Music Business?

College Majors Music Major
1

<p>I'm currently in 10th in high school and I really am confused and frustrated when it comes to choosing my career because I dont know where I could get information. It would be nice if some of you could give me some ideas.</p>

<p>When I used to be young, my dreams were to become rich so my goals were obviously to become lawyer, doctors, etc..
I'm a drummer and I'm sure that it is a job that's nearly impossible to become successful without good networking.
I had a huge passion for music since I was young, or in fact, I want to devote my entire life into music, but I just generally thought that it would be better to choose another career rather than majoring in music because of all the unemployment, and people struggling to get a job as a musician today...
So basically my goal in the past was simply to choose a career other than music, earn a living with that, and spend my entire life enjoying music. </p>

<p>For christ sake, when I thought about it for a long time though, this is not some kind of movie or drama that "some incredible young man sacrifices years of studies in order to reach his final happiness"</p>

<p>I realized that a profession is not something that you can say "I'll just make some bucks out of this job". I think it is definitely something that people need devote their life into and have some passion into it since it's not just "studying for 10years and boom we're all off to earn money". </p>

<p>Right now I do have a high GPA and straight A's, and I also am preparing for the SATs,etc.. But it feels like im going to school, and preparing for SAT's and all these things in an empty, hollow mind without a clear goal in my life. I think that if I choose a specific goal, I would be able to get inspired and could actually feel more settled.
I get stressed out so much because of my parents opposing musical careers, and I don't really get mad at them though because I think it is quite reasonable(the unemployment rate today, artists committing sucide, etc..), but I felt so depressed about it and hate how this world is so hard to live as a musician that I thought of committing sucide several times. Its because to be honest, I hate all other careers such as law,medical,economic professions. I don't have even a bit of a passion for other careers, or morelike.. I absolutely despise all other careers because I dont feel a single reason to do them other than to make money. I'm not one of those people that would say "Oh I want to become a doctor! because I like helping people!" or some bs like that. But I'm not even sure if it's just music that is right now temporarily making me blind and restraining me from getting interested in other areas... Well the utmost scariest thing I can imagine is myself in the future studying for years for a safe career such as pre-med or law while my friends or people around me easily make a successful career as a musician. I know that people might think of me as a coward or a stubborn guy, but I don't want to regret my whole entire life for not choosing my career as a musician. I don't care about how much money I make, all I would want is just a small house and some money to buy instruments and make my own music,etc...
And so my middle school and freshman year just passed horribly like that until one day I found something called music business.
My goal is pretty simple as of now: to create my own recording label/company to gather musicians, etc..</p>

<p>It seems like my parents STRONGLY oppose anything related to music though, and I had countless numbers of arguements with them, so I don't really even feel like asking them and I'm sure they don't know that much about it too. </p>

<p>Although I will talk to my counselors, and do more research on it. I really would like to know what music business is specifically, requirements, and whether it is a competitive job or not, etc...
It would be very nice if some of you that are in college attending classes for music business respond too :)</p>

2

<p>aposkaha,</p>

<p>I am glad to see that you have come here for help. There is a lot of information available on CC and some very good people who can answer your questions.</p>

<p>I am most concerned about you describing yourself as depressed and of having thoughts of suicide. I have a few close friends who have been diagnosed with clinical depression, and a couple of them have made suicide attempts. Fortunately, they got the help that they needed and seem to be on the road to recovery. If you do not feel that you can speak with your parents about this, I hope that there is another trusted adult in your life to whom you can go. Should you ever have thoughts of killing or hurting yourself, please contact someone who will help you. If you do not know where else to turn, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK. Look up their website at a time when you are not feeling quite so down - there are some good resources there for you. If you have a cell phone, perhaps you could program their number into it. If not, perhaps you could write it on a piece of paper and put it where it will always be within reach.</p>

<p>Now, to speak to some of the other issues you raise. As you have noticed, the economy is not so great these days and a lot of people are out of work or are taking jobs doing something that they do not really care about just to earn a living. Hopefully by the time you are applying for employment rather than for college admission, things will have improved. In any event, that is not something you are going to have a whole lot of control over, so it would be a better use of your time and talent to consider your own interests and how you want to spend your time in high school and college. Realize that there are a lot of people in tenth grade who do not have any idea of what they want to do after graduating from high school. There are some who may think they do, or act as if they do, but they will very likely change their mind three or four times before it is time to choose a major in college. Those who really do have a clear idea of what they want to do and follow through with that for the next six to ten years are in the minority. Let me congratulate you for keeping your grades up and thinking ahead to the SATs despite all of this internal turmoil you describe. If you can continue to do that for another couple of years while you work all of this out, you will have many options available to you.</p>

