Music

Music careers are often described as either performance or non-performance roles. This can be a helpful starting point, but the reality is more fluid. Many people build careers that combine creative, technical, commercial and freelance work.

For example, someone might perform, teach, compose for media, produce music, work in artist development, manage events, or build a portfolio career across several income streams. Equally, many people work in music without performing at all, in roles such as marketing, publishing, rights management, finance, venue management, fundraising, artist management, data, music supervision, A&R or live events.

Creative PEC’s 2026 Skills Audit for Music highlights the importance of both specialist and transferable skills. Employers reported shortages in areas including technical production, digital literacy, business skills such as budgeting, marketing and contract knowledge, management, planning, communication and working with others. 

Related resources

• Creative PEC: Creative Industries Skills Audit, Music 
• UK Music: Creative Industries Skills Audit 
• Careers in Music: music careers list 

There is no single route into the music industry. Roles can be freelance, self-employed, fixed-term, project-based, part-time, portfolio-based or permanent.

Performing, composing and creating

These roles focus on creating, performing or interpreting music. They may include:

• performer or session musician
• singer, songwriter or composer
• DJ or producer
• conductor
• arranger
• accompanist
• composer for screen, games, advertising or production music
• orchestral musician
• opera singer or repetiteur
• backing vocalist
• music director

Performance careers usually require sustained practice, feedback, networking, resilience and evidence of your work. This could include recordings, live credits, auditions, competitions, commissions, collaborations, social media presence, reviews, or a strong portfolio of compositions or performances.

Classical performance routes may involve conservatoire training, auditions, competitions, young artist programmes, orchestral schemes or postgraduate study. UCAS Conservatoires is the application service for performance-based music, dance, drama and musical theatre courses in the UK at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 

Related resources

• UCAS Conservatoires 
• London Philharmonic Orchestra: Rising Talent 
• Help Musicians: develop your career 
• Musicians’ Union: student membership 

Recording, production and music technology

These roles combine creative, technical and collaborative skills. They may include:

• recording engineer
• mix engineer
• mastering engineer
• music producer
• studio assistant
• live sound engineer
• broadcast sound technician
• audio post-production specialist
• Foley artist
• sound designer
• music technologist
• software developer or product specialist in music tech

For technical roles, employers usually look for evidence of practical ability. This could include recordings, mixes, live events experience, credits, a showreel, studio experience, knowledge of digital audio workstations, understanding of audio workflows, or experience supporting artists and clients.

Related resources

• Abbey Road Institute’s careers articles
• Larp Music’s composer and producer internships guide
• Prospects’ music producer profile
• Music Jobs UK

Music business, rights and management

Many music careers sit on the business side of the industry. Roles may include:

• artist manager
• A&R scout or A&R coordinator
• music publisher
• sync licensing assistant or manager
• label assistant
• rights and royalties assistant
• marketing or digital marketing executive
• music PR or promotions assistant
• booking agent
• tour manager
• business affairs assistant
• music lawyer
• data analyst
• finance, operations or project management roles

These roles can suit students and graduates with strong communication, organisation, research, commercial awareness, analytical skills and attention to detail. Music knowledge matters, but you do not always need a music degree. You do need to understand the part of the industry you are applying to and be able to show genuine engagement with it.

Related resources

• UK Music’s careers in the music industry page
• Music Business Worldwide’s music industry jobs board
• Handle Recruitment’s music industry jobs page
• ICMP’s music industry jobs page

Live music, venues and events

Live music includes both on-stage and off-stage careers. Roles may include:

• concert promoter
• venue manager
• festival assistant
• artist liaison
• production assistant
• event manager
• tour manager
• stage manager
• front of house manager
• box office assistant
• lighting, sound or AV technician
• health, safety and crowd management roles

Live music can be fast-paced and project-based. It often values practical experience, reliability, teamwork, problem-solving and the ability to work under pressure.

Related resources

• Abbey Road Institute’s careers articles
• BIMM’s work experience and placements page
• Doors Open’s music industry jobs and opportunities board
• Association of British Orchestras’ careers and vacancies information

Music education, therapy and community music

Music can also lead into education, community engagement, health and social impact roles. These may include:

• school music teacher
• private instrumental or vocal teacher
• music workshop leader
• community musician
• education officer in an arts organisation
• youth music worker
• music therapist
• outreach or participation coordinator
• learning and engagement producer

Some roles require further qualifications. For example, the National Careers Service music therapist profile states that music therapists need to complete an approved postgraduate course in music therapy and then register with the Health and Care Professions Council. 

Private teaching may not require the same formal route, but you should still consider safeguarding, insurance, contracts, professional standards and whether membership of a professional body would be useful.

