Should I try to get a major in Music Business and Managment?

I'm thinking about taking Music Business as my major (I am a junior in high school). What kind of jobs/careers could I have in the future? Good/bad lifestyle? I have opinions about music (not extremely strong) and I know who is talented and who isn't and I know what sells. Any opinions?

Thanks!

honestly, the best bet for a stable career in music is music law... its a little more schooling (3 extra years) but gives you the additional letters to offer more mobility in the industry

Other than that, it's a very difficult field, and you have to show a whole lot of self-motivation, even if you're working for somebody elses company.

There's just not an awful lot of job security.

But definitely be prepared to intern for little to 0 money.

Not trying to discourage, it's just hard. The education will be helpful, so if its what you love, by all means go for it, but go to a real University for that education, one that has a business focus... nothing unaccredited, believe me, it will make all the difference later...

hope this helps

Rich

How about Belmont in Nashville? I heard it is known for its music business program.

+1

If you want to work your ass off your whole life for little to no money and absolutely no job security go into management. Lawyers are lawyers, there is always work to be found and after some time you can earn a decent living doing it.

I can introduce you to some former big time managers who were living the high life one minute and lost it all the next when their artists failed to have a solid followup hit. Think about every one hit wonder or "where are they now" candidate. Every one of those artists brought down their managers with them. Whereas their lawyers were really only there for the money. Sign this contract, don't sign that, pay me and good day to you sir.

What about another job besides managment? Not necessarily a manager, but working for a record company.

A record label? that is SO much more stable of a place to work (sarcasm)

Way back when I was in college, I knew a few people who had degrees in Music Management. They worked in the business office of the music department at the university I was attending, handling venue scheduling, layout and printing of programs, that sort of thing. I don't have any idea how much they were making, but I know that at least one of them is still there in the same job, albeit a couple of steps up the ladder, 20 years later. So I guess if you take that example at face value, there can be some stability in the business and management side of music.

Hey, funny you mention that, as I saw this article just this morning...

http://nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section=10&screen=news&news_id=30771

Apparently they're attempting to get a full-fledged real-deal student-run record label going there at Belmont.

I live about 5 minutes from Belmont, and I can tell you its nice. The best part is that its right down the road from Vanderbilt, so you can go party with Vandy girls without paying for Vanderbilt's tuition .

Plus it is literally surrounded on all sides by record companies, major and indie. About two steps away from famous Music Row.

And yes, there is more music going on in Nashville than country and gospel.

There is also Middle Tennessee State (MTSU.edu), whose Recording Industry Management program is probably a more famous program than Belmont's. It's about 45 minutes south of Nashville though, so its not right in the middle of stuff. That town (Murfreesboro) is an absolute orgy of musicians. The band Self, who has garnered some pretty impressive success, is from Murfreesboro.

Anyways, I love Nashville, so I always talk it up whenever I can.

I didnt know Belmont was known outside of Nashville... neat.

what do you guys think about a Radio/TV/Film degree. Im planning on getting one of those degrees. what do you think about jobs in radio ect?

my friend got one of those. he's a master control operater at a UPN affiliate, work 9p-5a at 8 bucks an hour.

music business or a Radio/TV/Film degree?

Someone give me more details about music law please

Sad the reality of those types of jobs. On the outside looking in one would think that TV jobs, especially on air, automatically means some form of wealth, but it is so not true.

Here in Canada, our "Nations music station" Muchmusic, something like half to three-quarters of their "staff" are all unpaid interns from local braodcast programs in colleges. When the internship is up they are tossed out and replaced by next semester students. A small handful of people actually get paid there, and not paid too much. Even the on air "celebrities" live fairly meagre existances. It's a prestige job that millions vie for, but you would make a bigger paycheck managing the Starbucks down the road that they all congregate at after going off the air.

Sad but true.

i spent a lot of time a few years ago researching colleges for music bus and engineering, and what i finally learned was this. if you just want to learn then they're great, but if you want to learn for free then volunteer to work for free. small labels always need help, but they have no money. it's a good way to learn specifically what you need to know, and more importantly, who you need to know. most of the successfull indie labels out there where started by people who worked for record companies. so, all you really have to do, is say hey, i'll work for free. i'll be your B*^%h if i can look over your shoulder. then you'll realize that you're capable of doing the same thing they're doing and making the money they're making. the key is to be committed and meet as many people as possible. as far as books, a really good one is "start and run your own record label" by danlle deanna schwartz. about 10 bucks at amazon.

USC, Belmont University and MTSU have Great programs.

Most music business people don't make that much money. As for lifestyle, get used to working a lot.

If you're into money/lifestyle, there are easier ways to do it. Competition to get in this business is so great that people are willing to work for very little money.

My advice is to be self-employed, but that doesn't work for everybody.

Hmmmm, I'm getting discouraged

Don't get discouraged. If it's what you really want, it's worth it. Don't think that it's a life of hanging out all day and listening to demos though...it's not!

Get an internship to get a better taste of what you're in for.

SOLID advice. I did that years ago with a (at the time) virtually unheard of record label called Nettwerk Records. You know them now as the launching pad for careers like Sarah McLaughlin, Barenaked Ladies and a ton of others. I learned that it wasn't the side of the business that I belonged in. Too bad too, as I was there on the ground floor right before things exploded with them.

How can I go about getting an internship?

I work as a musician and therefore come into contact with many people with "industry" jobs. My road manager has a degree from belmont in nashville, and is glad he recieved this education. However, he is one of the few people whom I know with a degree in this field who is actually working in this industry. The most important thing to do is to start realizing that the music business is just that: a business. If you want to work in that industry in the future, you must start treating it as such, and begin all you can do to work within it now. Meet and work with as many musicians, managers, engineers, a&r people, publicists, etc. as you possibly can in order to get a feel for how this industry works. I would not rule out a degree though, but get a degree more applicable to other industries as well in the event that you decide this business is not for you or you get fired from your music job because someone wakes up one morning and decides they don't like you, because this business is very much run by peoples' emotions and is therefore quite unstable at times.

Good Luck!

They have good programs at The University of Southern California. If you can get in there it would be worthwhile.

Belmont University in Nashville and Middle Tennessee State University also have good programs.

What a lot of people do is get in, take the industry classes, and quit when they get a job offering.

MTSU won't let you take a lot of the industry classes until you're a Junior or Senior if you are in the RIM (Recording Industry Management) program, but I know a lot of people who just major as something else and take them as electives.

Not telling you to drop out, but it happens...

I am a music industry major at Northeastern University in Boston. It's in the college of Arts and Sciences, not Business, even though most of the curriculum is business courses. I have recently been thinking about pursuing a law degree not necessarily to be a lawyer but to make myself that much more useful and available to the industry. I have given my choices a lot of thought, definitely had periods of serious self doubt and all that nastiness, but I am happy with where I am headed. My dream is actually to be a producer, making my own music. But I have no idea how my talent stacks up in the marketplace, and need to know that I have some semblance of job opportunities. I have always wanted very much to be self employed, I think that's a big goal for me. I am looking into running a record label as well as producing some hiphop acts for the moment, something I can reach out with on my own. Management is a definite possibility for the future, the law degree would be key there. I would also take a position with a major label doing anything that wouldn't require whoring myself out. But I definitely see myself having lots of different options for how and where I could fit in this industry. You don't have to be a rockstar to follow thd dream.

If you want to be a producer, work on producing. Legal knowledge will come in handy, but you can get enough from taking a few classes.

The music business is FULL of attorneys who don't pratice and moved over to management or something else. Good producers are hard to find though.