<p>Even though you did not mention anything about classical music or attending a conservatory, I think there are some articles at the Peabody Institute of Music website that you should read that talk about people who are torn between studying music and studying something else. They are at [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Articles](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787]Peabody”>http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/787) and at [Peabody</a> Institute - Conservatory Admissions: The Double Degree Dilemma](<a href=“http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/doubledegree]Peabody”>Double Degree | Peabody Institute)</p>

<p>Music Business covers a lot of ground. It can involve management, sales, marketing, production, law, sound engineering and a bunch of other things. Perhaps knowing that it can lead to a number of fairly conventional job options (MBA, engineering or law for example) will help put your parents more at ease, even if you are not thinking in terms of a business, engineering or law degree right now. Your high school counselors may or may not be all that helpful. Hopefully, they can point you toward some of the information you need, but not all of them have the time to remain up-to-date on some of the more specialized programs like music performance or music business. Thus, it is good that you have found College Confidential.</p>

<p>Perhaps out master indexer, violadad, will respond with a list of links to threads in which you can find more information about a music business major. Until then, play around with the search function yourself if you have time or go on over to Belmont University at [Mike</a> Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business - Belmont University](<a href=“http://www.belmont.edu/mb/]Mike”>http://www.belmont.edu/mb/) and read about their program, which is considered among the best.</p>

<p>Finally, try to have some faith that things will work out in your life. That is much easier said than done, particularly when your parents seem to be trying to force you in a different direction, but things do have a way of working out. I sing and play with some fantastic musicians who have day jobs doing other things. Some of them enjoy their day jobs, others not so much. The point is that they have found a way to do what they love while still being able to pay the bills. It sometimes takes years of hard work to get to that point, but it pays off in the end and the journey can be a lot of fun, but only if you let it.</p>

<p>If, after doing a bit more research, you have some specific questions, please post them here or send them to me in particular via PM. You have the advantage of time on your side. There is a lot to learn before you have to choose a school and a major, but you have found a very good place to start. Good luck to you and please do not try to solve all of life’s problems this year - take them one at a time and ask for as much help as you need.</p>

3

<p>aposkaha, welcome. BassDad, as always, speaks wisdom. There’s not much for me to add, other than a few links to get you started.</p>

<p>This is the definitive thread on music business/tech programs <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/787110-music-industry-program-major-minor-help.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/787110-music-industry-program-major-minor-help.html&lt;/a&gt; and you can follow the search suggestions I’ve posted within to find more school or program specific detail. If you need help, ask.</p>

<p>You will find that most of the ‘rents here are supportive of their students’ musical pursuits, but believe me it’s not without concern and some trepidation. And there are a few student posters with little or minimal parental support of their musical intentions. Realize also that most of the parents initially are just as clueless as your own. In most cases, it’s a learn as you go process, and there really is no better way to learn and understand the caveats and nuances than to seek the advice of those with the discipline specific background and knowledge.</p>

<p>You may want to read this <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/460187-how-many-music-voice-performance-majors-find-jobs.html&lt;/a&gt; and potentially pass it to your parents. If nothing else it is food for thought.</p>

<p>Let me warn you now, your gc will most likely know less than doodley squat about music based admissions, and probably even less about music business/tech options. Arm yourself with what YOU need to know.</p>

<p>Just to throw one other aspect on the table, you may want to take a look at music therapy. Seems to be a viable alternative for those with interests in music as well as the helping/healing professions. The thread here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/729144-music-therapy.html?highlight=music+therapy[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/729144-music-therapy.html?highlight=music+therapy&lt;/a&gt; has a number of additional links.</p>

4

<p>aposkaha,</p>

<p>Years from now I think you’ll appreciate how fortunate you were to come across BassDad and violadad at this point in your life. I’m frankly getting a little misty at the wisdom and love reflected in their advice.</p>

<p>I think everyone here can relate to what you’re struggling with. Music is such an amazing and powerful thing, who wouldn’t want it to be the center of their life? My son is a high school senior, and a great drummer, and like you he wants music to be his life. And like all non-wealthy parents, I worry about how he’s going to make it out there.</p>

<p>We have a friend who’s a great jazz guitarist, and he’s cobbled together a living by working hard and teaching at a community college and gigging and giving lessons, and he’s moderately poor but very happy. Sometimes he plays great gigs and tours internationally, but he also has to play weddings and cocktail parties and things like that to pay the bills. His advice to my son is “only go into music if there’s absolutely nothing else you can do. If you want to be poor your whole life, if you never want to have health insurance and never be able to retire, music is for you.” He’s so bright and resourceful, he could have succeeded at many careers, but he just couldn’t motivate himself for anything else. He has a great (and enterprising) wife and child and a nice funky house and a lot of amazing friends. It’s taken -many- -many- years of hand-to-mouth existence to get him there, but I don’t think he regrets it a bit. </p>

