Musicians often gain their reputation or professional standing by exhibiting 
a high level of professionalism and proficiency in a particular kind of music or
performance. Some play a variety of string, brass, woodwind, or percussion instruments or electronic synthesizers.

Singers interpret music and text, using their knowledge of voice production,
melody, and harmony. They sing character parts or perform in their own 
individual style. Singers are often classified according to their voice range—
soprano, contralto, tenor, baritone, or bass—or by the type of music they 
sing, such as Gospel, opera, rock, popular, folk, rap, or country and western.

Music directors conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal 
performances by musical groups, such as choirs and glee clubs,

Composers create original music such as symphonies, operas, sonatas, 
radio and television jingles, film scores, and popular songs. They transcribe 
ideas into musical notation, using harmony, rhythm, melody, and tonal 
structure. Although most composers and songwriters practice their craft on
instruments and transcribe the notes with pen and paper, some use 
computer software to compose and edit their music.

Songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical 
composition or melody to songs, or both. That is to say, a songwriter is a 
lyricist, a composer, or both. The word 'songwriter' is however more 
commonly used to describe one who writes popular songs..

Freelance Songwriter
Freelance writers may work on their own, or under a part-time contract 
with various companies, securing single song agreements either under a "work-for-hire" contract or a songwriter agreement.

Songwriter/Producer
Producer/Songwriters develop their own material from start to finish. They 
write the material, develop a concept for how they would like it arranged 
and recorded, hire musicians and engineers, and oversee the recording and production of the material. They have the final say on the development of
their material.

Lyricist
Individuals who are talented in expressing themselves with words can 
develop careers writing words to songs. A pure lyricist would create only 
the words, and may work as a team with a music composer, or may create 
lyrics for a previously written piece of music.

Arrangers transcribe and adapt musical compositions to a particular style 
for orchestras, bands, choral groups, or individuals. Components of music—
including tempo, volume, and the mix of instruments needed—are arranged 
to express the composer’s message. While some arrangers write directly 
into a musical composition, others use computer software to make changes.

Music Publisher:
are responsible for acquiring the copyrights to songs and publishing them. 
They may work for a very large music publishing company and perform one 
or two specific duties as a music publisher. They may work for a relatively 
small firm and fulfill a variety of functions. Many individuals in music 
publishing or songwriting become independent music publishers, running 
their own music-publishing firm. The goal of the music publisher is to find 
and acquire potential hit songs (copyrights) and songwriters, promote them
for financial gain and serve as copyright administrator whereby tracking, 
licensing and payment collection can be done efficiently. A good music 
publisher has knowledge of all facets of the music business, an 
understanding of music industry dynamics, an ability to hear hit tunes, 
knowledge of copyrights laws, and contacts in the music business.

Song Plugger (Professional Manager)
work for a music publisher, and perform the administrative functions of 
music publishers. They also work to add new possible hits to the publisher's
catalog, and to find acts to record these songs, generating income for the 
publisher. Professional managers seek to have a song covered and recorded
by as many artists as possible and attempt to make the tune a "standard." Song-Pluggers rely heavily on their contacts in the music business to 
accomplish their job, and must have great communication skills. The 
Song-Plugger may provide creative input into a band or artist's demo since
they have a good understanding of what the industry is looking for.

Staff Writer
Staff songwriters are hired by music publishers, record companies, producers
and other production or recording groups. The staff writer's services are 
reserved exclusively for this employer. Most staff writers receive a weekly 
salary, which may be treated as a recoupable advance on the writer's 
future royalty earnings. Or they may be contracted to write "work-for-hire" 
pieces that are owned and copyrighted by the employer. Early in a career a
writer may have no option other than a "work-for-hire" position, but should 
take advantage of any opportunity to move to a more attractive long-term 
strategy to earning a living as a writer. Competition for staff songwriter 
positions is tough.

Record Label Business 

Record producer(or music producer) 
has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching 
and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and
resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes.

