Help Needed
‘Tis the season to receive resumes. Along with the start of baseball season and allergies, spring brings a fresh batch of resumes circling wildly around the industry, as college grads go on the hunt for that elusive path into the Business (as they say in LA). But this year, it seems the resume flow has turned to a flood– with two separate streams feeding the deluge. What’s strange, and a little worrisome, is the dichotomy between the two kinds of job seekers.
Judging from the contents of my inbox, most of the college grads’ dream job is in A&R at a major record label– everyone’s asking to be hooked up with someone at Sony, or Warner, or Universal. The strange thing is the other set of resumes in my overloaded mailbox are from friends working at major labels and publishers, many of whom have been ensconced in that system for years. And they’re all asking me to keep my eyes open, because they’re desperate to get out!
Someone knows something the other doesn’t. The truth is that as the business shrinks, the most dangerous spot to be is inside a multi-national corporate behemoth. With veteran A&R people being laid-off in droves, those entry-level opportunities are pretty hard to come by. But even if you get one, you might not want to unpack your boxes right away. It’s hard to look at the current economic situation in the record industry and anticipate much of anything except another round of cost cutting come December. That dream job might be exactly that.
The problem is that too many students are still buying into the MTV and Idol-fueled myth of the mighty “record label”, with its expense- account toting execs, skyscraper offices, and superstar glamour. Industry insiders know that this particular dream exists more as flashbacks in the nostalgic minds of middle-aged A&R weasels recounting the good old days, or Doug Morris, than in the day-to-day reality of the people who actually make records. But then, those people aren’t at the major labels anymore, anyway.
The truth is, the music business is alive and kicking among hundreds of small to mid-size firms that serve every possible niche and need for an expanding, but increasingly diverse audience. If you’re looking for a job in the music industry, this is where you want to be– in companies that are growing, and with people who are energized and enthused about what they’re doing.
My advice for job-hunters? Broaden your scope. I spoke this week at a very good panel for an organization called “Women In Music” (don’t ask me how that invitation came about), and the theme that emerged overwhelmingly was the incredible range of jobs now available within the industry. The panel itself included band managers, booking agents, music supervisors, music lawyers, major label publicists, musicians, concert promoters, indie-label owners, and that was just the start. It touched on opportunities in merchandising companies, performing rights organizations, radio, satellite radio, the blogosphere, music journalism, video production, ringtones, video games and… is that enough?
Here’s another idea. Have you thought about all of the companies outside of the entertainment business that are expanding into music? Major corporations from Starbucks to Nokia to investment funds are creating music-centered businesses, from labels, to concert halls, to publishing concerns. If you’re going to work for “the man”, at least work for a man with a new idea.
And here’s one last idea– maybe the best one of all. Why not start your own business? The upside of the disarray in the music business is that the field is wide-open for young entrepreneurs with good ideas and an eye to the future. Nothing is set in stone anymore– and people are desperate to find new ways of doing business. If you have the idea, DO IT!
When you’re setting out to sea on a small sailboat, the outlook can be pretty daunting– and it’s easy to assume that the big ship out on the horizon would be a much safer spot to be. But if that ship has a hole in the side, and you know how to sail– you’re probably better off on your own. Security is an illusion anyway.
More than anytime in recent memory, the music business needs creative young people who can create new business models and reinvigorate an industry dominated largely by leaders who’ve proven woefully out of touch. But there are no invitations to this particular dance. You just have to show up and get to work.
Welcome to the jungle…
Women In Music
Paul McCartney First Artist to Sign with Starbucks Record Label
Resume Help Tool from Hot Jobs
