ADVICE FOR MUSIC INDUSTRY INTERNS

Image by ConvertKit on Unsplash

Ah, yes- the ye ole music business industry internship, a tale as old as time, a classic rite of passage. Internship opportunities can be your ticket to a full time job in music, a great way to figure out what you want to do, a chance to explore a new city, an introduction to new connections, and most importantly- internships provide a hands-on learning experience.

If you’re wondering how to get your start in the music industry, an internship might be the answer! We wanted to share how to find music business internships, and how to do them well once you land something. Our We Are: The Guard / Brill Building Music Publishing team is joined by Sean Dishman of Kobalt to share some wisdom and tips on applying for internships, how to get the most out of the experience, and more insight for those interested in working in the music industry!

---

SEAN DISHMAN

Creative Manager, Kobalt Music Publishing
Berklee College of Music, Class of 2014

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Kobalt Music - Synch dept., Playback Recording Studio (Santa Barbara, CA), JCM Management (Boston, MA)

What advice do you have for people applying to internships in the music industry?

Be open and take internship opportunities that come your way, whether it's with a major label with hundreds of employees or a small independent label working out of the owner's garage, a publisher, booking agency, PR, etc. If it's not in the area you're primarily looking to work in, you can still use it as a learning opportunity and you'll have the ability to get a look under the hood in various aspects of the industry. You'll learn that the different facets of the industry all tie in together, and this will help you understand more as you grow in the future. Trial and error will help you narrow down the things you DON'T want to do, which is just as important as knowing what you DO want. In short, don't give up on opportunities that could open doors for you because it's not your dream internship!

Once someone lands an internship in the music industry, what can they do to be most effective? What are some good habits to form?

Don't forget that the purpose of an internship is meant to be educational, and have the fortitude to demand that you're better than free labor! But, be proactive and recognize that the initiative needs to come from you as the intern to ask questions if you want to learn or you don't know something. Stay organized throughout the day and show up early! Treat this as a test run for a full time job and act accordingly. Also, don't be afraid to ask for feedback on your performance, and constantly try to be helpful to those around you in the company, even those you're not directly working with (though it should go without saying your internship role should come first!). The relationships you form as an intern in the workplace may very well land you the full time job of your dreams or the next internship you're looking for. If you have the right attitude and show interest in the people around you, people will more than likely want to help you. At the very least these people can be a helping hand and a resource for you in the future. Treat everyone with kindness, especially other interns on your team! You will find the music industry is small and you will run into the same people over and over again in different roles over the years. Educate yourself about the company you're working at and its business practices and make an effort to stay informed about developments and legislation changes in the rapidly evolving music industry. Keep in mind your supervisors will have their own jobs to do, but if you approach the internship in the right way, you will have access to hands-on free education, you will grow as a professional, and make great connections you can maintain throughout your career.

Any pieces of wisdom for people seeking entry level jobs in music?

Be true to yourself and focus on trying to get jobs that speak to your music taste. If you're not a fan of jazz music, working at a company with a roster full of jazz artists may pay your rent and bills, but it will never fulfill you creatively. Passion should drive your decision to apply. Hiring managers can tell when you're feigning interest in a position just because you need a job. They want somebody who shares the same passion as they do, and you owe it to yourself to find a position that will fulfill your dreams and aspirations of working in the music industry. You have the ability to shape your own career by the choices you make early on. Stay positive! It takes time to find the right fit, but it's better than getting burned out bouncing around from job to job. And to that point, once you get the job... be patient. It takes a lot of time and hard work to get that big promotion - nobody becomes an executive straight away. If you believe in the work your company is doing, stick with it!

What do you look for when hiring an intern?

Not currently searching for interns, but if I were - I'd be looking for a helpful attitude, and somebody willing to put in the time and effort into learning about the company and the entry level / full time job they're inevitably seeking. Most importantly, I'd want to know that they have a true passion about helping musicians further their careers, because that's why you should want to work in the music industry.

---

TYLER JOHNSON

Creative Director, Brill Building Music Publishing
Pepperdine University, Class of 2011

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Epic Records A&R Intern, VH1 Artist Relations Intern, Interscope Records A&R Intern

What advice do you have for people applying to internships in the music industry?

Find employee’s emails and reach out to them directly to inquire about internships. Career websites might work sometimes, but I personally have never heard of anyone getting an internship by only applying online.  Career websites are useful to see which companies are offering internships, but then do whatever you need to to find a contact within that company and email them directly. Even if that person just loops you in with HR- you now have direct contact with the HR department.

Once someone lands an internship in the music industry, what can they do to be most effective? What are some good habits to form?

ALWAYS go above and beyond / do more than what is asked of you. It's also very important to develop an actual relationship with your supervisors or other employees. Ask for feedback regularly, and don't be afraid to present any ideas you might have.

Any pieces of wisdom for people seeking entry level jobs in music?

Ask for help from people you know in the industry.  Most jobs in the music business are found by word of mouth and recommendations, so if you know people in the industry, let them know that you're looking for a job. Once you land an interview you HAVE to be extremely prepared so that it's obvious that you've done your research (don't just look at the company website).

What do you look for when hiring an intern?

Passion and an eagerness to learn is a non-negotiable.

---

BENJAMIN GROFF

Owner, We Are: The Guard & Brill Building Music Publishing
Berklee College of Music, Class of 1993

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Polygram Group Distribution, Famous Music Publishing (bought by Universal)

What advice do you have for people applying to internships in the music industry?

I would say getting a starting internship or a mailroom job at a big company- or one that's really happening- is better than a paid job at a company that's third rate. The foot traffic and clientele are on another level, and that name will look much better on your resume - and it's what I did!

