What makes your expensive phone or your luxury car livelier? What would movies be without music? What do you do when you feel down and out? Music adds life and touches souls like nothing else does.  Music can be experienced in every facet of life around us.

Since music touches us so deeply in our daily lives, why not  take it up as a career?  Well, it isn’t often that you hear your friends taking up music as a full-time career and hence students tend to be cautious rather than take the plunge. Buts surely with a little awareness of what careers are in the offering in the music industry there would be more takers. There is no doubt that music as a career option has evolved over the years and is on par with any other conventional profession.

To set the record straight, let us look at what jobs the music industry has on offer as we address some of the questions that you may grapple with while contemplating music as a career.

Question 1: Do I have enough career avenues to choose from in the music field today?

If you’re of the perception that career avenues in music are very much limited unlike conventional fields such as engineering or science, then you’re in for a surprise.  From music direction to singing, there are numerous options to choose from. Here are a few options for you to reckon with:

• Composer
• Arranger
• Copyist
• Director
• Teacher
• Conductor
• Band Member
• DJ
• Singer (in Concert Choirs/Operas/Musicals)
• Entrepreneur (Selling Music Equipment or Sheet Music)
• Musician (Freelance or otherwise)
• Audio Engineer
• Recording Technician
• Music Therapist

If you don’t know to sing or play a musical instrument, there are opportunities lined up for you as well! Take a glance at a few:

• Artist Manager—An artist manager, also known as a “band manager”, is in charge of the business side of a band. The task of a manager is to take care of the day-to-day needs of the band and all necessary logistics, so that the band can focus all its energy on the creative process of making music.

• Music Promoters—The main job of a music promoter is to publicize a concert. They work with agents (in some cases, directly with the bands) and with clubs and concert venues to arrange for a show to take place. Note that this kind of promoter is different from a radio plugger or PR agent.

• Music Agents—Music agents (also called booking agents or talent agents) are the people who make live music happen. A good agent with well-placed connections can make all the difference in getting a band in front of the right audience and increasing their profile.

• Record Producer—The record producer works with the band, sessions musicians, and the studio engineer to produce records for sale. Often the producer’s job is to provide an extra pair of ears, to determine the general feel of an album or to provide expertise. They may be involved with arranging parts of the track or even writing it.

• Music Journalist—Writing about music and the music business can be fun. Some music journalists work exclusively to write reviews—they review new albums, shows, DVD releases, and such. Other journalists tend to do more in-depth pieces about musicians—they do interviews and cover the people behind the music.

• Cover Art Designer—A cover art designer is a graphic designer who focuses on music-related projects. Often, designers who work on cover art and liner notes may also dabble in designing posters, t-shirts, and other merchandise for the artists with whom they work.

Question 2: Should I obtain a professional degree in music? Will it really help my career?

Yes. Even though such a creative career drives on passion and talent, it is also important for aspirants to back themselves with a degree in music or creative arts. There are a number of degree courses in music that might suit your career needs. For instance, Delhi University’s Department of Music offers a bachelor’s program in music. Formal programs are usually diplomas or bachelor of music courses.

While a bachelor’s degree in music is the right qualification to be a music teacher in a school, a master’s degree is useful for teaching and training in a college.
Schools teaching Indian classical music are either Hindustani or Carnatic. Those who wish to learn Western classical music can apply to the KM Music Conservatory, set up by A.R. Rahman.

Question 3: Will I be able to squeeze my way though all the competition in the music field?

Given the current scenario of the music industry, the answer to this question is simply yes, but strictly if you can exude a strong will power and perseverance along with your talent.   
If you choose to be a music composer, it is true that you will have to work extremely hard to take your compositions to the next level and have them played. It is not impossible; it is just a matter of having an industrial mentality and the ability to work hard.

But otherwise, you can never complain about  any lack of opportunities in the music field. Right from local college fests to the film industry (where music contributes to 15 percent of a film’s earning), there is really no dearth of opportunities for aspirants.  Today reality shows have become a great platform for budding singers, churning out professionals time after time. Have you ever wondered what Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal, and Kelly Clarkson have in common? They are all products of famous singing reality shows.

Career as a singer is flourishing and the media are opening new avenues through reality shows for the talented. Also, thanks to numerous TV channels, radio stations, and live entertainment making their foray into the mainstream,  career avenues in music have  become a lucrative job prospect.

Question 4: What about the money factor?

Although remuneration comes with experience, once established, aspirants can rake in the moolah. Renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan comments, “Over time, people will notice what you are doing. Then you’ll be in demand, and when you are in demand, you’ll make money.” Professionals in the music field can start with Rs 15,000 per month and there is no limit to what one can earn as recognition comes their way.

Music as a Career––Reaching for the sky!