The Fan-To-Industry Pipeline with April Bredael

In our latest series, Industry Stories, we talk to tour manager, photographer and music enthusiast April Bredael about her journey into the music industry so far. And guess what? It definitely is possible to be a fan and an industry practitioner. The Fan to Industry pipeline is thriving, and you can be a part of it.

What does a normal working day in the life of April look like?

So every day is different, and most days are chaotic but they almost always begin with caffeine. Sometimes coffee, sometimes Redbull, it depends on the day. My morning are usually pretty occupied with emails and things but most afternoons I try to do something that inspires me creatively in order to mix things up a bit.

Sometimes it’s working on my personal website, sometimes it’s crafting and publishing a music magazine in under 48 hours. I also work as the marketing associate director for Wisconsin Union Directorate’s (WUD) Music sector. This is the UW organization that brings all the bands and music to campus. Evenings can vary. Typically I’m either working for Warner U or at a show. Sometimes the two coincide which always makes for a fun evening. 

Was working in the music industry always your end goal?

Yes and no. I grew up in a really really small town. Technically I think it’s classified as a village. Going into business meant taking over the family company. I didn’t know anyone that worked in music, I didn’t even know it could be a job. The one thing I did know was that I sucked at sports and all I wanted to do was go to concerts. During my sophomore year of high school, now Warner Records signed artist MAX reached out to me on Twitter asking me to represent Wisconsin in his newfound street team. I was super involved in that (and still am) and it really got me into realizing that “Wait this is a job. Someone has to do this as a job.”

As soon as I found out that working in the music industry could be a career path, I was pretty sold on the idea. Unfortunately, Wisconsin doesn’t have much going on in terms of the music business, but I knew that if this was something I wanted I could make it work. After beginning school at the University of Wisconsin, I quickly became involved with WUD Music and it’s been history since. 

Talk me through how you came to land your internship with Warner

My first ever experience with WMG was actually about a year ago! I’d applied for their Spring 2021 Career Classroom Series, an immersive ten-week program that allowed students to see real-world insight into various aspects of the company and the industry as a whole. I loved the program and staff so much, and still talk to a lot of friends I’d made. Shortly after that ended I accepted an offer to intern as an Emerging Talent Associate in WMG’s Global Digital Accounts Management department. The name is kind of a mouthful, I know. Day to day I worked on the backend of YouTube for major WMG artists. I pulled viewer demographics, analyzed data, created artist one-sheets, curated playlists, and drafted ad sales campaigns. 

Many aspiring fangirls dream of working with major labels like Warner. What are some of your tips for getting your foot in the door?

Be authentic. Some of the best advice I’ve received is that if you’re even offered an interview they already know you’re capable of doing the job. The entire point of an interview is to witness your personality and see if you’re a good fit with the existing company culture. During my interview for my internship I remember being asked if I was a more creative or analytical person. Immediately I was like, “Oh definitely creative.” It didn’t really hit me until after the interview that I was interviewing for an analytical department. I immediately thought I blew it. But shortly after sending my thank you email I got an offer!

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Founding my music magazine, COLOURVISION has been really special for me. It was one of the first times where I created something for myself. I did it because I wanted to and because I loved it. I think it really shows throughout the website how passionate I am about the project. I’ve been able to bring on the absolute best team (including my interviewer Issy) and I’m so lucky they want to work with me. I’ve also accidentally dove headfirst into concert photography (purely by accident) and have really enjoyed shooting touring acts Maisie Peters, Mt. Joy, and Conan Gray over the past few weeks. 

And the low points?

It can be lonely. Like really, really lonely. As cool as it is being able to jumpstart your career at such a young age and doing things that can be very much life changing, not a lot of people understand that. I’ve lost a lot of friends because of this; but on the positive side, I’ve gained an entire community on the internet. 

How has being a fan enhanced your ability to work within the industry?

Oh it, has – absolutely. Fans just get it. Obviously, the music industry is still a business but every business aims to be profitable and ultimately fans are the people driving this profit. Knowing what they (we) want is such an incredible asset. You can’t really learn that, you have to live it. 

You share a lot on Tik Tok about your recent stint as a Tour Manager? How did you come to get that role?

Tour management is such an interesting role because it’s not one you can google and just apply for. I actually was pretty integral to the existence of the Lonely Together Tour and began putting it into place way back in July of 2021. I’d reached out to Ethan who shared he was interested in touring and we just kinda went from there. I routed and booked all of the shows, secured local support, managed financials and contracts, marketing, and then was able to go on tour to do the day-to-day stuff as well. 

What was that experience like as a whole?

Absolutely incredible. Ethan Jewell knows how to put on a show and it was amazing being able to witness that every night. I think my favorite part was seeing the fans. They’d come up to him thanking him, crying, gift giving, and all. I really saw my younger self in these people and it was absolutely priceless knowing that these moments were possible because of me. 

What are some of the skills you need to become a Tour Manager?

Adaptability for sure. Nothing ever goes as planned. I also think optimism is really really important. People get really crabby when your days are filled with long car rides, stress, and way too many McDonald’s chicken nuggets. In that situation, you have the choice between feeding into the negativity, or forcing yourself to make the best of it and accept the things you can’t change. 

Do you think it’s important as an industry practitioner to cast the net wide and have experience in different aspects of the industry?

Yes and no. There are so many mixed opinions on this, and mine is as well. I’ve done a variety of things because I didn’t (and still don’t) know entirely what I want to do, and that’s okay. If you’re the opposite and have your heart set on one area, I think it’s great to pursue that. Granted, it’s important to at least have knowledge of the industry as a whole, but if you have a dream, I say go for it. 

What message would you leave for other fans in terms of following a dream in the industry?

Empower yourselves. Your knowledge, experience, time, and energy is valuable. Don’t undersell or cut yourself short. If you’re determined to make it in the industry, you will.