How to get into the music industry?

How do I get into the music industry?

• Please provide details of the various entry routes for somebody to get into music production, [R'n'B, Hip-Hop, and Garage music] for a record label in the UK? Put simply, How do you become the next Kayne West or Pharrel Williams? If I wanted to become a hip hop or urban music producer for say Columbia records how would I go about it?

• Answer:

  Dear Goldsmiths, You are asking a very difficult question, and I'll explain why: many people would like to become the next big thing in music production or hip-hop, few succeed. It is a fact, that you know these two names, and not the names of thousands of John Does who did exactly the same things, but did not happen to be in the right place in the right time, or just did not have the luck. Thousands more did not work hard enough, or did not have the stamina to get there - since it is a long and difficult process. Music producers usually have some level of education. Several companies offer courses on the subject, preying on your hopes to become the next big thing. Despite the fact that you could be abused, you must get somehow the know-how of simply operating the table! Berklee College of Music ("the online branch of Berklee College of Music, the world's premier institution for the study of contemporary music.", From their own website, <http://www.berkleemusic.com/about/about/>), for example, offers several online/long distance courses on production: Desktop Music Production http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?course_item_id=499436 Introduction to Pro Tools http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?course_item_id=185702 Producing with Pro Tools http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?course_item_id=176590 Production Workshop http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?course_item_id=633369 MIDI Sequencing Basics http://www.berkleemusic.com/school/course?course_item_id=10480 Please be aware, that the Berklee courses do not give you any certification that is recognised in the UK! There are also degree courses on music production: First of all - LIPA Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts <http://www.lipa.ac.uk/> Exexcel - courses on music production (all universities) <http://www.edexcel.org.uk/qualifications/SubjectFamily.aspx?id=57401> Huddersfield University, BSc (Hons) Popular Music Production <http://www.hud.ac.uk/courses/undergrad/courses/319.html> ACM <http://www.acm.ac.uk/default.htm> University College Chester - Commercial Music Production <http://www.chester.ac.uk/undergraduate/2004/cmp.html> Formant Records, Higher National Diploma in Music Production in association with the University of Kent at Canterbury <http://www.cant-col.ac.uk/courses/music/courses/ft/higher_national_dip.htm> BA (Hons) Music Production - Leeds College of Music <http://www.lcm.ac.uk/courses/musprod.htm> BTEC Higher National Diploma in Music Production <http://www.liv-coll.ac.uk/esp/result.asp?comp_id=14&course_id=323> EE3104 Digital Sound and Music Production - 2003/4 <http://www.brunel.ac.uk/admin/registry/module/curr/module_detail_si/EE3104.shtml> Popular Music Production (Combined Subject Programme) <http://www.derby.ac.uk/prospectus/ugprospectus/coursedetails.asp?Id=500> * This does not have to be a course in a company or a college that offers the knowledge, though many labels require nowadays the education. You could just try to get a job that would teach you those things, or buy the equipment (the simple one, that is), and start to teach yourself how to use it. The BPI has a book, explaining the different routes into music production and other careers in the music business. It costs only 3.50 pounds, but would probably give you the best information from the people who run the business. It might also depress you a little: from what I read, they are pretty realistic about your (slim) chances of becoming "the one" (sorry, nothing personal, as I've written before, it is just a very difficult way, and few get to the end of it): Access all Areas <http://www.bpi.co.uk/careers/content_file_134.shtml> What BPI would tell you, and what most others would offer, if to try to start working. The most important element is practical experience - to start working. That means that you have to dig as many young bands as possible, which are looking for a producer, and willing to pay - even the minimum - for you to produce their album. You have to be working - or attempting to work - 24/7. All the time, you have to be looking for new bands to produce. One of the best routes to learn, get communication skills and meet the right people, is to work as an intern ("Working Experience", or in a higher level, if you could get there) in a record company. Why come in the back door, when you could come through the main entrance? Columbia, which you mentioned, belongs to Sony Music. Their "jobs" page