Related resources

• National Careers Service’s music therapist profile
• British Association for Music Therapy’s training information
• Musicians’ Union insurance information
• Association of British Orchestras’ careers information

Music journalism, radio, podcasting and media

Music also connects to media careers, including:

• music journalist
• radio producer
• broadcast assistant
• presenter
• podcast producer
• playlist editor
• content producer
• social media producer
• researcher
• critic or reviewer

The previous version of this page separated radio from other music careers. It is now more useful to place radio within a wider music, audio and media section, because students interested in radio may also be considering podcasting, audio production, music journalism, social content, digital platforms or broadcast production.

If you are interested in music journalism, you may also want to use Oxford Careers’ Journalism page.

Related resources

• Oxford Careers’ Journalism page
• The Radio Academy
• UK Music’s careers in the music industry page
• Prospects’ guide to careers in music

Build experience while studying

There are many ways to start exploring music careers while at Oxford. Depending on your interests, you could:

• join or organise student performances, ensembles, societies or events
• get involved with student radio, podcasting or music journalism
• volunteer at festivals, venues, arts organisations or local music projects
• create recordings, compositions, mixes, playlists, reviews or promotional content
• support marketing, ticketing, front of house or artist liaison for events
• develop a portfolio website, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or LinkedIn presence
• approach studios, labels, venues, festivals, orchestras, music charities or agencies for advice, shadowing or short work experience
• use Oxford alumni and professional networks to learn more about specific roles

BIMM’s work experience page is a useful example of how practical experience can span record labels, live events, TV production, festivals, venue management, front of house, box office and artist liaison.

Use transferable skills

It is possible to enter some music industry roles directly after a degree, especially where the role draws on transferable skills such as research, writing, organisation, project management, communication, analysis, languages, marketing, finance or commercial awareness.

Examples might include marketing assistant, publishing assistant, artist management assistant, fundraising assistant, events assistant, business affairs assistant, orchestra administrator, label assistant, music retail, rights administration or social media roles.

Use specialist skills

Specialist roles usually require stronger evidence of practical experience. For example, a sound engineer will need technical examples and live or studio experience. A composer will need a portfolio. A performer will need recordings, credits and audition experience. A music journalist will need published writing or strong samples.

Skills and experience

The music industry values a mixture of specialist, digital, business and interpersonal skills.

Useful skills may include:

• musical ability, creativity or strong genre knowledge
• technical production, recording or live sound skills
• digital marketing and social media
• data analysis and audience insight
• copyright, licensing, royalties or music publishing knowledge
• budgeting, fundraising or financial understanding
• project management
• communication and negotiation
• planning and organisation
• teamwork and collaboration
• adaptability and resilience
• problem-solving
• cultural awareness and inclusive practice

For students and early-career alumni, it is important to build evidence. A CV alone may not be enough. Depending on your target role, consider developing a portfolio, showreel, set list, recordings, writing samples, campaign examples, production credits, event experience, case studies, testimonials or a short professional website.

Related resources

• Creative PEC’s Creative Industries Skills Audits
• UK Music’s Careers Information Pack
• Careers in Music’s role profiles
• Abbey Road Institute’s careers articles

Formal graduate schemes exist in the music industry, but they are less common than in sectors such as finance, consulting or law. Many music employers recruit through internships, entry-level roles, fixed-term contracts, apprenticeships, trainee programmes, work experience, freelance projects and speculative approaches.

Some larger organisations advertise structured opportunities each year. For example, Sony Music UK’s internship programme offers paid, 12-month, full-time internships based in London, with opportunities across labels and business areas such as Columbia Records, RCA, Ministry of Sound, Commercial Group, Music For Nations, 4th Floor Creative, AWAL and The Orchard. Sony Music UK has also run a paid 12-month A&R Academy as part of its wider internship network. 

Universal Music UK’s careers site is another useful place to check. Universal Music UK describes opportunities across areas including A&R, finance, legal, digital, sales and marketing. Its early talent programme, Amplify U, has included paid internships and associate internship opportunities. Recent advertised examples included a 12-month paid internship and a 24-month Associate Internship involving department rotations and a specialisation period, although roles and timings change each year. 

Warner Music Group’s careers site is also worth checking regularly. Warner Music Group highlights early-career opportunities designed to help people build skills for the music industry. Its global Emerging Talent Associate Program is a paid internship programme, although students should check location and eligibility carefully because some opportunities are country-specific. Warner Music UK has also partnered with regional and access organisations on internship opportunities, including programmes with Cre8ing Vision, NQ and Generator. 

