How to write a Resume that will get you noticed in the Music industry.

If you have a passion for music and an understanding of how the music industry works, you might be suited for a role at a record label or in the music business sector. With that in mind, here’s everything you need to know about preparing a resume for a role in the music industry.

The music industry is a volatile beast, with some mega-selling artists flung to the top of the charts in a matter of days and others quietly grinding away for years just trying to make ends meet.

In the background, thousands of workers help keep the industry afloat by doing the jobs required of them - everything from soundcheckers at live shows to album cover artists.

In this article, we’ll offer a guide to help you apply for some of those jobs.

How Do You Get Noticed By a Music Label?

The age-old question: “How do you get your name out there? How do you get seen? How do you get noticed?”

It’s not just an issue facing up-and-coming music acts vying for attention, it also affects those who want to be employed in music industry roles.

One of the significant issues with the music industry is that there really is no criteria for how you can be hired; it’s not like, say, becoming a doctor, where you can go to Med School and come out seven years later with an MD and a residency at a hospital in your local areas. Music industry workers come from all walks of life - from college degrees to people who just decided to organize gigs at their local town music hall and found themselves as a music manager a few years later….

So, if you’re looking for a job at a music label, you’ll have questions about the best way to get noticed. Here's our advice:

• Put your music related experience first: Music labels will get a lot of applicants when they’re hiring, so the first thing they’ll look at is your experience. If you have completed internships, set up music projects yourself, or worked with notable people/teams/companies within the industry, your resume will sit a lot higher than most others. Similarly, if you have a relevant degree (especially one involving work experience within the music industry), that will also help support your application. Showing a portfolio of music projects you've worked on will reassure labels that you're someone who has proactively gone out and built experience.
• Stand out with your Personal Brand: Trust us, the best applicants out there aren’t copying and pasting their resumes off a template they found on Google; they’re showcasing their original personal brand. What makes you different to other candidates? Write a resume highlighting your social media presence, your portfolio, and your work with others in the industry. Make it clear to them that you’re a valuable asset within the industry, and make it clear that if they don’t pick you, then a rival label will…
• Always tailor your resume: This should be standard by now, but it's always important for you to tailor your resume for each job you apply for. The best way to stand out is to speak to the person reading your resume like the company/label they work for is the most important bastion for the entire industry. This will help you go far!
  

How to Get a Job at a Record Label

The music industry is highly competitive, meaning that getting a job at a record label can be tough.

You can get ahead of the competition by being proactive. If you have never previously worked at a record label, the best way to get a job at one is to intern in some capacity. Many record labels will offer internships so that individuals can build up their experience; they will also frequently hire in-house when a job pops up, meaning that your internship can become a trial run for you getting your long-desired full-time job.

Elsewhere, you’re strongly advised to look for job opportunities on various hiring websites, online forums, and social media platforms like MusicCareers. Consult these platforms daily and apply to record labels where you believe your talents would be best suited.

Finally, in the music industry, it’s always worth trying some non-standard approaches. These can involve emailing record label execs and showing your interest; they can also involve pointing out areas where you can assist a record label in terms of their growth and development within the industry (many of the best music industry employees have literally talked themselves into a job by pointing out areas for improvement…).

Remember, since there is no clear criteria for being a great employee in the music industry, there are no clearly defined hiring processes either. Sometimes, record labels won’t know they need a new staff member until someone reaches out to them and expresses enthusiasm, insight, and a desire to help them grow. If you want the job, it doesn’t harm to be that person!

Record Label Positions  

Ok, we’ve covered how you can get ready to send your resume off to a record label. Now, let’s look at the descriptions of some positions within record label companies.

A&R (Artists and Repertoire)

A&R Professionals play a big role in growing a record label’s roster of artists. They’ll hunt for emerging talent, sign up artists, and then develop them and shape their artistry so that their careers skyrocket.

Marketing Team Roles

Music Marketing plays an important role in the music world since it helps fans find the artists they love, even in a highly saturated industry. Record labels need marketing coordinators to promote artists; digital strategists to help market artists online; and publicists to liaise with the media, write press releases, and help with artist campaigns.

Legal

The music industry requires a lot of legal work, so record labels are always on the lookout for those from a legal background. Music licensing, artist negotiation, and payment contracts will all involve legal work.

Other Members of the Production Team

A record label will take an artist’s ideas and help bring them to life - so their staff will be composed of numerous other members who will do various jobs. Production Teams will do everything from booking studios, hiring music producers, handling distribution, and offering artistic/business advice.

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We also have an in-depth articles that will help you land a job in the music industry! Find out in our blog page.

The number of opportunities may surprise you, and you won’t need to be an expert concert pianist to succeed. If you're considering a path in the music industry, take the first steps and follow your dreams! Read The Beginner's Guide to Working in Music for you to get started!