writer who is enthusiastic about popular culture and devoted to crafting smart, creative, engaging copy that resonates with readers. This position will work cross-functionally with EMP’s creative, marketing, curatorial, education, and advancement teams.
Job summary: We are looking for an outstanding Ad Sales Account Director to join our team in Los Angeles. We’re looking for someone with a proven record of revenue generation and a deep interest and passion for online media and innovation. We want someone who loves our product and knows how to sell creative solutions for clients and partners. You should be confident without ever being arrogant and you work hard, but know how to have fun. Above all, your work will impact the way the world experiences music.
A lot has been written about the supposed dire state of the music industry, but truth be told there are a number of successful and growing companies, including record labels, that are thriving in 2016. In this column we bring together every job opening we can find from the companies responsible for building the future of the business and present them to you, our reader, in hopes of aiding you on your journey to join the global music industry professional family.
Each week we scour the internet for the latest and greatest job postings throughout the music industry. You can help us better serve our community by sending any job openings you find or have to james@haulix.com. Be sure to include the name of the company hiring, a detailed description of the position being offered, a desired start date, contact information, and any additional supplemental information you feel may be needed.
Job summary: Assist Marketing Manager, Partnerships and Promotions with planning, execution and tracking of promotional programs for both Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl seasons.
Job summary: The Copywriter develops, writes, edits, and proofreads content for EMP’s marketing collateral, press materials, website, and other communications as needed. Our ideal candidate is a writer who is enthusiastic about popular culture and devoted to crafting smart, creative, engaging copy that resonates with readers. This position will work cross-functionally with EMP’s creative, marketing, curatorial, education, and advancement teams.
Job summary: We are looking for an outstanding Ad Sales Account Director to join our team in Los Angeles. We’re looking for someone with a proven record of revenue generation and a deep interest and passion for online media and innovation. We want someone who loves our product and knows how to sell creative solutions for clients and partners. You should be confident without ever being arrogant and you work hard, but know how to have fun. Above all, your work will impact the way the world experiences music.
Job summary: Our client is seeking a steady, punctual, and sharp A&R and Production Assistant for Musicians/Artists – articulate, thoughtful and tactfully persistent – to join its team. Perks include the opportunity to deepen your experience and resume with several high visibility projects, work with well-established independent creators and businesses, get free tickets to live music and arts events and access to Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, and more. A monetary stipend or commission will also be available for individual client-initiated projects.Otherwise, this role is unpaid.
Job summary: The assistant will provide support in our music touring department. The ideal candidate should be motivated, quick-thinking and open to working in an environment where he/she is capable of performing administrative tasks. The individual should be flexible, highly organized and have the ability to multi-task. Administrative duties include heavy phones, coordinating meetings and schedules, preparing expense reports, producing correspondence, special projects and personal assistance as needed. The ability to work unexpected frequent overtime is required.
Job summary: This is a leadership position to oversee a large and rapidly growing product inventory at the world’s finest musical instruments with an amazing team of marketing individuals. This is a role driven by results, with significant opportunity for upside. “Potential is Interesting, Results are Everything.”
Job summary: The Sound Board Operator is responsible for mixing and running sound for Guthrie productions and events. Mix and operate sound for Guthrie productions and events to ensure consistently high production values.
Job summary: We are looking for an outstanding Ad Sales Account Director to join our team in San Francisco.We’re looking for someone with a proven record of revenue generation and a deep interest and passion for online media and innovation. We want someone who loves our product and knows how to sell creative solutions for clients and partners. You should be confident without ever being arrogant and you work hard, but know how to have fun. Above all, your work will impact the way the world experiences music.
Job summary: Supporting the Director of Music Hall Operations and Music Hall Manager with all day-to-day operations and overall business conditions for a given shift
Job summary: You will be expected to grow revenue through the sale of radio sponsorship messages, digital media and events. By utilizing a consultative sales approach you will make cold-calls to decision makers at local businesses, meet with them to understand their marketing needs and develop proposals that offer marketing solutions to help them grow their businesses. This is a full cycle sales position in that you will prospect, conduct needs assessments, create and present proposals, close the deal, write copy and service the account.
Job summary: Pandora is looking for an experienced Account Strategist who has a background in digital or radio advertising with a proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships. This individual will partner directly with the sales team and campaign specialists to build strategic media partnerships while providing a high level of client service for assigned Advertisers, Agencies and internal Clients. This position involves sales and client support, project management, execution and reporting.
Job summary: We are seeking an Office Assistant/Music Coordinator to join our small but very busy company. This position will work closely with and be an integral part of the team. The successful candidate will be a sharp, professional and responsible individual who is self-motivated and able to multi-task several projects at a time. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to broaden their entertainment experience where the fields of Music, Film and Television overlap. In this role, your responsibilities will include managing meeting schedules, answering phones, travel coordination, handling incoming/outgoing mail, creating excel spreadsheets, simple website and database management, general filing, managing billing, expense tracking, organizing/duplicating CD/DVDs, interoffice distribution, equipment maintenance, working with the building management and IT teams to resolve technical issues, maintaining office supplies and other various tasks.
Job summary: The New Media Licensing Account Manager is responsible for effectively executing team strategies that are aligned with overall organizational goals. Such strategies are centered on licensing (negotiation, account management), operations (systems, work-flows) and new business development (growth/improvement opportunities). To fulfill responsibilities and achieve goals, the Account Manager will work closely with his/her teammates, Vice President-Licensing, Director-New Media Licensing, Analyst-New Media Licensing and numerous other individuals and teams throughout the organization, most notably Broadcast and General Licensing, Business & Legal Affairs, Information Systems and Revenue Accounting.
Job summary: In an effort to provide superior service to our internal and external customers, the Repertory Representative is responsible for the analysis, research, reconciliation and maintenance of the ASCAP repertory. As a result, ASCAP members and foreign affiliated parties are payable with each quarterly distribution.
Job summary: Help create the future of digital music with Amazon! We are looking for a smart, motivated, analytical professional to support the Vendor Management team for Amazon Digital Music. The individual in this role will be a primary point-of-contact with music labels, as well as a central part of the day-to-day business operations of the Vendor Management team.