Record company 
is an entity that manages sound recording-related brands and trademarks 
which consist of their owned labels; their owned and licensed master 
recordings; and various related ancillary businesses such as home video and
DVDs. record companies sign, market, publicize, develop and promote as 
well as provide sales support to the larger distribution companies for their
releases and artists.

Record Company Executive
This person would usually be employed at a record label and be a director, vice-president or president of any of the various departments or areas 
there in.

A&R Coordinator
The main duty of the Artist & Repertoire coordinator is to find talent for the
company to sign. A&R Coordinators search for new talent by visiting clubs, 
going to showcases, listening to tapes and demo recordings, and watching videotapes of acts performing. He or she is often responsible for helping 
find songs for the artists signed to the record label.

A&R Administrator
The Artist & Repertoire Administrator works in the Artist & Repertoire 
Department along with the A & R coordinator. In large companies, the A&R administrators are responsible for clerical functions within the department, 
planning budgets for artists signed to the label, and working on the annual 
or semiannual budget for all artists' expenditures. They must analyze 
previous budgets, and prepare a budget proposal with projected cost 
estimates for recording current acts. They also monitor the budget in 
relation to the expenses throughout the year. Staying within a budget 
means that the A&R administrator is doing his or her job. The individual 
might work exclusively with one or two studios in order to build up a great
volume of studio time. With this volume, the A&R administrator can often 
receive discounts on time. They also keep track of all money spent for 
recording studio time, session musicians, talent, and miscellaneous 
expenses.

Director of Publicity (or Public Relations Director)
The Director of Publicity supervises the record label publicity department 
and develops and oversees publicity campaigns. As director, this person 
oversees all the work that is performed by the staff of the department.

Publicist (or Staff Publicist, Press Agent)
A Publicist handles the publicity and press needs of acts signed to a label. 
Publicity helps the label sell records and produce income. A publicist must 
be able to get an artist's name in the news (magazines, music trades, TV, 
radio, etc.) as often as possible. This is accomplished by writing press 
releases, sending them to the correct media, talking to media about acts,
and arranging interviews. The Publicist often arranges a series of print 
interviews, radio interviews, and TV appearances in conjunction with the 
release of a new record. Staff publicists spend a lot of time on the 
telephone, and are usually the first to send out promotional copies of new
records and other important materials to the media. After a new record is 
released, a publicist may work with the A&R or promotional departments on 
a showcase booking of the group, and make arrangements for a press party.

Assistant Publicist
Assists the publicist, compiling press kits, writing press releases, and double-checking information for accuracy.

Artist Relations Representative (Artist Development Representative)
The Artist Relations Representative's responsibility is to represent the label's
interest to the artist/band and the artist/band's interest to the label, and 
maintain proper communication, cooperation and mutual understanding 
between the two entities. This person's job is to make the artist feel 
appreciated by the label by thoughtful gestures such as buying flowers, 
writing letters, arranging promotional appointments that coincide with a
 new tour, album release or career milestone such as having a certified 
Gold or Platinum album. If there is a problem or concern that the label or 
artist have with the each other, the Artist Relations Representative will 
seek to mediate the situation. The Artist Relations Representative may 
also advise the artist on creative/performing related issues as well.

Promotional Staffer
The prime function of the promotional staffer is contacting radio station 
program directors to generate airplay for the label's records. Promotional 
staffers will work closely with program directors, music directors, and disc 
jockeys in these markets. They set up appointments with these station 
people and bring a number of the label's new album releases as well as a 
supply of promotional or press material relating to the artist or band. 
A promotional staffer may socialize frequently with program directors and
 music directors to help improve the chances that a radio station will add 
a song to its playlist. Promotion Staffers often take key radio station 
personnel out to lunch, dinner, or for drinks. They may also bring a program 
director to a public place where he can listen to a group play a song(s) live 
and gauge audience response.

Advertising Account Executive
An Advertising Account Executive develops advertising campaigns for a 
record label's products. This person must be creative, aggressive, have 
good sales skills and may have advertising experience in another area, as 
well as a strong knowledge of music.

