We Asked 24 Professionals To Share Their Best Music Careers Advice: Here’s What They Said

Sarah Kloboves

Role: Content and Marketing Manager at Chartmetric

Never stop putting yourself outside of your comfort zone. In an industry that is 98% networking, this was arguably the most important thing I did for myself, and ultimately, it got me to where I am today.

April Bredael

Role: Freelance Creative Strategist

Creativity always wins. Don’t let barriers like location, lack of resources or connections, or working alone influence what’s possible. As long as you’re willing to work hard, think outside the box, and believe in yourself, you can make anything happen. It might not be the most conventional or easiest way of doing things, but the right mindset, combined with imagination and vision, can create anything.

Joy Eden

Role: Head of Cretaive Marketing & Campaign Strategy at Autonomy Music Group

The power of genuine connections is unmatched. Whenever you can, show up. Whether it’s a conference, a workshop, a networking event, or even a simple coffee chat with someone in the industry. Every interaction helps people put a face to your name and builds real relationships, which can open doors to opportunities you might not even expect.

Cian Maguire

Role: Junior Viral Marketing Manager at Warner Records and Parlaphone

Find that fire in you, and let it lead. Don’t let anyone dim what makes you, you!

Gracie Quaccia

Role: Rock Marketing Coordinator at Rise Records/BMG

Success in the music industry is about more than passion – it’s about adaptability, creativity, and persistence. But in my experience, it’s most importantly about relationships. Building genuine connections with artists, industry professionals, and fans alike is at the heart of what makes this business so special.

Mikaela Copland

Role: Founder at Tall Poppy MGMT

Get a bloody good mentor, and don’t stop at one! Your family and friends can only help so much. It is a breath of fresh air when you’re talking to someone in the industry who “gets” it. Not just from a program, it could be from a networking event, a cold DM on Linkedin or an old coworker. Someone who is on your side that you have regular checkins with to help you grow and connect with others.

Maya Kaspi

Role: Founder at The Blueprint Stan Experience

From the moment I realised I wanted to work in the music industry, I was conditioned to believe I had to grow out of being a fangirl to be taken seriously. Well, here I am to tell you that you don’t – being a fangirl is actually my superpower, and I’m here to tell you that it’s yours as well.

Tonya Claughton

Role: Marketing Operations Coordinator at Republic Live

Always stay open to learning something new, even if it doesn’t seem directly connected to your role. In an industry as dynamic as music, a wide range of skills, experiences, and knowledge can become unexpected assets. The more versatile you are, the more opportunities you’ll be able to recognize and create for yourself.

Jacob Rickard

Role: Founder at lemontank

‘Networking’ sounds scary and corporate – maybe it’s really just about making friends, being curious about how the world works, and finding opportunities for how your skills can help someone else out. Almost all the opportunities I’ve ever got have been from someone I already know, or an introduction from a shared connection, rather than a DM to a stranger.

A great CV and a shiny creative portfolio are very valuable to have, but it’s just as important for you to be warmly remembered as a fun, interesting and motivated person. If people are going to invite you into their office for a precious placement or freelance day, they need to know that you’ll be easy to spend time with. So much of those ‘soft skills’ and personal qualities can be built by hanging out with other creative people of all kinds, sharing ideas to help inspire and excite each other.

Rather than only firing out endless CVs into the cold email void, you could focus some time on connecting with like-minded interesting individuals. You could talk about your shared visions and maybe even create something together, which will be much more rewarding and you never know where it might lead.

Alyssa Wride

Role: Operations Manager at NXNE Music Festival

This industry is all about connection — and you don’t need to know a million people right at the start to get ahead. Step out of your comfort zone, attend networking events, reach out to people on LinkedIn. You never know who will be willing to help you take the next step. Everyone started somewhere!

Issy Aldridge

Role: Director/CMO at That Fangirl Life and Founder at The Fangirl Careers Hub.

If it doesn’t look like there’s an opportunity out there for you at the moment, make your own. Whether that’s writing EPKs for an upcoming artist or creating a platform like we have here with TFGL and TFCH, give yourself the best chance in this industry by getting a little creative. It’ll take you places you couldn’t even imagine.

Samantha DeVincenzi

Role: Artist Management Intern at Red Light Management, and Founder at THE5SOSHQ

Never let the word no stop you, because the doors it might open will surprise you.

