Good day students, teachers and parents.
My name is Irawo Oluwakemi Famugbode also known as DJ Irawo.
I am a musician.
I have been providing music business
services since January 12, 2010.
Let me break down what I do as a
musician for you.
I am a:
Singer: I sing in the jazz genre of music.
Songwriter: I write songs in different genres of music.
Drummer: My major musical instrument is the talking drum which is called gangan in the Yoruba language.
Disc Jockey: I entertain and promote music via my disc jockey skills.
Music Blogger: I write about my views on music and promote music professionals on my blog.
Music Publisher: I represent songwriters.
Author: I write memoirs and topics in the music business.
Today, I will be talking about the topic:
UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES IN THE MUSIC
BUSINESS: 65 Careers in the Music Business in Nigeria
Firstly, what is music?
Music is an art of sound that
expresses emotions via words, rhythm, melody, harmony and tone.
However, there are exceptions.
For example:
Music with no words could be classical and
jazz music.
Music with no melody is acapella.
A theory exists which says that:
Music and other forms of creativity are
right-brained functions.
Business/technology/science are left-brained functions.
I wonder what someone like me who has a functional right brain and left brain will be called.
Entertainment is a branch of the economy just like the health sector, finance sector, information technology sector, etc.
Entertainment contributes to the GDP of any country.
The entertainment sector consists of
several industries such as the:
- Music Industry
- Dance Industry
- Comedy Industry
- Film Industry
- Comic Industry
- Cartoon Industry, etc.
Talent is not enough!
You need to make money from your music talent.
Your music is your content.
Make money from your content.
This is known as the monetization of your content.
Thus, we can confidently say that: Music + Money = Music Business
Music Business is the process of making money from careers in the music industry.
It is not compulsory to sing or compose music before you can earn a career in music.
Passion for music and success is all that you need to thrive in the music industry.
This leads us back to
our sub-topic: 65 Careers in the Music Business in Nigeria.
These careers are as follows:
1. MUSICIAN
This is someone who can
play one or more musical instruments, compose melodies or lyrics or both, sing
and is vast in the business of his music.
2. INSTRUMENTALIST
He or she plays one or more musical instruments only without singing and performs the compositions of another person. Instrumentalists are hired as band members and music studio support for musicians/music artists/performing artists.
3. LYRICIST
This is someone who
writes lyrics that can be converted into songs. Usually, lyricists are rappers
or poets.
4. COMPOSER
This is a person who composes a melody by heart or via the writing of music notations which can be performed via sight-reading.
Usually, composers can play one or more musical instruments.
Example
Elton John is a singer, pianist and
composer.
Bernie Taupin is a lyricist.
Both of them have been collaborating on the creation of songs since 1967 and they have worked on more than thirty music albums together.
Three of their songs are Sacrifice, Candle in the Wind which was composed for the late Princess Diana of Wales and I'm Still Standing.
5. SONGWRITER
This is a person who performs the task of creating both the lyrics and melody of a song.
6. MUSIC ARTIST
This is someone who creates, performs and releases music independently via a record label.
This person is a songwriter as well as a performing artist.
7. PERFORMING
ARTIST
This is a person who performs music only.
She does not write her own songs. An example of a performing artists are Rihanna and Whitney Houston.
For example, Rihanna's hit song, Umbrella, was written by four songwriters and they are Jay Z, Tricky Stewart, Kuk Harrel and The Dream.
Sometimes, music artists who are also songwriters in addition to writing their own songs also perform songs from other songwriters.
These music artists are also known as performing music artists or performing musicians, where they also play musical instruments.
Examples of these songs
are:
Gobe which was written by Password for
Davido
Aye which was written by Runtown for Davido
Sade which was written by Ikemefuna AKA KLEM
for Davido
YOLO was written by KLEM for Seyi Shay
Ferrari was written by KLEM for Yemi
Alade
Knack Am was written by KLEM for Yemi Alade
Applaudise was written by KLEM for Iyanya
Gift was written by KLEM FOR Iyanya
Glass House was written by KLEM for 9ice.
49-99 was co-written by Tiwa Savage and Olamide.
Runtown, Tiwa Savage and Olamide are songwriters who also perform their own music.
