Music Graduate Jobs

Music is an incredibly varied industry with so many different roles that people can get their teeth into.

In this guide, we are exploring some of the music graduate jobs that you can look into after getting a degree in a music discipline.

The music industry, and the world of music performance, can be quite unusual. As well as your degree, you will often have to display your credentials in other ways and gain industry contacts. Work placements and internships are still an option if you have a degree.

Jobs for Music Degree Graduates

Music industry graduate jobs can vary greatly. A lot of the time, the area you want to go into will inform whether you go on to further education like a masters degree, an internship, or straight into a job. You need to decide what’s next.

Suitable roles for music graduates include:

• Private music teacher. If you excel at one instrument, you can use your incredible skills to help others to learn that instrument.
• Production assistant at a recording studio/record label.  This is an entry-level position and can be very tough work so you need to have lots of enthusiasm!
• Session musician. This can involve both live work or studio work, and you will need to be versatile in order to work with different bands, artists and styles.
• Music journalist. This is a great way to use your writing skills as well as your understanding of the music industry.
• Tour manager/promoter. If you’re good at organisation and have an interest in marketing, this could be the job for you!
• Recording engineer. This is a specialised area, and you will need additional work experience in the studio after graduation if you want to work with high-quality audio equipment.
• Composer. Many people get into music because they dream of this job.  It’s a very challenging field to break into, but it can be incredibly rewarding too.
• Music therapist. This growing area will need some additional training, but it can be a very fulfilling career.

There are many other music graduate jobs that you could explore and careers in the media. The important thing is to find something that interests you and that you’re passionate about, as this will help you to succeed in your career. Be creative, and don’t be afraid to ask around for advice!

Further Skills for Music Industry Work

When searching for jobs for music degree graduates, there are additional skills and mindsets you need to adopt.

Keep in mind that not everyone in the music industry is a graduate. There are National Diploma options and other routes into certain roles. Work in this industry certainly has some requirements besides a degree.

• Creativity. Virtually everyone in the industry is creative in some way. It’s a different kind of creativity to most other jobs, but it’s still there!
• Dedication. You will need lots of dedication and hard work if you want to succeed in the music industry – just like any career path really.  However, this one can be very tough due to all the competition around for roles – especially as an entry-level worker.
• Passion. This is a key ingredient for any career in the music industry, and it’s what will keep you going when things get tough!
• Understanding of the business side of the industry. Although creativity is important, it’s not everything – you also need to understand how the music industry works as a whole if you want to progress.
• Entrepreneurial spirit.  You don’t necessarily need to be an entrepreneur, you may be working for an SME or a large enterprise. However, if you have a head for business and want to start your own projects then this is the industry for you.

Many music graduate jobs on offer are varied, exciting, challenging – and there’s no reason why they can’t also pay well if you work your way up. If you’re committed to getting into this field of work, you’re in for an exciting ride.

Finding Music Graduate Jobs

Whether you are looking for music tech graduate jobs or other music graduate jobs in the UK, there are opportunities out there in London, Manchester, and just about anywhere else in the country, if you’re willing to search for them.

Check out our graduate jobs board for the opportunity to put your music qualifications to good use.