<p>I have another friend who’s a wonderfully talented keyboard player (perfect pitch and everything) who majored in music in college. When he graduated he went to work in a lumberyard, and hated hated hated it. He ended up learning computer programming, and now he has a day job working for a big insurance company. He makes a pleasant living – it’s actually interesting work, and he works with nice people mostly. He’s been able to support his family with his day job, and he gigs all the time. He just plays the music that he wants to play, in places that he likes. He doesn’t consider himself a working musician, because it isn’t work to him, it’s play, sheer joy.</p>

<p>I have yet another rock drummer friend who has toured with some very famous musicians and bands. He was an English major in college. He’s running a music school now, and doing gigs and session work when it comes along. He had an opportunity to tour with a super-famous musician recently – a dream gig. He’s chosen not to do it, because he wants to be home with his young children rather than out on the road for months.</p>

<p>So there are lots of ways to go through a life centered around music. You are at a wonderful age for exploring – and you always will be! You don’t have to figure it all out now, believe me. It’s a fascinating world out there.</p>

<p>Best wishes to you.</p>

5

<p>I had the same problem a few years ago. Planned on working in audio engineering for most of highschool. Ended up changing to civil engineering for several different reasons. But if you want to have a career in music go for it. Have a fall back plan. Maybe minor in music and major in buisness or somthing. Maybe consider some sort of double major. There are also plenty of people in the music industry that dont have a degree in that area or even a degree at all.</p>

6

<p>Hey aposkaha,</p>

<p>How are things going? You finding the information you need?</p>

7

<p>Thank you all for your kindness :)</p>

<p>well… I’m still not sure which side I have to pick.
It turns out that some of the jobs in music business are just merely categorized in the “music industry” but actually have nothing to do with music. Well thats definitely not what Im looking forward to :frowning:
Basically I want to choose a career that involves with music, but I think the only people that get to directly get involved with music in their jobs are artists,producer,composer, etc…
I dont know…I guess I’m just going to take my time to think. I’ll definitely take advantage of the double-majoring though… one will be music, the other I dont know</p>

8

<p>This question could be random, but do any of you know how music management specifically works?and any studies that are required for this? I’ve always thought about making my own record label
I’ve done some search on it, but most of them just simply explain how individuals meet up with artists, make a contract, and they end up becoming a record deal/label. I could see already that it would be a very tough job, but does it require any seperate studying or is it as simple as just “make a contract and you’re off”?</p>

9

<p>aposhkaha, I don’t know enough about the industry or detail of specific programs, but I’d suggest taking a starting point here [MEIEA</a> MEMBER INSTITUTIONS](<a href=“http://www.meiea.org/schools.html]MEIEA”>http://www.meiea.org/schools.html). </p>

<p>There is significant crossover between the list there and in the other thread I linked. Look at the actual degree requirements across the different major concentrations at schools like UHartford/Hartt, NYU/Steinhardt, Drexel, Belmont, William Paterson, Berklee, Miami/Frost that have solid music programs. The info may not necessarily be found in the webpage overviews. You may need to look in the institution’s undergrad handbook (usually a link off the academic pages) for the full breath, scope and </p>

<p>The concentrations are structured differently depending on how each school defines the program. </p>

<p>The focus will be different in for a music tech, music management, arts administration path.</p>

10

<p>ViolaDad thanks for providing that link as it is the best example I have seen of a comprehensive listing of music business/industry programs. I did notice that James Madison University is not on the list however.</p>

11

<p>aposkaha,</p>

<p>I have a long answer in the works, but am very busy for the next several days so will cut to the chase now and fill in the details next week. It is easy to set yourself up as a record label. There are lots of companies out there who will manufacture CDs, CD-Rs, DVDs, promotional materials and merchandise of a staggering variety to your specifications. It is a lot harder to generate income as a record label.</p>

<p>Some of the skills needed are:
Finding the artists and repertoire that will be on each album you produce
Creating a master audio recording (recording tracks, editing, mixdown, mastering)
Creating the artwork for the packaging (writing, graphics, desktop publishing)
Dealing with the manufacturers (business skills)
Dealing with intellectual property rights (law, negotiation, correspondence)
Marketing and selling your product
Keeping your artists happy
Developing distribution channels
Keeping business records and paying taxes as required</p>

<p>There is a lot to learn to be successful in this business, particularly if you want to do most of it yourself. In order to better understand some of what goes on, I highly recommend you read the book “This Business of Music” by Krasilovsky, Shemel and Gross. Your local library may have a copy, or you can get it for about $20 online. It is not the world’s easiest read, but if you persevere and read it from cover to cover you will have a much better understanding of the industry and how you might fit into it.</p>