Job summary: The Account Management Team builds and maintains customer relationships with a focus on support, engagement, and growth. At Eventbrite, we believe that innovative technology and a customer-centric mindset are key elements to building a successful business and creating world-class customer experiences. Our dedicated, sharp, and creative Account Management Team works with our largest and highest value customers to ensure that they are fully leveraging our platform and have the knowledge, training, and support they need to exceed their business goals. The team works together and cross-functionally to create exceptional experiences for our customers, and ensure the longevity of our most valuable partnerships.
Job summary: Pandora is looking for a Sr Manager, Sales Marketing in our Oakland office who exemplifies the Pandora principles of self-motivation, passion, collaboration, and experience. If you wield excellent marketing, relationship building, multitasking skills, and an intelligent strategic lens, this role is for you. As a Sr Manager, Sales Marketing, you will own the marketing strategy to drive revenue for our key vertical Financial and Political, including creating sales materials, executing B2B marketing, and leveraging current ad products. Because we are in a fast-paced, growing business, you may be required to pitch in and lead additional projects beyond Financial as those opportunities arise.
Job summary: The Administrative Assistant, Touring & Marketing Planning will work with Tour Marketing and Marketing Planning team, who oversee the planning, budgeting and travel for tours, promotional events and live performances for artists of Epic Records.
Job summary: Marketing writer to partner with Design, Editorial & Retail creatives to create innovative, engaging and original copy around cross-functional initiatives for iTunes, Apple Music, the App Store, and iBooks.
Job summary: As our Email Marketing Manager you will work with production, technology, and marketing peers in Napa, California to develop and execute opt-in and revenue generating programs for ArtistWorks online music instruction. Your primary responsibility will be the creation and management of email campaigns within the Hubspot platform that drive first-time conversion and retention of our customers over time. We’d like to have you work in the Napa office/studio as frequently as possible – team collaboration is key to our success.
Job summary: CAMI seeks career-minded individuals, with a passion for the performing arts, to fill an administrative assistant position in our Booking Office. Prior administrative experience is essential, as well as a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s Degree relating to the field.
Job summary: The Executive Assistant will report to the CEO, and general duties include: assisting CEO and other Executives with day to day tasks, handling both personal and business day-to-day needs, maintenance/management of office space and occasionally the CEO’s home, assisting with office administration and third parties, organization of personal and company travel arrangements, etc.
Job summary: Alternative Press Magazine is seeking a smart, self-motivated and resourceful individual to join our team as our Marketing Coordinator. Our company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and prospective candidates will preferably live in the general Northeastern Ohio area or willing to move. Candidates should be highly organized and adaptable to our dynamic work environment. Qualified applicants will have had experience in similar marketing roles (preferably within the media and entertainment industry).
Job summary: At Backstage, we’re focused on providing the best career platform and marketplace to match actors and performers with talent seekers. The marketing team at Backstage is responsible for building brand awareness, focusing on growth and retaining our user base of performers. We are looking for a creative, technical, strategic and analytical marketing professional to join the team as our Marketing Associate. The role will report to the Vice President and Digital Director of Backstage and will work closely with product, marketing, engineering, and content teams across the business. You will be tasked with demand generation, traffic growth, strategic partnerships and conversion optimization using inbound and outbound marketing tactics. You will set up and use comprehensive analytics to support your strategy and execution of user growth. As a company we really value problem solvers and being able to learn a new technical skill (in a day).
Job summary: We’re looking for someone to spearhead our marketing strategy. That someone is philosophical about messaging and analytical about results. Cares deeply about music and the people who make it. Is passionate about technology, can keep up with the speed of innovation. Wants to be a part of something positive, and can infect others with their excitement about it.
Job summary: The assistant will provide support in our speakers department. Administrative duties include handling phones, coordinating meetings and schedules, drafting contracts, light accounting task.
Job summary: Assist the team with the production-related requirements of the show. Develop ideas to drive ticket sales. Create forecasting simulations for planned events. Legal – Basic understanding of contracts. Coordinating with venues for avails, ticketing set up, etc. Work closely with the marketing, promotion and events team to assist in day to day coordination of activities on social media, print, email, publicity, etc
Job summary: The Social Media Analyst is responsible for discovering, analyzing and presenting insights related to the Tory Burch social media footprint and brand sentiment. This individual will prepare reports and findings that drive action with respect to social media efforts. He/she will help identify and track the success metrics, benchmarks and KPIs that measure our social media effectiveness.
Job summary: Join us in being a part of the global music community by shaping the delivery and experience of digital sheet music! The e-Commerce Marketing Assistant will assist in the management of Musicnotes’ online and offline marketing initiatives, including updating on-site merchandise links, managing customer product reviews, editing and testing marketing e-mails.
Job summary: Universal Music Group is currently looking for an Assistant to support the CFO / EVP, Business Development of Interscope Records. The ideal candidate will have experience supporting at the SVP level or higher, and have great judgment with discretion and confidentiality. This exciting role requires superior attention to detail, great organizational skills, the ability to meet tight deadlines, and to juggle multiple critical requests. A high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information, and professionalism in dealing with senior professionals inside and outside the company is important. Must be very efficient and highly attuned to the smallest of details, as well as being able to multi-task and working on tight deadlines in a high pressure environment is crucial. No task is too small and no challenge too great. A “can-do” attitude is essential.
Job summary: Stanford Jazz Workshop (SJW) is seeking a full-time Development and Marketing Assistant to support the Development and Marketing departments. SJW is a 44-year-old independent nonprofit organization providing jazz education programs and producing the annual Stanford Jazz Festival in June through early August. Working primarily out of our San Francisco office (Inner Sunset) and seasonally on the campus of Stanford University, this position is under the joint supervision of the Development and Marketing Directors.
Job summary: Spotify is looking for a marketer with strong quant skills to join the Global Product & Performance Marketing team. The Engagement Marketing Manager will be responsible for improving how we convert newly registered users into active, loyal advocates of Spotify. With Spotify’s spectacular growth, this role has the opportunity to shape the music experience for millions of customers, with clear accountability and credit for results.