Salesperson (Record Label)
A record label salesperson establishes a relationship with various accounts
to sell the company's products, and provide continuing service to the 
accounts. Accounts may include retail stores, rack jobbers and one-stops.

Regional Sales Manager
The regional sales manager is responsible for supervising the selling of the 
label's records and tapes to wholesalers and/or retail outlets in a specific 
region, creating sales campaigns and policies, and overseeing sales staff.

Marketing Representative
The marketing representative is responsible for overseeing specific markets,
and reporting sales of records to radio stations and trade publications.

Field Merchandiser (or Merchandiser)
The field merchandiser is in charge of distributing and explaining 
merchandising promotions to record stores/departments in specific markets.

Consumer Researcher
A consumer researcher researches and analyzes consumer-buying practices for the record company. This person should have knowledge of research and 
analytical methods, the ability to write reports, and knowledge of the music
business and record industry.

College Representative (or Campus Representative)
College Representatives are responsible for promoting a record label's 
products to students on campus or perhaps to music retailers. They are 
students working toward a degree who have an interest and/or skill in the
music industry, and often times are a music business major in college.

Record Distributors
get records into retail stores, and record labels get customers into retail 
stores through promotion and marketing tactics. Be prepared to sign a 
written contract with your distributor.  Distributors want ‘exclusive’ 
agreements with the labels they choose to work with. They usually want to represent you exclusively. A Recording Contract is a written document that
outlines, identifies, describes, defines, and governs the business relationship
between a recording artist (also called a royalty artist) or group, and a 
record company. The contract is called an executory agreement, i.e., it is
an agreement that is yet to be executed or performed. You will sell your 
product to a distributor for close to 50% of the retail list price.

Tour Promoters 
are the people responsible for putting together a tour. Included in their jobs are: getting the bookings, pricing the event or tour, providing air, sea or land transportation (Optional However the promotor must have upfront cash 
and or sponsors to pay for advertising the tours of the artists. such as 
TV and radio advertisements, posters, newspaper and magazine adverts, 
etc

Talent Manager

also known as a personal manager, is one who guides the career of 
artists in the entertainment business. The responsibility of the talent 
manager is to oversee the day to day business affairs of an artist; to 
advise and counsel talent about professional matters and personal decisions
which may affect their career.

Booking Agent
someone who books a concert at a venue or several venues, hence the 
name.  Bookers are chosen for their knowledge of venues and network of 
contacts.

Independent Radio Promoter
The Independent Radio Promoter (IRP) has a similar role as that of a 
Promotional Staffer at a record label, except the IRP is usually employed by
an Independent Radio Promotions Company or they may work freelance. 
Often times a record label, artist/band or manager will hire the services of 
an Independent Radio Promotions Company to generate airplay of a 
particular song or record.

The IRP contacts radio station program directors, music directors, and 
disc jockeys in a local, regional, national or even an international market. 
They set up appointments with these station people and bring a number of
new album releases as well as a supply of promotional or press material 
relating to the artist or band. An IRP may socialize frequently with program 
directors and music directors to help improve the chances that a radio 
station will add a song to its playlist. An IRP often will often take key radio
station personnel out to lunch, dinner, or for drinks. They may also bring a 
program director to a club in order to listen to a group play a song(s) live
and gauge audience response.

Entertainment Attorney
An entertainment attorney handles any contractual matters conceivable 
within the Entertainment industry. Entertainment attorneys can be 
freelance, hired on retainer or as an employee of a company or business 
within the entertainment industry. Entertainment attorneys generally 
specialize in one of three separate fields within the entertainment industry: 
Sports, Film and Television, and Music. An attorney that specializes in the
music industry usually has a solid depth of understanding with regard to 
copyright laws and artist/band agreements with managers, publishers, 
record labels, booking agents, etc. Successful completion of Law school 
and a state bar exam are requisites for being an entertainment attorney 
as well.

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