Nat King

Role: Promoter Assistant at Live Nation

Use your experience as a fan of music and specific artists to your advantage. Demonstrating your expertise by knowing the demographics or even down to personal preferences of an artist can strengthen your career by showing your dedication and attention to detail. Being a fan is a huge asset!

Mary Ditta

Role: Promoter at Live Nation

All experience is good experience! Every job and every interaction teaches you something, whether you’re promoting a show or tearing down the venue after one. Be available, be kind, and be willing to help. The people you show up for (and who show up for you) will become the foundation of your whole career. You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with.

Illya Natesa

Role: Founder and CEO at ilyrecords

I’d say “Be Audacious! Have the audacity to start even when you’re scared and dream bigger! Don’t be afraid to take up space, especially when you feel like a small fish in a big pond.” My favourite advice given to me during the peak of conference season was “you don’t need to meet everybody. You just need to meet good people. Cos good people have good friends.”

Carly Webster

Role: Founder at Disabled Music Fans Collective

My advice for upcoming professionals in this industry, especially those who hold marginalised identities: don’t let people intimidate you into silence. Stand firm in your boundaries and needs, whether that be equitable pay or workplace accessibility. How they (individuals and/or companies) react to those asks is very telling about how they might treat you as an employee, so don’t ignore your intuition. Your health and safety are far more important than any opportunity or reputation you could possibly have.

Phoebe Winter

Role: Founder at Alessi HQ and Darlings HQ / Fangirl House

Putting yourself out there is the hardest and scariest step, but also the most important! When i stopped caring about how others perceived me, it became much easier and much more rewarding. I posted a hypothetical album rollout campaign for an artist I love on TikTok which was TERRIFYING, as the first time I ever properly spoke publicly on my socials about something music industry-related. However, it opened up SO many doors for me with artists and people who work in the industry reaching out after seeing it.

On a similar string, not caring about people’s opinions helps a lot for putting yourself out there, whether it’s asking for advice, experience or something else, it’s so important and can help take you so much further than you’d think.

Ava Vonn

Role: Digital, Marketing and A&R Coordinator at Alter Music

The music industry is so vast, with countless opportunities, so when they present themselves, seize them. Not every opportunity will be a breakthrough, but one or two may truly lead somewhere meaningful.

Success requires not only the willingness to actively try but also the ability to learn from each attempt. When you do try, I think that precision is everything. All the details make up the larger product, so check seven times, but only cut once. After all- the fine print helps write the future.

Whether this means researching or auditing anything on digital, or re-checking something before it goes live, details are the key. And you really do have to slow down to check every last bit out (huge shout out for this advice from my incredible boss and mentor, Rob Stevenson)!

Lastly, remember, you’re working in music. Collaborating with artists and bands you truly admire is an extraordinary and indescribable privilege.

Lucy Fletcher

Role: Head of Community at Warner Records & Parlophone

Especially at entry level, don’t worry about knowing everything. We can teach you how to schedule a post or send a mailer, but we can’t teach you to be curious, switched-on and hungry – so focus on those things that can’t be taught. Treat the things you’ve built or obsessed over as evidence of your instincts, not hobbies, and let that be the reason people want you on their team.

Benjamin Denomme

Role: Agreements Supervisor, Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA)

Be persistent! Learn as much as you can about every facet of your job, company, and interests. A lot of progress comes from finding and then bridging the gaps within the industry.

Jocelyn Jiminez

Role: Label Coordinator, EQT

My piece of advice would be that one of the best things you can do is be solution-oriented and not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to take on new experiences. There were plenty of moments where I had to do that myself, and things ended up turning out better than I ever expected. It took me a moment to find my stride, and it’s completely okay if it takes you a moment too.

Nicky Williams

Role: Careers Manager at ICMP & SAE

Build a strong network through collaboration, not competition. Long-term success comes from nurturing genuine relationships, not one-off transactions. View every collaboration as an investment in your wider professional network. You never know who you will be working with in the future!

Amèlie Buron

Role: Label Services Coordinator at Firebird Music

The one thing I would recommend is to go listen to live music that you aren’t familiar with. Let yourself be pleasantly surprised with the sound, and notice how the people in the audience are receiving the performance. Notice how people are moving, who knows the words, all the little stuff.

It’s easy to get caught up in the hullabaloo, but centering yourself in the middle of a show is the most valuable experience. It’s a practice of reminding yourself the why of it all (why you are in the industry, why you love music, why you want to do what you want to do, and why others are interacting with the performers) and will keep you grounded and motivated.