ASK A PUBLICIST is a recurring column on Haulix Daily where we pose a question about music promotion and publicity in 2016 to the team at Catalyst Publicity Group. If you have a question for the team, email james@haulix.com and we’ll try to find the answer.
QUESTION:What value is there in ‘social media takeovers,’ and what should artists hope to gain from such exposure?
Social media is a wonderful tool to gain additional exposure. The value in social media takeovers in particular is that as an artist you are introducing yourself to a whole new group of potential fans. By partnering with a publication, a non-profit, a brand, and so forth you are inviting those social media fans into your world by giving them a sneak peek of your project. Often times during a social media takeover artists will give fans a behind the scenes look at the making of an album, a music video, tour life, or a significant day for the artist such as a festival performance and so forth.
Think of social media takeovers as a more targeted approach to reaching a new audience (who will already likely enjoy your style of music, if the brand you are taking over aligns right). Typically when an artist takes over a social media account, whether that be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Periscope, and the likes it is important to remember that not all of those fans on said platform will know who you are or follow you back on social media. If you want to be remembered and attract new fans, don’t forget to consistently re-state your name, use a particular hashtag to follow the takeover and tag your social media accounts. It is as beneficial as sharing with your own fanbase, and then some. You are giving an “elevator pitch” and a glimpse into your life, so make it meaningful and powerful to keep those new fans intrigued about what you have going on. Don’t forget to give it a more personal approach, giving fans (old and potential) a look at life behind the scenes, the work you are putting into your career, and what it takes to be in a band. It draws a higher level of respect towards and interest in the artist.
In music today, success is hard to quantify in numbers because success is so much more than just likes and followers. It’s also how many people are talking about you, will come see you at a show, or at least recognize your name enough to check you out when you pass through their town on tour. Will you get more followers from takeovers? Probably. Will it be a lot? Probably not. But your name is out there to a whole new group of people who didn’t know you before, and that’s the takeaway lesson for today.
A lot has been written about the supposed dire state of the music industry, but truth be told there are a number of successful and growing companies, including record labels, that are thriving in 2016. In this column we bring together every job opening we can find from the companies responsible for building the future of the business and present them to you, our reader, in hopes of aiding you on your journey to join the global music industry professional family.
Each week we scour the internet for the latest and greatest job postings throughout the music industry. You can help us better serve our community by sending any job openings you find or have to james@haulix.com. Be sure to include the name of the company hiring, a detailed description of the position being offered, a desired start date, contact information, and any additional supplemental information you feel may be needed.
Job summary: The Media Consultant position carries the responsibility for developing and selling radio/digital/event advertising campaigns to prospective businesses for CMG Miami Radio’s 4 super brands and our robust digital offerings. This individual must be independent, very organized and detail-oriented. We are looking for candidates that are competitive in nature, who have the ability to first seek to understand a problem, and then develop creative ideas and solutions.
Job summary: Click is an evolving Los Angeles-based communications firm that is seeking an energetic self-starter who works quickly and accurately, can meet tight deadlines and loves movies and/or TV. The ideal candidate would join the team as a Publicity Assistant in support of our Chicago-based PR Manager. This person will learn about various aspects of the entertainment industry as well as effective online publicity and marketing while assisting with the day-to-day operations of servicing our clients’ needs.
Job summary: Beats is seeking an experienced Audio Product Marketing Manager for a full time role at our Culver City, CA location. This position will serve as a category expert and voice of the consumer. It will be the Product Marketing Manager’s responsibility to transform our innovative product assortment into a compelling narrative that inspires users. In addition, the position will also lead internal ‘Go to Market’ process to help bring innovative products to market in a holistic and consistent way. The ideal candidate will thrive in a cross-functional and collaborative environment and have deep understanding of Beats’s target market.
Job summary: Dave Ramsey’s organization is all about helping people and giving them hope. We are a group of energetic, motivated EntreLeaders who absolutely love what we do. We are on a mission to change the nation, and we are looking for other like-minded, high-quality people to join us.
Job summary: We are a full turn key artist development center that trains and launches talent and we MUST have an experienced social media team behind them. Right candidate must must must know WordPress, and experienced in the top 3 graphic software programs. If you are a team player and can work with a great innovative fast forward music company, come join!
Job summary: Pandora is looking for an experienced Account Strategist who has a background in digital or radio advertising with a proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships. This individual will partner directly with the sales team to build strategic media partnerships while providing a highlevel of client service for assigned Advertisers, Agencies and internal Clients.
Job summary: My Country Nation is looking for an exceptional Social Media Producer to lead all social media efforts for this growing digital platform. The ideal candidate will be a social media guru and lover of country music and country lifestyle with an assertive drive to take ownership of MyCN’s social channels, creating a unique voice and producing superior content that aligns with social media best practices across all platforms.
Job summary: As part of the US Latin marketing team, the Manager, Marketing is responsible for the planning, development, pitching and execution of innovative marketing strategies to launch, brand and develop artists throughout the product lifecycle for assigned artist projects.
Job summary: We are looking for a Campaign Coordinator to join our Ad Ops Team based in our New York City headquarters. The Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day execution of our email marketing program. This role involves the creation, scheduling, deployment, and reporting of email materials.
Job summary: As a member of the Partner Marketing team, part of the Consumer Marketing organization at Spotify, you will be responsible for driving go-to-market strategy and life-cycle marketing for priority global priority partners with the aim of achieving key acquisition, engagement and subscription metrics. This position requires experience planning /managing integrated marketing campaigns, excellent communications skills, and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally on all initiatives. Reports into the Global Director, Partner Marketing.
Job summary: Oversee and direct aspects of day-to-day digital management. Responsible for creating and executing digital marketing and promotional plans across all areas of online including portals and distribution partners, artist websites, social media, new technology, CRM, SEM/SEO, third party lifestyle, and e-commerce. Responsible for nurturing and leveraging relationships with the artists and their management teams. Required to set goals and manage campaigns in an effort to optimize reach and revenue. Responsible for managing and interpreting departmental reports and partner data.