For students interested in music broadcasting, audio production or radio, BBC Early Careers is a key resource. The BBC offers paid early-career schemes and apprenticeships that provide on-the-job experience, salary and training. Applications for BBC early-career schemes are currently closed until autumn 2026, but students can still explore the schemes available and follow BBC Get In for updates. 

Live music, venues and events can have a different recruitment pattern. Rather than traditional graduate schemes, students may find internships, assistant roles, seasonal festival work, venue operations roles, production assistant roles and entry-level marketing or ticketing roles. Live Nation Entertainment’s careers site lists opportunities across live entertainment, including promotions, venue operations, advertising and sponsorship, ticketing, digital and technology, and artist management. AEG Europe’s careers site is also useful for venue, live entertainment and festival-related roles. AEG Europe states that it does not currently run a graduate scheme, but some roles can be suitable for people just out of university. 

Students should not rely only on “graduate scheme” searches. Many good entry routes will be advertised as internship, assistant, coordinator, trainee, apprentice, work experience, runner, junior, temporary, seasonal or fixed-term roles. It is also worth checking individual organisations directly, because some music employers advertise vacancies only on their own websites.

Examples of places to check

• Sony Music UK internships for paid 12-month internships and A&R opportunities.
• Universal Music UK careers for internships, early talent opportunities and entry-level roles across labels and business functions.
• Warner Music Group careers for UK and global vacancies, with careful checking of location and eligibility.
• BBC Early Careers for apprenticeships and trainee routes into broadcasting, audio, journalism and production.
• Live Nation Entertainment careers for live music, ticketing, venue, marketing, operations and artist-related roles.
• AEG Europe careers for live entertainment, venues and festivals.
• PRS for Music careers for roles connected to music rights, royalties, licensing, data, membership and operations.
• Music Jobs UK for music industry vacancies across different functions.
• Doors Open for music, events, culture and creative industry opportunities.
• Music Business Worldwide jobs for music business, label, publishing, marketing and management roles.
• Creative Access opportunities for internships, entry-level roles and access-focused opportunities in the creative industries.

Freelance and portfolio careers

Freelance and portfolio working are common in music. You might combine performance, teaching, session work, composing, production, arts administration, community music, writing, marketing, events or another part-time role.

A portfolio career can be creative and flexible, but it also requires planning. You may need to think about:

• income streams
• tax and self-employment
• contracts and cancellation terms
• copyright and intellectual property
• insurance
• late payment
• equipment costs
• pensions and savings
• personal brand and online presence
• professional networks
• periods of quieter work

Musicians’ Union membership may be useful for students and early-career musicians, particularly because it offers career advice, industry connections and access to musician-specific support.

Related resources

• Oxford Careers’ Freelancing and Portfolio Careers page
• Oxford Careers’ Working for Yourself page
• Musicians’ Union student membership
• Musicians’ Union insurance information
• Help Musicians’ Fast Track grants

Further study can be useful or necessary for some music careers, but it is not required for every role.

It may be important for:

• classical performance
• conducting
• composition
• music therapy
• academic research
• teaching in schools
• specialist sound engineering or production routes
• musicology, ethnomusicology or research careers

For performance-based study, conservatoires are a common route. UCAS Conservatoires provides information on conservatoire study at undergraduate and postgraduate level. For music therapy, you will need an approved postgraduate qualification and HCPC registration. For teaching in schools, you will usually need a recognised teaching qualification. 

Before applying for further study, consider whether the course gives you:

• access to facilities, equipment or specialist tuition
• industry links
• performance or placement opportunities
• strong alumni outcomes
• time to build a portfolio
• funding options
• credible progression into your target role

Related resources

• UCAS Conservatoires
• UCAS Conservatoires’ getting started guide
• British Association for Music Therapy’s HCPC-approved courses information
• National Careers Service’s music therapist profile
• Help Musicians’ support for study and career development

Useful resources

Sector insight and career guides

• Prospects’ guide to careers in music
• UK Music’s careers in the music industry page
• UK Music’s This Is Music 2025 report
• Creative PEC’s Creative Industries Skills Audits
• Careers in Music’s role profiles
• ICMP’s music industry jobs and career examples
• Abbey Road Institute’s careers articles

Jobs and opportunities

• CareerConnect at Oxford
• Music Jobs UK
• Music Business Worldwide’s music industry jobs board
• Doors Open
• Handle Recruitment’s music industry jobs page
• Association of British Orchestras’ jobs board
• London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Rising Talent programme
• Larp Music’s composer and producer internships guide

Funding, professional support and inclusion

• Help Musicians’ career development support
• Help Musicians’ Fast Track grants
• Musicians’ Union student membership
• Musicians’ Union insurance information
• Creative Access
• British Association for Music Therapy’s training information