Looking at different Areas of the Music Profession

There are a number of different areas to the music industry, and these aspects are constantly changing. With the advent of the internet the music industry has experienced many changes, which nobody was prepared for or even considered. The Music industry is not the business it was 10 years ago or even 5 years previous.

All areas surrounding music have experienced some metamorphosis and transition which some have survived and some have not. From the top to the bottom, from the top people have changed job roles or just got other jobs. From the bottom people have come from nowhere to the front row of what the industry is today

Music Industry

Earlier from the year 2001 till 2014 the Music Industry had three main areas. These were the dominating areas of the industries mechanics. However things have diversified into more unique and specialist areas of function.

1.Record Companies

2.Music Publishing

3.Live Music

Music ProfessionHowever, it has been broken down into different aspects of production.

Production companies

Service Companies

Agencies

Media Companies

Professional Organizations

Educational

Production CompaniesUp until recently Record Companies are usually described as either major or independent. But this too has changed

There are four major labels and these have numerous sub-labels. And these sub labels have sub labels to them

The majors were EMI, Sony/BMG, Universal. But this has developed into a different kind of label

The majors did make less than 1 in 5 of all controlled releases, and sell about 70% of recorded music worldwide. The rest was sold by the independents, but this has also changed.

There are thousands of Independent labels, and they often specialize in a particular style or genre. But these labels can be more active than major of the past generations

Record labels fall roughly into two groups: the majors and independents. These figures don’t change much from year to year.

Major labels

Production Companies

Apart from labels, there are other parts of the Industry that can be discussed as production companies, these include:-

Radio

TV

Video production

Concert Promoters etc

Service Companies

Recording Studios

Rehearsal Studios

Lighting Companies

PA Hire Companies

Transport Companies, Tour Bus Hire etc

Music Business Lawyers

Music Business Accountants

Agencies

Artist’s Booking Agents

DJ Booking Agents

Online musician

Online agency

Artist Management

Media Companies

Music Magazines

Radio

Television

Internet (Design and Promotion)

By using the media, labels, artists and management can promote artist’s releases and gigs to the public.

Professional Organisations

PRS (PRS for music)

MCPS (Mechanical copyright protection society)

PPL (Phonographic performance limited)

Musicians Union

BPI (British Phonographic Industry)

Online agencies

Educational

Teaching in a college or school

Private lessons

Music Therapy

Online tutorials

You-tube tutors

Podcast tutors