Job summary: The role will report to the Vice President of Casting, who you will work with to strategize and execute a plan for acquiring and converting new leads for our talent-casting service, as well improving client retention. You will manage a small team of product evangelists (“casting specialists”) and be tasked with sourcing and acquiring new leads, focusing on growing our network of casting directors, filmmakers, and companies that have productions to cast – from major and indie films to plays, musicals, web-series, commercials, music videos, explainer videos, and more.
Job summary: As a YouTube Channel Manager, for both The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard’s YouTube channel(s), you should be comfortable working cross-functionally with colleagues across multiple disciplines to ensure our content is positioned for success, and our viewers enjoy the best experience possible. You should also expect to initiate and manage day-to-day operations and partner relationships (across talent, advertisers and YouTube itself), including fielding and prioritizing incoming video content; monitoring content trends and performance; fluidity with hands-on content management and mastering of Content ID; and creating periodic reports (external and internal) on video performance. Ensuring month over month growth of core YouTube KPIs including subscriber numbers and monetization, while also increasing awareness of and traffic to owned-and-operated video hubs will be key determinants of your success.
Job summary: Execute PR & Social Media plans in close collaboration with the team at Allen & Heath HQ in the UK. Generate compelling stories which connect users with the brand; then disseminate the content through media, social media and case studies for the web site and email distribution. Support the growth of the Allen & Heath’s social networks and expand our end-user reach. Ensure the sales team and channel partners are equipped with the latest news and marketing tools to support their promotion of the brand and products in the field.
Job summary: You are a highly motivated, independent, analytical, creative self-starter with a knack for executing on various global initiatives amid an ever-changing environment. This role works alongside multiple company teams, including Licensing, Editorial/Social, Supply Chain, Business Intelligence, Royalty Accounting, Brand Marketing, PR, Business Development and Product Development, and demands the ability to work cross-organizationally with colleagues of various levels.
Job summary: The Social Media Marketing will manage online and social media projects and channels .This individual must be an expert in boosting You tube views and Sound Cloud . The Social Media Marketing Intern will also coordinate monthly and weekly content development, scheduling and publishing.
Job summary: The FADER is looking for a dynamic and strategic Project Manager. This is an opportunity for someone to make his or her mark in a successful and fast growing environment. Day to day responsibilities will include overseeing The FADER clients, executing branded events and content programs, coordinating activities between multiple internal departments, financial reporting and maintaining the overall health of client/agency relationships. Position will report to The FADER Marketing Director.
Job summary: Hasbro Studios is seeking a Music Marketing Manager to serve as principal liaison with LBE licensees (new & existing) from the time a deal is executed until end of term of the license. The primary role of position is to handle development and production issues and communication between Hasbro and licensee, as well as internal Hasbro communications. The Individual will also develop efficient attraction approval process with LBE/Studio Creative Director, GBTs and outside consultants; managing approvals between Creative Director, GBTs and other parties.
Job summary: World Famous is seeking a Studio Manager to help us be as organized, smooth-functioning and welcoming as we are creative. This position is a mixture of executive assistant, admin duties as needed and overseeing client services. We are seeking a dynamic individual whose favorite thing in the world is to organize, someone who loves to keep things tidy, bring order to (mild) chaos, plan get-togethers, someone who takes great pride in how they treat guests, and also will work well within a fast-paced creative environment.
Job summary: Oversee the day-to-day workflow of the Music Department within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts. This will be the key contact person for ensuring a smooth operation for those external constituents conducting business with the department as well for faculty and staff seeking assistance with the processes of internal business within the University.
Job summary: As PM lead of Uber Music & Media, you will lead design, implementation, and optimization of programs to create a rich music & media experience in Uber partner vehicles. You will build upon today’s implementation of rider-controlled music in cars, and work closely with Uber’s Business Development team and Media partners to explore and implement new ideas in this space. What can you do to truly personalize and differentiate the Uber experience? Your performance is measured both by the impact of the features & products you launch, and by your ability to work closely with and enhance the productivity of a high-performing cross-functional team that includes counterparts in Engineering, Design, Business Development, and Operations.
Job summary: Responsible for maintaining awareness of The Smith Center brand and promoting performances and events through publicity and media relations efforts.
Job summary: Red Bull Sound Select is an artist development program that delivers the best in new music, supporting a group of curated artists through 200+ yearly events and festivals, in-studio collaborations with leading creators, distribution, and marketing from the Red Bull network. The program will be expanding into 7 new countries in 2016. The Project Manager, Red Bull Sound Select Artist Relations will oversee artist onboarding for 6 Red Bull Sound Select countries and manage 5 major artists campaigns each year. He/she will play a fundamental role in the longterm success of the program, as these artists will be core case studies for the program to build on in its international expansion. This is an opportunity to market artists without traditional music industry boundaries through Red Bull’s studio, producer, festival, and agency relationships; unique partnerships; and your and the artists’ creativity.
Job summary: Alternative Press Magazine is seeking a smart, self-motivated and resourceful individual to join our team as our Marketing Coordinator. Our company is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and prospective candidates will preferably live in the general Northeastern Ohio area. Candidates should be highly organized and adaptable to our dynamic work environment. Qualified applicants will have had experience in similar marketing roles (preferably within the media and entertainment industry).
Job summary: Lead, develop and execute consumer engagement and ecommerce campaigns in collaboration with UMG owned and associated labels. The Director will be the key point person at the label level for all direct to consumer activities, including but not limited to initial artist strategy, product development, marketing and eCommerce. This person must be the organizing force and leader in commercializing direct to consumer campaigns and other integrated artist rights (e.g. ecommerce, experiences, touring). This person must be skilled at influencing and collaborating with all label departments (product managers, digital marketing) and artist management, and will be responsible to organize, plan and collaborate with labels in the execution of marketing campaigns for artists not only across release and touring schedules, but also “off cycle” promotions of artist relevant commercialization opportunities. He/she will be responsible for overseeing and managing all D2C stores including identifying, planning and executing against revenue opportunities for stores, merchandise recommendations, pricing, design, social media, crm and other label marketing initiatives.
