Is The Music Industry Growing or Shrinking?

Answer 1

The music industry has been one of the most beleaguered industries in the world today. The jobs that were set in stone only 10 years ago have been whittled away by the constant free content that is spread on the internet. The main employment entities in the music industry, the major record labels, have consolidated and cut staff to mere skeleton crews. Although there are definitely music industry jobs that are necessary and still available, there is much less room than there was before in the traditional music industry.

This does not mean that there are less jobs in the music industry as a whole. The major labels have been downsized because of the Internet, but music as a whole is a growing industry. There are still flourishing markets for television and movie licensing rights, and with the Internet, it is much easier to get songs to these entities. Sometimes, the major labels are not even needed as a go between for a band or an individual artist to make money as a licensed commodity.

The jobs that are definitely still around in the music industry whether you think is growing or shrinking include being an artist, being a producer, being an engineer, being an artist and repertoire employee, business management, publishing administration, financial management and licensing specialist. There are many more, but they are too numerous to list here.

The one thing to know about the music industry is that it is one of the most Darwinian industries in the world. There are literally no barriers to entry, although you can cultivate relationships and gain the proper training by going to vocational schools for your chosen discipline. However, even this does not guarantee you a job in the music industry that will pay you well. Many people who perform the same duties for different entities are paid on completely different pay scales, and this has everything to do with the success of the music that is being promoted around them or that they are a part of. Most people find success as they combine their talents into a record label and actively go about licensing professionally recorded music to TV, movies and businesses that need music for commercials.