contains all you need to know: <http://www.sonymusic.co.uk/uk/jobs.php> And you could also write to: The Work Experience Co-ordinator Human Resources Department Sony Music Entertainment 10 Great Marlborough Street London W1F 7LP Labels such as BMG and Jive belong to Bertelsmann: Bertelsmann jobs/internships: <http://www.myfuture.bertelsmann.com/wms/bertelsmann/index.php3?language=2> Warner Music is also one of the major ones Warner Music Careers <https://warnermusiccareers.com/> * As I mentioned before, the back-door way is to try to promote and produce bands, that might get you the experience and the connections needed to get into the bigger labels. Places to promote yourself/your band/your career: (1) Clubs, record stores, etc.: you start small, and this might be also by advertising yourself in a music store specialising in your kind of music. (2) Music Production Guild and other professional associations (see also BMI above): Music Production Guild: "For those of you currently seeking work experience, we are happy to post up your requests on the MPG Website notice board. Please send an email to [email protected] detailing what experience you are looking for and the relevant skills that you have to offer, and a contact telephone number." (SOURCE: MPG Education, <http://www.mpg.org.uk/MPG-Education/edufaq.htm> (3) The media: NME <http://www.nme.com/> - not on hip-hop, but the most popular there is. The situation - online hip-hop magazine. Disadvantage: it is online. It is very important that you meet as many people as possible face-to-face, in parties, meetings, openings, etc. This probably doesn't enable that. Advantage: advertisement is advertisement. Promotion: through the event frame <http://www.thesituation.co.uk/club_contact.html>; or through their contact rubric <http://www.thesituation.co.uk/contactus.html> Elusive - online hip-hop magazine. Same situation as with The Situation. "EXPOSURE - We welcome contributions, if you are an Artist, DJ, Promoter, Record label, Writer and would like some exposure, email: [email protected] or send press releases, promos, photos, etc. to: Elusive Styles, Unit 153, 14 Clifton Down Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4BF, UK ADVERTISING - If you are interested in advertising with us, get in touch and we will send you information on promotional options and rates: [email protected]" (SOURCE: Elusive Magazine, <http://www.elusivestyles.co.uk/>). etc. (Choose your favourite magazines and check out their advertisement and classified rates and sections) (4) Bulletin Boards/vacancies Most music production vacancies are unfortunately not published in newspapers - that would be too easy, would it? Usually you have to have contacts, send your applications to as many places as possible, in order to find a job. However, there are several vacancies in the music business on Career Moves: <http://www.cmoves.co.uk/jobs/list.php?sector=mu> More information ---------------- The book mentioned before could certainly help. MPG also publishes a list of questions/answers about becoming a music producer: <http://www.mpg.org.uk/MPG-Education/edufaq.htm> Book: Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits ~Howard Massey "Music Production and Studio Engineering" - a BBC interview with a producer about how he became one <http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/parents/careersguide/production_engin.shtml> The Virgin Guide to How to Make it in the Music Business, Virgin Publishing 2000, [Sian Patterson Careers in: Music, Kogan Page 1999] "Hitting the right note..." From School Leaver magazine. Issue 31.4, Independent Website, <http://education.independent.co.uk/careers_advice/az_careers/story.jsp?story=117477> - "Just for the record, Tim Pike ­ Senior Lecturer in Music at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) ­ notes courses that could help in the search for chart success in popular music" Please help me get info on producing - Google Newsgroups (alt.music.producer) <http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&th=a067aedb450f74a3&rnum=4> The Group itself, where producers, wannabies and also some commercial scams roam, could be found at <http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&safe=off&group=alt.music.producer> Search strategy ---------------- Wow! I did a thorough search that included sites who had texts such as "become a music producer" "music production career" (with or without "hip hop"; I also went through labels' websites, called a friend of mine who's in the business (as a journalist, though); searched for any biographic details of renowned producers (from which you could learn nothing but that you need a lot of luck...); and still - I believe that there's probably lots out there that could have been missed - since this is a huge subject. Please contact me if you need any clarifications on this answer before you rate it - and good luck with your career!