Sending in your resume is one thing. Calling every week and being a delightful pest and getting our attention is another. Be passionately persistent!  

Lastly - take a note from Steve Jobs - ASK!  

Once someone lands an internship in the music industry, what can they do to be most effective? What are some good habits to form?

1) Always remember the difference between Sweet & Low and Equal. I'm almost kidding, but not.  I remember seeing this amazing movie "Swimming with Sharks" and thought “that boss is a total jerk”...but now, I get it.  "How you do one thing - is how you do everything."  How can you give someone a huge project if they can't get Equal vs. Sweet & Low correct?! 

2) Don't have the boss ask you twice to do something.  This is my biggest pet peeve.  Your job is to make my day move quicker and do your part ... and not to follow up if x, y, z has been done.  This is the same though for an intern or an employee.

3) If you're a musician or an artist and you get an internship - never ever promote your own stuff directly to other clients coming in.  That's a bad look!  But do make friends and be helpful. If you create a rapport, they'll probably end up asking you!  I had a friend who was interning and had to run off some cassette copies for - PRINCE!  Prince and him started chatting and Prince was like "So what kind of music do you do?" He said "I'm a funk specialist" "Oh really - let's hear."  And Prince was apparently mildly impressed. That's different, than giving Prince your demo tape. You can get fired for that.

4) Be helpful and take initiative!  Those are the people that get hired - not the ones who sit around waiting to be told what to do.  And when you do get asked to do something - even if it's getting coffee or sweeping floors - do it with excitement.  

5) Don't be late!  And pay attention to detail - double and triple check your work!  See #1 "How you do everything is how you do everything!"

6) Take the advantage of participating in after work activities, gig, showcases, etc. That's where connections are made!

Any pieces of wisdom for people seeking entry level jobs in music?

Be humble.  Don't think you're going to be calling all the creative shots in 3 months, or 3 years - you need to put in the time.  Also, observe and model other people - see what people are doing right and wrong - and model and internalize that!   That's what I did in my first 4 years of the music business. Then, when I had my first creative gig, I knew how to play the part - what worked and what didn't and how to do the gig! 

---

ROBIN HANSEL

Creative Manager, Brill Building Music Publishing
USC, Class of 2015

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Cherrytree Records (Interscope), Atlantic Records, Sony/ATV Music Publishing

What advice do you have for people applying to internships in the music industry?

Reach out to companies you'd love to intern for- even if they don't say they're hiring. I got an internship that turned into my first job by asking an exec at a company I loved for a 10 minute informational interview. If you come prepared with smart questions, there's a good chance they'll want you as an intern.

Once someone lands an internship in the music industry, what can they do to be most effective? What are some good habits to form?

Being competent and getting the work done is #1. A bad intern is more work for a manager than no intern at all. However, I wish I could go back and tell my younger self to network more and really meet everyone. Remember that people are flattered when you want their advice - so ask for a 10 minute sit down from everyone possible.  That's how you'll get a job or at least a great recommendation. People you meet as an intern will help you in ways you can't even imagine down the line.

Any pieces of wisdom for people seeking entry level jobs in music?

Keep trying! If you reach out to people in a personalized, respectful and intelligent way, eventually someone will respond (just don't be the person that emails 100 people on BCC). Go to shows and find other ways to get involved in music too.

---

ARIELLE TINDEL

General Manager/Editor/A&R @ WATG, Creative Coordinator @ Brill Building
Berklee College of Music, Class of 2019

INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE: Danny Wimmer Presents, Tina Farris Tours, Secretly Group, Sofar Sounds, Club Passim

What advice do you have for people applying to internships in the music industry?

The music industry is all about relationships! If you've had a good conversation with someone and have formed a genuine connection, they are going to feel more inclined to help you.

So how to find that common ground? Find people who are passionate about the music you're passionate about! Start by looking at your favorite artists and figure out who they work with! Who's their label? Who's their publicist? Do they have a publisher? Booking agent? Tour manager? Are there any blogs that have posted about them recently? What venues do they play? Are any of those companies looking for interns? Really know what each of those roles do and gauge whether or not it's what you'd like to do.

Next, go on LinkedIn and find out if any alum from your school work at any of those companies. Send them a message to learn more about what they do. The key is to be interested, not interesting. Ask what they love about the company, how they got there, and as the conversation wraps up, ask about potential internship opportunities.

Once someone lands an internship in the music industry, what can they do to be most effective? What are some good habits to form?

Don't be afraid to ask questions! You are there to learn, so nobody is going to assume that you already know everything. If you'd like to explore a full time opportunity after the internship, be sure to stay in touch!

Any pieces of wisdom for people seeking entry level jobs in music?

As a somewhat recent grad who just went through this process, I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to stop putting so much time into online applications! The fact of the matter is, I don't think I know a SINGLE person who has landed a full time job from an online application alone (maybe internships, but definitely not a full time role). I wish I would've put that time into connecting with people on LinkedIn and getting recommendations instead.

If you find yourself getting rejection emails or no response at all (which is unfortunately super common), know that you are absolutely not alone. The music industry is so competitive, and COVID-19 has only made it more challenging.

The person you've had an actual conversation with is always going to be your best bet. Attend those online panel discussions (and hopefully in person ones soon), and connect with the speakers on LinkedIn / send them a thank you email! If you meet someone in real life, do your research and be the person who follows up.

During my last semester at Berklee, I met Benjamin when the Berklee A&R Club had the opportunity to pitch music to him. I really dove into his past signings and current roster, and tried to make sure that what I pitched was in line with what he would be interested in. Then, I followed up, thanked him for his time, and he responded asking what else I was listening to. I sent 3 unsigned artists who I was really really excited about, and the rest is history! :)