Careers Brief - Popular Music FdA
Overview
The Foundation degree in Popular Music offers opportunities for progression onto Honours degree courses and direct job entry.
Within the music industry there are a broad range of jobs: artist performer; composer; producer; arranger; artist manager; tour manager; Club DJ; radio presenter; A&R Scout; recording engineer and other technical roles; agent or PR/promoter; press officer or plugger for TV/radio; publisher; music journalist; teacher; music librarian; in broadcasting; record companies; or with instrument manufacturers. You could move between different job positions or hold several roles. The industry is highly competitive and very few work as performing popular musicians full-time in th UK.
To succeed in popular music, it is not enough being talented; you must also be self-disciplined, dedicated, self-confident and have stamina. You must be able to work successfully within a team, be prepared to work unsocial hours with irregular pay, to travel and have basic business and self-marketing skills. You could be employed part-time or in short-term contract work, be freelance self-employed or have a 'portfolio' career with more than one job.
Use the web links below in the Resources section to find out more about the variety of job opportunities open to you and entry routes.
To consider a wider choice of careers matched to your interests, use Prospects Planner and other tools listed in the Career Planning section of this Guide.
Further Study
Top-up degree programmes are designed as a direct progression from Foundation degree to Honours degree.
Use the Links on the HE Home page for information on the one-year top-up degree programme for the BA (Hons) Music Design at Bournemouth University.
Other related one-year top-up degree courses are available at the following institutions:
Bath Spa University College ‘Commercial Music'; University of Brighton 'Music Production'; University of Derby 'Popular Music Production'; University of Greenwich ‘Creative Music Production & Technology'; Hereford College of Arts 'Performing Arts'; University of Hertfordshire ‘Music Performance & Performing Arts'; Hull College 'Performing Arts Music' 'Performing Arts Music (Music Performing)' 'Performing Arts Music (Music Production)'; University of Kent 'Popular Music Performance';
Neath Port Talbot College ‘Music Performance & Production'; New College Nottingham 'Sonic Arts'; University of Northampton 'Music Production'; Northbrook College Sussex ‘Popular Music', ‘Music Performance', ‘Music Production', ‘Music Composition'; University of Plymouth ‘Sound & Music Production'; University of Salford ‘Music & Media Management'; University Campus Suffolk 'Creative Music'; University of Sunderland ‘Music'.
Foundation degree students can progress into the 2nd or 3rd year of degree courses with similar content. Entry would depend both on your grades and overlap between your course and the initial year(s) you are missing. For courses not sufficiently similar, you would need to apply for year 1, though with the advantage of a higher qualification than previously.
Use www.ucas.com/search (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service for the UK) - click on 'Subject Search' to find a suitable course. Use the university/college links for course details.
You will need to use UCAS to apply for courses. Contact the Course Tutor of your chosen course to find out your position, before you make your formal application.
Find out how much this will cost you. Where is the funding coming from? Use the website www.aimhigher.ac.uk for information on student support.
Go to the main section on Further Study in this Guide for more information and help.
Resources
www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/industry
'Find out about the many different jobs in the music industry' - go to 'Industry jobs Who's Who'
www.netgain.org.uk
Arts Advice careers website from Metier and Learn Direct - to help you pursue a career within the Creative Industries. Sections on 'funding' and 'business guidance' with links. Go to 'industry background' for 'jobs in the industry' - click on 'Musician: Popular' and see 'related profiles'. Tailored career advice and course information by email or phone.
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct - national learning advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families & Articles' or Search input 'Popular Musician'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/music
UKP - Arts: the UK performance industry training and careers site
jobseekers.direct.gov.uk
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and 'choosing a category' or typing in job title.
www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent
Click on 'Music'
www.bbc.co.uk/blast/music
BBC careers website
www.channel4.com/4careers
Type in 'music' and search
www.ism.org
ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) - go to 'Careers with Music' (20pps) Information Sheets and Registers of specialists. Careers advice to Student members.
www.musiciansunion.org.uk
The Musicians Union membership gives access to a range of support and services: negotiating fees with major employers; advising on appropriate fees; free standard contract forms for various live engagements; information on contracts, copyright, recording; legal advice on all matters relating to musical employment; instrument insurance; public liability insurance; careers advice and many other relevant issues.
www.bmr.org
British Music Rights promoting the interests of music creators and publishers. Member organisations: British Academy of Composers & Songwriters; Mechanical-Copyright Protection Society; Performing Rights Society; Music Publishers Association.
www.recordproduction.com
Record Production - record producer resources. Go to 'Music Jobs' for 'jobs in the recording industry' + major links. Video tours of recording studios and video interviews with record producers.
www.aprs.co.uk
The Association of Professional Recording Services - got to 'Education and Training' and click on 'Careers Advice' for 'Careers in Sound Recording'
www.cida.org
CIDA: Creative Industries Development Agency - go to 'Career Advice' for 'Music' and 'DJing'
www.yourcreativefuture.org
Click on 'Music'
www.prospects.ac.uk
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK
www.showcase-music.com
International Showcase - The Music Business Guide
www.bectu.org.uk
BECTU (Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph & Theatre Union) is the UK independent union for those working in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure, interactive media and allied areas. Offering information and support to employed, contract and freelance workers within these sectors.
www.artscouncil.org.uk
Arts Council England - the national development agency for the arts in England. See 'funding'.
www.artswales.org.uk
Arts Council of Wales
www.scottisharts.org.uk
The Scottish Arts Council
www.artscouncil-ni.org
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities
Intute is a free online service providing a database and access to web resources for education and research in the Creative Arts and Humanaities. Under 'Arts and Creative Industries' click on 'Music and the Performing Arts' - 'Music'.
www.voluntaryarts.org
Voluntary Arts Network increasing participation in the arts - resources site including funding, arts events, workshops, jobs.
www.vocalist.org
International site for singers, providing useful information, articles relating to singing and getting into the music industry. Includes a free worldwide guide to singers, groups, voice teachers, singing places, discounted musical instruments and discussion group.