Job summary: Pandora is looking for an experienced Account Strategist who has a background in digital or radio advertising with a proven track record of building and maintaining strong client relationships. This individual will partner directly with the sales team to build strategic media partnerships while providing a high level of client service for assigned Advertisers, Agencies and internal Clients.
Job summary: We currently have an opening for the position of Music Publicist / Account Manager and are looking for an intelligent, independent creative thinker with an analytical approach and a proven track record working in music publicity. Our ideal candidate is an original thinker who brings something new to the table. This individual must have a strong passion for the entertainment field (music in particular) and be able to professionally communicate with clients, journalists and other industry professionals.
Job summary: The Marketing Director is responsible for the advertising and marketing of all events in Atlanta and Alabama including events at Philips Arena, Infinite Energy Arena, Fox Theatre, Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, Lakewood Amphitheatre, Chastain Park Amphitheatre (Concert Series), Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Music Midtown Festival and all outer market shows in Georgia and Alabama.
Job summary: You will join the US Marketing Team to manage existing and build strategic partnerships. To achieve our goal of increasing our footprint in the US and increase the number of subscribers, we want to grow Deezer distribution through the telecom channel.
Job summary: Live Nation is seeking a qualified individual for a Project Manager position. This detail oriented position requires excellent organizational skills, professional interaction with management personnel, vendors, clients of all levels, an ability to work efficiently, accurately and effectively under pressure, and ability to complete and prioritize tasks in a timely manner. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in staff supervision and recruitment, and customer service. The ability to communicate with respect and diplomacy across all levels of business is essential to this position. Maintaining knowledge of current ticketing trends in entertainment industry is an essential element to this position.
Job summary: As a Music Manager, you are responsible for the daily operations of the Music/DVD Department, ensuring that they are consistent with our bookselling culture, world-class customer service focus, digital initiatives, and operating and merchandising standards. You assist with interviews and in the development and evaluation of music sellers. You foster an employee-centric environment and focus the team on maximizing sales and productivity.
Job summary: The Sr. Manager, Strategic Partnerships is a key member of the Strategic Partnerships team within the Brand Marketing department. This role will be responsible for creating relationships and programs with brands that put Pandora in new categories and conversations and enhance our brand equity with specific audiences. Reporting to the Director, Strategic Partnerships within the Brand Marketing organization, this person will execute brand partnership projects from initial evaluation through completion, maintaining senior level marketing finesse and client management throughout the process.
Job summary: Reporting to the Vp Of Marketing, the Harmonix Marketing Manager will sit at the heart of marketing Harmonix products. As the central strategist and go to market expert for each product the Marketing Manager will be responsible for building and executing their marketing plan for their assigned titles.
Job summary: The role of Department Coordinator is to organize, execute, and complete department needs. This includes scheduling, registration of students, the management and promotion of department events through email blasts, posters and program design. Additionally, this position works with prospective students, providing information about the department and the Presidential Scholarship in the Arts which includes coordinating the scholarship applicants and audition weekend.
Earlier today, the pop-up you see in the image above appeared while I was watching the latest Kanye West video on the popular music blog Hip Hop N More. At first, I thought the message was a mistake. I thought I had possible clicked a link to a mobile version of the site, or that the site had an app it wanted me to download, but I soon realized both ideas were wrong. In fact, I had made no mistake at all. The above pop-up was promoting a new platform that creates push notifications whenever new content is posted to a site. It’s 100% optional, and it only works for users of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, but it could very well be the next great user retention tool for online stores and blogs alike.
Created by PushCrew, a new startup still establishing their presence online, these blog based push notifications are being marketed as a way to engage your subscribers with your communication even when they are not present on your website. The tool is easy to install, requiring just moments of time, and once live requires very little upkeep. I’ll let this explainer video show you what I mean:
Sounds pretty simple, right? Certainly seems that way.
I never saw myself as someone who would consider push notifications of any kind to be a good idea, but in an age where traffic often still determines whether or not writers get paid anything at all for their work I’m coming around to the idea at an alarming rate. After all, whether or not users actually engage with this tool is entirely up to them, so content creators should not think twice about making such tools available to their audience. These notifications will make a bigger impression than Twitter or Facebook on users, and every single notification will automatically link back to your site, thus furthering your visits per post with each click.
It’s worth noting that Hip Hop N More is not the only site using this technology in the music world. So far, we’ve found more than a dozen sites covering half a dozen genres that all allow users to opt-in for notification through PushCrew technology. One site in particular, I Care If You Listen, even appeared in a case study that ran on the company’s blog. Here’s an excerpt:
Thomas is on a PushCrew free account. (PushCrew free account lets you send unlimited notifications to upto 500 subscribers forever.) So far, he’s sent more than 20 notifications with click-rate hovering in the range of 4% to 18%
I Care If You Listen is a music blog that Thomas has been running for more than 5 years now. On Twitter, he has a strong following of more than 60k subscribers. And an active email list to whom he regularly pushes out updates.
He found PushCrew and decided to give the free account a shot. He has a little over 150 subscribers in his PushCrew account. The best click-rate that he got was 18.18% and the average click rate stands at 11.29%. In each of his notifications, he uses UTM parameters in the landing page URL so he can trace all metrics about his subscribers in Google Analytics. I asked if the metrics were any better or if they’re following the same pattern as other communication platforms to which he replied, “I’ve been able to see better engagement from the notifications, in terms of bounce rate (lower), pages per sessions and session durations (both higher). People engage slightly more with our content coming from a push notification.”
Time will tell whether or not website push notifications catch on, but for the time being you might want to consider implementing PushCrew technology on your music blog. After all, who does it hurt? People who don’t want it never have to use it, and those that do can have it for free. Everyone wins!
