How to: Get into Music PR | The Big Music Project Ever loved a band or artist so much that you just had to tell everyone you know about them? Then Music PR might be a career for you. Debra Geddes is founder of Great Northern PR, and previously headed up EMI Record’s press and publicity team where she managed campaigns for the likes of Emeli Sande, Bastille, Tinie Tempah and Daft Punk. She shares her advice on getting started in Music PR. Debra Geddes For as long as I can remember I always knew I wanted to work in music – I worked in a record shop when I was still at school, and I used to DJ in clubs while I was at University. A year later I saw a job advertised at EMI Records for a Press Officer and I sent in my CV and was thrilled to get the job. 1. Work as hard as you possibly can to make contacts. 2. Remember you have to love music. 3. Working in a press office means you have to communicate with lots of journalists and writers in a highly competitive environment. 4. Be a natural communicator and be good with people. 5. 6. 7.
Get Into The Music Business – Top 10 Mistakes by Tom Hess If you want to become successful in the music industry, there are many things you need to know and do. But even if you get all that right, you can prevent yourself from reaching big success by making critical mistakes along the way (and there are many potential mistakes one could make, when not being careful). Mistake #10 - Not having a compelling image that is congruent with your music. Mistake #9 - Trying to ‘get your name out there’. Mistake #8 – Believing that social media websites are the keys to online music promotion for musicians and bands. Mistake #7 - Not investing enough time into building your music career. Mistake #6 - Surrounding yourself with people who are negative, lazy and lack ambition. Mistake #5 – Having merely mediocre live performing skills. Mistake #4 - Focusing on increasing the ‘quantity’ of fans instead of the ‘intensity’ of your fans. Mistake #3 – Not enough cash flow to support your music career.
Alternative ways to get into the music industry | GoThinkBig It’s easy to be daunted by the music industry, what with all the talk of “crisis”, “bad sales” and “HMV has closed down hence the end of the world” but there are a whole host of options you might not have considered. From music PR to live-streaming, music journalism to scouting new bands, any “in” will give you transferable skills you can use to your advantage. We’ve collected tips from a load of experts who’ve already made it in a variety of different music-based ways… Matt Mason, senior editor of Q magazine, knows his tunes, which is a good job considering he presides over one of the most influential and widely-read music magazines in the UK. Understand the magazine you’re applying for. Matt says: “So many budding writers send me generic emails asking for work and attaching a CV and some cuttings. Have fresh ideas Know what’s going on in the industry “Musicweek is a good starting point. Start a blog “A general tip is that it’s important to show commitment to – and passion for – a career.