How To Breakthrough In The Music Industry

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The UK music industry is a powerhouse—contributing £7.6 billion to the economy in 2024. Whether you’re a budding producer, a singer-songwriter, or eyeing roles behind the scenes like A&R or event management, there’s a place for you. Landing a role in music in 2025 takes strategy: knowing where to look, who to connect with, and how to stand out. From online boards to networking hubs, here’s your guide to finding work in music.

1. Online Job Boards: 

The internet’s packed with platforms listing music jobs, from entry-level internships to senior roles at labels. Here are the best UK-focused ones:
  • Music Business Worldwide Is a online magazine which also acts as a jobs board for roles in the UK as well as roles globally; however with 300,000 monthly readers listings move fast, so ensure you’re on the ball.

  • jobs.ac.uk is mainly used for roles in the academic space and is excellent for music related roles in academia. This site is great for teaching or admin jobs tied to music schools. Filter by “Creative Arts & Design” for recent listings.

     

  • Reed.co.uk is a more generic UK job site with a music niche. Ideal for those looking music-adjacent roles like accounting or management. Use the search term “Music Industry” as a keyword for 200+ monthly vacancies.

     

  • Music Jobs UK is a dedicated job board for the industry. Roles are for junior and midlevel roles with salarys for listings usually between £25,000-£40,000. It is also community too—join their newsletter for tips for your job search and career.

     

2. Industry-Specific Platforms

Some music jobs tend to be only posted in particular corners of the internet and are often tied to trade bodies or creative hubs, we’ve placed a few below:
  • Musicians’ Union offer career advice and job leads, especially for session players or tutors. Members also get contract templates too, perfect for those looking to do freelance or temporary roles.
  • Creative Access focuses on underrepresented groups, partnering with organisations such as Universal Music and the BBC. Some recent posts have included internships at labels with salarys between £20,000-£25,000. Their workshops teach CV skills, boosting your pitch for those who are looking to do music marketing or others who are A&R’s.

3. Networking: Meet the Right People

In life (music especially) it’s who you know not what you know. 61% of UK music jobs aren’t advertised, per a 2020 ICMP study. Networking puts you in the room for those roles that are hidden from the public eye.
  • Music for Youth is youth music charity working with young people aged 25 and under. They hire young people for event production and social media roles, paying up to £500 for three days. It’s a foot in the door which allows you to network and add to your portfolio.

     

  • Attend open mic nights as well as industry events. This allows you to develop relationships with budding A&Rs, music managers and more. Some may be upcoming or established but building that relationship could be helpful for you in future.

How To Start Networking In The Music Industry

4. Apprenticeships and Entry-Level Paths

Typically for under-25s or career-switchers, apprenticeships offer free education and a wage. Wages for most apprenticeships are anything between £12,000-£25,000 annually.
  • Many of the sites we’ve listed already will post apprenticeships but have a look at the UK’s official government website which features creative careers as well as creative & music adjacent roles

 

  • Eric App posts a plethora of job opportunities in the creative space, mainly aimed at young adults. They offer apprenticeships, job roles in both the creative space as well as creative adjacent roles. Additionally they post freelance opportunities, workshops and provide helpful videos and articles on a wide range of creative subjects.
Music apprenticeships: what could I do? - School Leavers Options |  AllAboutSchoolLeavers
The Bottom Line:
Finding a role will typically require scouring multiple sites and may require networking. Additionally networking and personal branding will help you have more leverage when building your career. These tips provided are relevant to all, from entry level positions to executive level.

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