With the third year of our blog still finding its footing, we thought now would be as good a time as any to introduce our latest guest contributor. Rey Roldan has lead an incredible career in music PR that now spans multiple decades, and in the coming months he will be sharing some of his vast industry knowledge with us through his very own bi-weekly column. Enjoy!
“I loved the opportunity, but I only liked a handful of the bands,” texted a friend recently about a job at a growing indie label that I had recommended her for. The label was a solid company – full benefits, allotted vacation time and a publicity team… and the bands – mostly indie rock with a smattering of alt-country (which she abhors).
“You should look at the job first, and THEN the bands,” I typed back, trying to convince her that she needs more experience. “And besides, you like a lot of the bands.”
“I know, but I want to love ALL the bands,” she replied. “I want a job at [INSERT HIPSTER LABEL HERE].”
I stared at the text message and almost did a facepalm. I typed, “Like THAT will ever happen”… but I deleted it before sending.
While there’s a really great advantage to only work bands that you love as a publicist, many publicists don’t get that dream job in the early part of their career. Learning the craft is more important than loving the bands you’re working. But if you’re able to combine the two, you’re golden.
For some, like Amy Sciarretto of Atom Splitter PR, they’re able to achieve just that. “Most of my career has trafficked in hard rock and metal, as a writer and a publicist,” she says. “I have ventured outside the genre somewhat, and I have worked with artists that are not metal. But I do have that specialty. You really do get to know your base and your ham ‘n’ eggers and go-tos. You tend to develop awesome strong relationships and friendships with people you work so closely with. I find that the outlet and I can get really creative as to how much we work together. We’ll come up with new ways to publicize a release or a band, for maximum exposure for the artist and the outlet.”
The big advantage of working a certain genre is that writers and editors trust that you know what you’re talking about. If they’re working on a story and need a band that fits your wheelhouse, then they know who to go to. Being a trusted name in your field is a huge accomplishment and Sciarretto, by far, is one of the most trusted people in the metal and hard rock world. When one thinks of metal publicists, her name is at the top of that list.
In a lot of ways, it also makes it like one-stop shopping for a writer who is working on a genre-specific story to find appropriate artists. “You usually know what to expect when you’re getting a pitch from a genre-specific publicist,” says writer John B. Moore of Blurt, New Noise, Innocent Words and others. “But if I’m writing for pubs that aren’t likely to cover that genre of music, I usually don’t bother even opening the emails from those publicists.”
“Speaking for myself, I found it easier to do publicity within one genre of music,” answers Jim Smith, Sales and Promotions Manager of Metropolis Records. Once a genre-specific behemoth in the industrial/goth/electronic/avant-garde label world, Metropolis has been slowly shifting and evolving into a much broader spectrum of artists that still includes many of those bands like Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy and Covenent, but now includes legendary 70s punk and postpunk artists such as Gang of Four, The Rezillos, Membranes and even 80s stalwarts Alison Moyet and Ali Campbell of UB40. “When we first started out as a label that catered to a very narrow field, the shrinking media market combined with the challenges of developing new relationships in other niche music markets presented a slew of new challenges. When we were more specialized, we had a stable of press and media people that we had long-standing relationships with. Now, it’s an ever present challenge to get publicity outside of what we have been pigeonholed into.”
Broadening the palette into much wider and colorful strokes instead of gothic black is how Metropolis is evolving. For writers too, a wider view offers more colors to choose from. “For me, it’s all about the music, not the genre label,” says William Dashiell Hammett, a freelance journalist who has written about a myriad of artists across a multitude of platforms. “It’s great to be able to work with people who can draw knowledge from across the musical spectrum and make comparisons those too focused on one specific style would never consider.”
In my personal experience, I’ve been lucky in my career to go through phases that took me through from a legendary artist-driven label, I.R.S. Records (The Go-Go’s, R.E.M., Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine), to a buzz-heavy alt-rock label in Mammoth Records (Squirrel Nut Zippers, Juliana Hatfield, Jason and the Scorchers), to a blues/rock label in Silvertone (Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Stone Roses), to a pop/urban labelJive (Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, A Tribe Called Quest), to a high-powered boutique PR firm KSA PR(Sting, Duran Duran, Fiona Apple), to a major label Island Records (Hanson, Ryan Adams, Mariah Carey).
Now with my own firm, I thrive in a diverse roster of talent that covers all those genres without heavily concentrations. You’ll find English Beat, KMFDM, Dashboard Confessional, Yellowcard, The Fratellis, andBlackalicious all cohabitating my roster. For me, being able to switch gears is what keeps my job interesting. It’s a challenge to talk about the heavy alt-country of The White Buffalo in the same breath as the piano house music of Game of Thronesactor Kristian Nairn (“Hodor”).
Rounder Label Group’s Director of Publicity Regina Joskow (a sage in the publicity realm) has had a similar wide-ranging history as me, having handled widely eclectic rosters as well as a highly specialized and focused clientele. “I’ve worked on both sides of that fence. I think that it’s probably easier for a publicist to work with a broader range of music and with more broad-based journalists, rather than work within a specific genre where you really, really need to know your stuff,” she explains. “Metal writers and the metal community in general can be very welcoming, but in certain genres – say, jazz or classical – you really have to be educated. So if you’re already really knowledgeable and passionate about the music, you’re in good shape. But if you’re not, you really need to get educated. Jazz writers (at least the good ones, and there are many good ones) tend to be extremely knowledgeable, and in order to get any respect from them, you need to have to know what you’re talking about. You can’t just fake that.”
Moore adds that it’s not about the genre a publicist specializes in, but from the publicist’s knowledge of what kind of music he covers. “Ultimately the best way to get my attention is to read what I write and learn the types of bands I cover. I have a handful of publicists that I have been working with since the late 90s and I read every single e-mail they send me and will listen if they say ‘I think you’ll dig this,’ simply because they have learned my tastes. Also, never underestimate the ego of a writer. If you are even half way pretending to follow my stuff, I’ll engage with you.”
As for my friend who turned down that job? She was just handed two country bands as clients and she hatescountry. And her dream label? It just extended its publicist’s contract for two more years. She now wishes she went for that other job.
