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 the 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 Ordinary or Honours degree.
Use the Links on the HE Home page for information on the one-year full-time Top-up degree programme for the BA (Hons) Soundtrack Production at Bournemouth University.
Other related one-year Top-up degrees:
Bath Spa University College; University of Brighton; University of Derby; University of Greenwich; Hull College; University of Kent; Newcastle College; New College Nottingham; University of Northampton; Northbrook College Sussex; University of Plymouth; University of Salford; University of Sunderland.
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/ (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.direct.gov.uk/uni/ 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/
Industry jobs - find out how to break into the music business
Creative Choices is produced by Creative & Cultural Skills - the Sector Skills Council for Advertising, Crafts, Cultural Heritage, Design, Music, Performing, Literacy and Visual Arts.
www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/helpwithyourcareer/jobprofiles
Learn Direct Careers Advice
www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u/
Jobs4U Careers Database - click on 'Job Families' or Search input 'Popular Musician'
www.ukperformingarts.co.uk/music/
UKP - Arts: the UK performance industry training and careers site
Careers database and links to jobs nationally. Search by either clicking on 'careers' and choose a category or type in job title.
www.bbc.co.uk/newtalent/music/
ISM (Incorporated Society of Musicians) - the UK's Professional Body for Musicians. See 'Careers with Music'.
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.
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.
Record Production - click on 'Music Jobs' for 'Jobs in the recording industry' + 'Getting a job in a recording studio'. Video tours of UK recording studios or producer interviews shot at the studio.
The BPI (British Phonographic Industry) represents the British recorded music business
The Association of Professional Recording Services
Showcase - the international music industry guide
CIDA: Creative Industries Development Agency - go to 'people' and click on 'Career Advice'
www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/arts/
Warwick Institute for Employment Research - 'Creative and cultural industries' for 'Music'
Click on 'Music'
Graduate Prospects is the careers website for higher education students in the UK :
Drop down 'Communities' to click on 'Publishing, media & marketing' for 'Music'
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.
Arts Council England - the national development agency for the arts in England. See 'funding'.
Arts Council of Wales
The Scottish Arts Council
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 Humanaties. Under 'Arts and Creative Industries' click on 'Music and the Performing Arts' - 'Music'.
Voluntary Arts Network increasing participation in the arts - resources site including funding, arts events, workshops, jobs.
Go to the Job Search section of this Guide for general sites on job hunting.
