Meet The Gen Zs That've Landed Their First Job In The Music Industry

Sometimes it feels like no matter how many jobs you apply for, that interview will never come. We hear from the next generation of workers that have recently landed their first job in the music industry to pass on their knowledge of the process. Here you can find out how they managed to get a foot in the door, how they navigated their first few months on the job and if you're still hunting, pick up some tips and inspiration to keep going.

Robyn, Radio Plugger

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

I'm currently a National Radio Plugger at Plugged In PR. I have an amazing friend who works in radio who recommended me for some work experience with them back in 2021. I had a video call with them where I talked about the music I was into and what sort of experience I had from my non-music industry jobs and got invited to spend two weeks doing work experience with them. I went and did the work experience during summer break of my part-time master's degree, one week of which I spent working at home due to my housemates catching covid. At the end of two weeks I got offered a full time job there and dropped out of my degree to take it

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

I was studying at the time I got offered my job but I always kept an eye on job advertisements for roles in the music industry, particularly those for live events as that's what my master's degree was in. The plan was to apply for jobs/work experience after I finished my degree so I actually didn't apply for any before I landed my job.

Tell us about the first month in the job.

I remember my first day being pretty hectic as it was the same day we moved into our new office up the road from the BBC. The room was full of boxes and the guys were running about trying to figure out where to hang all the platinum discs! They took me out for lunch and explained more about what the job was like and what an average day in their lives is like and then we went back to the office and we went through admin stuff. I spent most of my work experience gathering assets for releases for artists like Kojey Radical and CHVRCHES and making up mail outs we send to stations as well as gathering email addresses to build up our community radio database. James and Mikey at Plugged In were super helpful with any questions I had about the job, however silly they seemed, and were really good at easing me into the role. By the next month I was starting my first national radio plugging campaign for THE BLOSSOM which at first I felt slightly nervous about but it was really exciting to get music out there and hearing it getting played on the radio

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

My personal aim for this year is to help breakthrough the new emerging artists I'm working with that I'm feeling super excited about, such as Blondshell, The Flints and Dolores Forever. My favourite part of my job is taking a new artist and helping them to build up support and a fanbase from radio support. It's like being the opposite of a gatekeeper so I'm really looking forward to helping radio listeners find their new favourite artist

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

I would love it if there were more female/non-binary radio pluggers. It's definitely a cis male dominated role, I think I can only count on one had the female/non-binary radio pluggers I personally know so it would be great to make the radio plugging world a bit more diverse.

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

Don't give up! From personal experience I know it can feel like you'll never find a job in the music industry but life's too short to not have a job you love. It sounds cheesy as hell but keep doing what you're passionate about because that's what's going to motivate you at the end of the day.

Gemma,
Press Assistant

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

My current role is working in PR - seeing as this is my first job in this sector, my official title is Press Assistant. I found it through a job advert listing on Music Jobs UK.

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

I initially had a 'foot in the door' job for about 9 weeks, which gave me the experience I craved to help me find a permanent position. I gained that job through asking a company that held a competition I won some gig tickets for - I met them at the event and enjoyed talking with them so much, I just asked for a job! It sounds cliché as hell, but now I stand by it having lived it - if you never ask, you never know! After that, it took three months and a coffee shop stopgap job before I got my current role. I had the time, so I applied to loads of listings, making sure my CV and cover letter were tweaked accordingly for each one. It was hard work but I really wanted a permanent role in the music industry, so that and manifesting also helped!

Tell us about the first month in the job.

My first day, apart from not finding the office at first, was great! The team were super welcoming, asking me questions about myself professionally and personally, and took me out to lunch! The first few days were a bit of an infodump, reading lots of press releases and looking up each artist on the roster, but the team took the time to answer any questions I had, assuring me that no question was a stupid question, which I'm always afraid of in a new situation!

The first month, I will be honest, did become a bit scary, as I was worried that being a total newbie was a score against me compared to others who came to the company with experience. My natural reaction is to bottle those feelings up, but I told myself that if I wanted to stay in this job for good, I had to tell someone what I was going through before it got the best of me. Thankfully, my boss was and has been since completely understanding - I feel like I can approach him with any worries I have.

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

Seeing as I'm coming up to the one year mark of getting this job, I'm hopeful of a good review when the time comes! I'm also hopeful for the amount of great music that's coming out in 2023, both from our artists and the industry in general.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

While steps have been made in addressing mental health issues within our industry, these feel like baby steps when you look at the size of it - given our industry does so much (late nights, intense workloads, mega tight deadlines to name a few things) with diminishing returns, the structure is still not present on a wide scale on how to handle this. Giant steps still need to be taken, the music industry requires mental health support as a necessity.

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

If it feels like you're getting doors shut in your face from every angle, keep knocking - one will eventually open for you to get your foot in!

Elliot, Graphic Design

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

I am currently working in a graphic designer position at Festival Republic. I went through a fairly standard process to get the role; found the listing on a creative job site, sent an application, went through two rounds of interviews and was offered the job.