We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that every single artist’s career is different, and just because something is right for one group does not mean it will work for you. The questions we’ve put together today are relatively vague, but it’s of the utmost importance your answers be as detailed as possible. Discuss the questions below with your bandmates, debate the pros and cons of each response, and together formulate a plan for yourselves before bringing anyone else into the mix. This will save time, patience, and most likely a little bit of money as well.
Now without further ado, here are 5 questions you need to ask before hiring a publicist:
1. Is my career even at a point where I need a publicist?
The idea of having someone in your life who spends a part of their day doing whatever they can to get the word out about your efforts sounds like a smart decision, but unless you have something worthwhile to share with the world you’re going to end up wasting a lot of money. Focus on creating the best album/single/video you possibly can, which I can tell you will likely not be your first release, and then think about bringing in someone to help promote. While many professional publicists will tell a band if they think the band is not ready for such a business relationship, there are a number of those out there who will happily take your money and never look back. It’s not on them to have something worth sharing, it’s on you.
2. Can I financially afford a publicist right now?
This may seem like a rather obvious statement, but the truth is many artists do not fully understand the costs associated with having a publicist. Most PR firms require a minimum commitment of 3-months for any project, regardless of whether it’s an album, video, or single. This means for three months you will be expected to pay whatever price you negotiate at the time of signing, and failure to do so will likely result in monetary penalties being issued against your group. Avoid this unnecessary trouble (not to mention looking amateur to industry professionals) and double-check your personal finances before seeking representation. Set a budget and work to find someone who offers you the most ‘bang for your buck.’
3. What am I hoping to accomplish with this campaign, and do I actually need a publicist to pull it off?
It’s common sense that artists and bands hoping to promote their new releases turn to publicists to help get the word out, but depending on your situation you may be able to handle marketing perfectly fine on your own. There are a growing number of articles and sites dedicated to empowering independent artists, and if you’re willing to put in the work yourself it’s perfectly reasonable to assume you can gain at least a small amount of press on your own. Blogs and smaller publications usually post their contact information online, and by reading up on PR tactics anyone can craft a pitch letter, so as long as you’re okay with Rolling Stone and/or Pitchfork not giving you the time of day you may be able to do it on your own.
4. Do I have high quality promotional materials ready to go (masters, photos, etc.)?
Publicists spend their day trying to get the word out about their clients, but that does not mean they’re going to create promotional materials to help get the job done. As the client it is on you to provide your publicist with everything they need to promote your efforts, and it should go without saying that quality plays a big role in whether or not journalists give you some of their oh-so-rare free time. Before you even consider bringing someone else into your career, make sure you have quality materials you want shared with the world. If you turn in mediocre media the returns will likely be mediocre as well. Publicists work with what they’re given, so be sure you give yours the best material you possibly can.
5. What marketing ideas do I have for the release of my album/music video?
This is probably the most important part of this entire list because it’s the area artists most often overlook. Publicists can make amazing things happen for your career, but without guidance and direction from you they will have no idea what it is you’re trying to convey with your art. This is why when deciding to bring on a publicist it is absolutely imperative that you first come up with your own set of goals and ideas for the release. Publicists want to help you, not do the work for you, and starting the relationship with a wealth of ideas on deck will simplify the promotional efforts on their end. By knowing what you expect, publicists can work with you to craft a campaign that’s designed to accomplish your specific goals, and that will lead to better results down the line.
With the third year of our blog still finding its footing, we thought now would be as good a time as any to introduce our latest guest contributor. Rey Roldan has lead an incredible career in music PR that now spans multiple decades, and in the coming months he will be sharing some of his vast industry knowledge with us through his very own bi-weekly column. Enjoy!
As the pool of publicists gets more and more crowded with journalists and bloggers trying their hand at hacking away at artists’ campaigns, a direct result of this influx is the flooding of inboxes with massive amounts of press releases and pitches. Many of the higher-tiered journalists can get pummeled with over 500 pitches a day – some even more than that! Each morning, writers, bloggers, producers and editors weed out their emails, deleting hundreds of them without even knowing exactly what the pitches are selling.
So how does a publicist cut through the clutter and get a journalists’ attention?
“Well, I think it’s a fairly simple answer: if you can’t make a really compelling case in the first paragraph, chances are, your press release or pitch will either go unnoticed, or will simply get deleted,” answers Regina Joskow, Director of Publicity for the Rounder Label Group. “It’s kind of like an audition when a performer gets to sing 16 bars, and that’s what determines whether they get a call-back or not. These days, people are inundated from all sides with email messages, text messages, social media posts and messages, instant messages – it’s completely overwhelming. People’s attention spans aren’t what they used to be.”
And she’s right. The secret to getting a journalist’s attention isn’t flooding them with information, bio material and too much text that they didn’t ask for… It’s about getting right to the point. An old editor friend of mine, Gus Pena of the amazing but unfortunately now defunct Chord Magazine, once said, “It’s about the first three lines. If I don’t know what your point is by then, you’ve already lost me.”
“To me, the first paragraph is very crucial,” agrees Gil Macias, Editorial Coordinator atPlayboy and contributing editor of Inked Magazine. “An accurate description of the band’s sound makes or breaks whether or not I want to listen to something…. and comparing the band or musician to other bands that sound similar also peaks my interest.”
“For me, the first line of a press release is very important,” says Lori Majewski, longtime music editor, writer, and author of Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists and Songs That Defined the 1980s. “If I don’t read anything there that appeals to me, I’m not going to go any further.”
While it’s always nice to start off with a pleasant “Lovely day, innit” type of greeting, being rather direct can save everyone a lot of time. “The first paragraph is mission critical in my opinion, this stems from my journalism training,” explains Heather West of Western Publicity. “Writers sometimes want to get ‘creative’ and bury their lede in a morass of descriptors that obscure the key elements, which are who, what, when, where and why. Journalists, in my experience, find this irritating. So it’s best to get right to the point.”