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

I applied for easily over 100 roles and had had one interview, for which I didn't get a job offer, about 3 weeks before the interview for my current role. Had been looking in total for around 6 months I believe.

Tell us about the first month in the job.

I was extremely excited to begin this role as I had applied with the impression that I was no where near qualified so was very surprised to have been successful.It didn't take long before I became very familiar with the whole team and they were all incredibly friendly and welcoming.

I was definitely dropped into the deep end as I was joining at the same time another designer was leaving so I had to quickly work out what I was doing but I was given lots of support and patience and that made the experience really productive and I learnt so much in those first few weeks.

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

That we can continue to create spaces for people to come together and share the music we all love.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The distribution of wealth and funding - there's so many people with incredible ideas who just need the backing to be able to create something amazing.

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

It's a cliche but if you aim for the moon you might just hit the moon, no one will be a bigger cheerleader for you than yourself so work out what your strengths are and shout about it until someone notices you.

Ella, Project Manager

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

Project Manager - The state51 Conspiracy (record label). I'd actually seen the job advertised on Route instagram page so I sent in my CV & wrote a cover letter straight away!

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

I had been working in project manager type roles for years, I was at the BBC and I hated it. I decided in summer 2022 that I wanted to put all my efforts into finding a job in music after doing loads of voluntary music jobs for years and I think I was just incredibly lucky with the state51 job, it was the first official music role i'd applied for/interviewed for so landed it first time! I'd also had some great advice and help from Nyla Davison (Tour Manager) who I just messaged on Instagam when I read her Route interview and she was super helpful, offered me loads of advice and guidance!

Tell us about the first month in the job.

The first month was brilliant, and I still love coming to work every day. I was definitely a mix of nervous and excited, I'd been very honest about how green I was to the industry when I interviewed but they were so reassuring that they would be able to teach me everything. I was given some official training on all the systems and things but its mostly just learn as you go, my colleagues are incredibly supportive so asking for help is never an issue at all. Massive shout out to Georgie King at state51, she's also a PM and she's so brilliant and learning from her is such a dream, I trust her implicitly. We've also got an office in Lithuania so in my first month a bunch of us went out there - it was amazing to be given an opportunity to do something like that within my first few weeks of starting. I can honestly say everyone who works at state51are lovely, it's a small but mighty team and i'm just so excited to see where we go, we've got some very exciting things coming in 2023 so watch this space.

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

Just continuing to expand my expertise and knowledge. I've already started talking to one of my colleagues about putting on our own gigs, so just being proactive, up for anything and keeping an open mind

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

I think don't be scared to reach out to people for advice - find people working in the industry, drop them a message and see if they'll meet you for a coffee! You never know where that could lead you

Alice,
Artist Liaison & Production

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

I’m a freelance Artist Liaison & Production Crew member. Primarily with Manchester-based Artist Operations (we’re the core team for The Warehouse Project!).

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

It was my first role in the live music industry, starting as a volunteer in 2019. I didn’t begin my regular work with them due to Covid until 2021. I applied online, had one interview, subsequently being offered an artist liaison assistant role for Parklife Festival.

Tell us about the first month in the job.

Freelance is very different from a regular full-time job - you’re thrown into the deep end and given tasks straight away. It’s a lot of hard work and long days, but the team are welcoming straight away. There’s long hours, lots of sleeping in tents, and relying on festival food. We’re all in it together, and everyone’s on board to help out wherever they can.

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

I plan to engage other skills into my portfolio career. I plan to qualify in the near future as a lawyer in the music industry. I also plan to take on more artist agent/management work, on the back of successfully pitching artists for UK events. I plan to travel more for international work on the back of my UAE debut last year, and mentor others looking to find their feet in music and events.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

Equality in the industry from a professional understanding. Women are typically taken less seriously and professionally than men, despite having the same knowledge and skillset - speaking from experience!

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

Never give up. It’s hard graft. Network as much as you possibly can, knowing the right people can excel your career in the industry. Take any opportunity you can!

Ann-Marie,

Event Administrator

What’s your current role in the music industry and how did you land it?

Facilities, Operations, Event Administrator. I Applied for the job online on DoorsOpen

How long were you searching for a job in music before you got your foot in the door?

Five years but not persistently and I wasn’t really looking for jobs the correct way. I never had an interview because a lot asked for unpaid internships before.

Tell us about the first month in the job.

Really nervous, I had a day training where the whole office was in, less than a week later I was on my ones most of the office had Covid and the heating had broken (which I had to fix) nevermind we were 2 weeks out from our largest events of the year. I kept on worrying that this would happen throughout my time at AMAAD but very happy that I was wrong about that.

What are you hopeful about for your career or the music industry in 2023?

Constantly developing myself and team, getting on projects that I have no business being on and more networking.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The idea that just because it’s the way that it’s the only way to do things

Finally, give one piece of advice to other young people hunting for jobs…

Work hard, work in other industries, steal techniques from your other roles and perfect what you do.

One or two years into your first role? Positive or negative, we want to tell the story of what it’s like to be a young person working in music in 2023.

If that’s you, and you’d like to featured in a follow up article, then please fill out the form linked here.