Some journalists might be so busy that if they don’t like what they immediately see, they might not even get to the first line of your pitch. “Actually, even more important than the first line of a press release is the subject line of the email,” adds Majewski. “Journalists are inundated with so many emails daily, you have to stand out somehow, someway, or it never even being opened.”
“I read every press release I get, and as important as the subject line is, the opening paragraph is equally – if not more – important,” counters Chuck Armstrong, Editor-in-Chief of Diffuser. “I want the story. I want to know why this band or this song or this video is important to me and, potentially, to our readers. If you can sum that up in the beginning, you have my attention.”
So it boils down to subject line and the first three sentences… Capturing your audience’s attention lies within a short window of words and can turn a writer’s apathy into intrigue that forces them to read your pitches. Armstrong adds the parting shot, “The only time I don’t open an email is if it’s from Rey Roldan. I delete that shit before it infects my computer with his well-known publicity viruses.” #shotsfired
We strive to create the best educational content available about life in the music industry, but we will be the first to admit there are writers in other corners of the web doing a good job raising awareness (and intelligence) on their own. What follows is a piece our longtime client Amy Sciarretto, who knows more about PR than anyone we know. Heed her advice.
As a publicist with my own PR agency, I’m solicited daily by bands looking for PR services or for some advice/to be consulted about the wild, wonderful world of public relations and publicity, since it’s press and media hits that they seek.
Having done PR for nearly two decades, well, I’ve worked with all types of artists, and I’ve shared stories with other publicists about artists they choose not to work with.
Through it all, I’ve learned what types of people I don’t mesh with or make the job of pitching and securing press difficult.
These are the general types of artists that I, myself, and other publicists have encountered and tend not to pursue a working relationship with. So in general, if it’s a publicist you want, try not to be “that guy,” and by “that guy,” I mean any of the archetypes below. Remember, the relationship between publicist and artist is a two-way street.
1. THE KNOW-IT-ALL
The know-it-all (KIA) has an answer for everything and is like a teenager. That is, he or she alreadyknows how things work and is the expert, despite never having spent a day wearing a publicist’s hat. The KIA doesn’t take, much less apply, advice, nor does he or she respond to constructive or creative criticism when it comes to the media approach. The KIA is frustrating because he or she spends too much time trying to do your job, as opposed to doing his or her own. It bums me out because KIAs need to put their faith in me, since I’ve done this for most of my life. They tend to speak authoritatively on media trends and preferences, and they are usually wrong. They are not the experts, yet they act like it. When I see this trait pop up in discussions or even during a campaign, I work to squash it or move on.
2. THE “EXPERIENCED” MUSICIAN WITH OUTDATED MUSIC BIZ KNOWLEDGE
On the surface, a band member that has IRL music biz experience, be it in a mail room or a marketing department, might seem like a godsend for a publicist, since he or she gets it, knows it, and has witnessed it firsthand. Not. So. Fast. Sometimes, the band member might be out of touch with how the music biz functions now, how it’s changed, or how a publicist works in this capacity or situation. If the person’s real world experience is outdated, it can become a challenge when you have to explain that [insert name here] no longer publishes monthly or that [blog that covered every band you tour with] has a new editor with a new content skew. If the music biz experienced artist truly “gets it,” however, then this trait is anything but a hindrance and a total help!
3. THE FUNDED VANITY PROJECT/RICH KID WITH A TRUST FUND
It might seem very tempting to work with an artist who’s funded by a rich father or moneybags relative, or who has a trust fund of some sort, since it can be a lucrative project. Also, if you’re compensated adequately for what you’re worth for your skills, talent, contacts, and expertise, it’s refreshing and will have you pushing harder for the artist! On the flip, it can also be one that’s driven by expectations that don’t line up with reality. Oftentimes, a funded project exists to stroke an ego, and it has nothing to do with talent. Just because someone has a relative with money doesn’t mean that her or she has talent, or that a publicist can turn water into wine or work miracles. I’ve seen my colleagues hop on these projects because they were hotly pursued by the client and end up nearly pulling their hair out.
4. THE PUNISHER
This is tough, since the artist usually means well. But someone who calls to ask if you’ve read an email 13 seconds after sending it and before you have even had a chance to open it, who hits you with texts about media targets at 2:00 a.m., and who calls multiple times a day to check on the same thing is a punisher. That helps no one, namely a PR rep who’s laying the foundation of a project. It wastes time and creates frustrations, not to mention distractions. We have to do our jobs, and when we’re being pulled away from pitching to massage egos, nothing gets done.
Another version of the punisher is someone who’s hit you up multiple times and made demands, despite never even agreeing to work together. If someone is super high maintenance in discussion stages, it won’t lessen during the activity stages. We understand people are excited and ambitious, but being a punisher isn’t endearing, professionally or personally, and if someone exhibits punisher tendencies early on, it could cause a publicist to not move forward.
5. THE YESSER
The artist that “yeses” you to death is no good, either. If he or she says “yes” to something you ask but doesn’t do it or follow through, then it accomplishes nothing except filling the air with words. The yesser tends not to want it as much as you do.
6. THE RUDE ASSHOLE
Captain Obvious, I know, but you’d be surprised at how many cocksure artists haven’t sold a record or played a show come at publicists, seeking their services, but talk to them like they should be glad that they had the good sense to call. I will say that most of the bands who reach out to me are polite, genial, and talented, but there have been a few who were snippy, rude, and terse with me, as if I should be thanking them for finding me. Next, bruh.
Those are some basic types of people I won’t move forward with. Luckily for me, most of the artists I’ve encountered in my career don’t fit these molds, but the ones that did are the exceptions to the rule and the ultimate exercise in irony. I remember the general type of person they were but I don’t remember specifics, like their bands or their names. Many never elevate themselves. Is it because their behavior or attitude prevented them from succeeding? Perhaps.
Amy Sciarretto has 20 years of print and online bylines, from Kerrang to Spin.com to Revolver to Bustle, covering music, beauty, and fashion. After 12 years doing radio and publicity at Roadrunner Records, she now fronts Atom Splitter PR, her own boutique PR firm, which has over 30 clients. She also is active in animal charity and rescue.