8. DANCER/CHOREOGRAPHER
One can dance in a music video of a music artist/musician/performing artist and also teach musicians how to dance in their music videos just like Kaffy does.
9. MUSIC MANAGER
This is a person who represents a musician/music artist/performing artist in relation to his/her clients.
10. MUSIC
BUSINESS MANAGER
This is a person that provides bookkeeping, accounting, business and investment consulting service for music professionals.
11. MUSIC/ENTERTAINMENT
LAWYER
A lawyer can focus on handling music matters relating to intellectual property law such as copyright, trademarks, etc only or expand his tentacles to cover the whole of the entertainment industry.
He writes contracts for record labels, music publishers, etc and represents music professionals in lawsuits.
12. RECORD LABEL
This organization represents musicians, music artists and performing music artists.
It can be owned by an individual who is also a musician or music artist or by partners or limited by shares.
13. ARTIST AND
REPERTOIRE (A&R)
This is a person who scouts for music talents for a record label.
14. TOUR/ROAD MANAGER
This is a person who works with artists to schedule music concerts and tours, negotiate fees, endorsements and attends to contracts with respect to these bookings.
15. MUSIC
PUBLICIST
This person manages publicity for a brand.
They generate a buzz at intervals for the artist.
Examples of courses to study at the higher institution to become one are communication and language arts, public relations, English language, Literature in English and journalism.
16. BOOKING
AGENT
This person books performers for concerts, festivals, etc.
17. WEB DESIGNER
This professional designs websites for music professionals.
18. MUSIC PUBLISHER
This person represents songwriters in relation to the users of music and the collecting societies.
19. MUSIC
SUPERVISOR
This is a person who combines music and visual media such as film, television, advertising, online videos and video games. He/she reads the scripts and assigns licensed songs from a music publisher or directly from the copyright owners of music to be placed in the scenes of visuals.
20. MUSIC
THERAPIST
This is usually a health practitioner who uses music as an alternative or additional support to heal patients who suffer from physical pain and mental health illnesses.
These professionals study health-related courses and then study music which prepares them with the ability to play one or more musical instruments to be used in the practice.
21. MUSIC
TEACHER
This is a person who teaches music theory, music performance and how to play musical instruments.
22. HYPE MAN/WOMAN OR MASTER OF CEREMONY (MC)
This is a person who hosts music events at clubs, music concerts and festivals and makes it interesting.
He/she hypes and announces the act for the day.
He/she can act as back up rapper or singer interjecting the performance with funny phrases.
You must be a lively person to do this work.
23. EVENT
PLANNER
This person plans music concerts, festivals, birthdays, weddings, etc for music acts.
24. MUSIC
BLOGGER
This person writes about music news, music singles and albums, music events, music reviews, music professionals and writes these topics based on her personal opinions.
25. MUSIC
JOURNALIST
A music journalist performs the same functions as a music blogger except that a music journalist writes her stories based on facts.
26. DISC JOCKEY
This is a person who
plays music from a turntable or controller connected to speakers. There are
different types of DJs such as:
a. Radio DJ
b. Club DJ
c. Religious DJ
d. Mobile DJ: They play
at weddings, parties, etc.
e. Remix DJs: They reproduce original popular songs in order to promote these songs and their craft.
27. ON-AIR
PERSONALITY
This is a modern-day broadcaster. He either works as a staff for a radio or television station or he earns a living by purchasing a time slot on radio or television, selling of advertisement and promotion of singles and music albums.
28. MUSIC
PRODUCER
He records singles and music albums of music professionals. Music producers can also master and mix songs.
29. MUSIC/AUDIO
ENGINEER
He masters and mixes songs produced by a music producer for a better sound output.
30. MUSIC VIDEO
DIRECTOR
This professional shoots and directs a music film for a music act.
31. MUSIC SCRIPTWRITER
This professional writes storyboards for music videos, films and documentaries based on the memoirs and biographies of music professionals either dead or alive.
The following films have
been shot to tell the stories of the lives of music professionals:
a. What's
Love Got To Do With it for Tina Turner
b. Ray for
Ray Charles
c. The Sound
of Music for the Von Trapp Family Singers. This is a true-life
story based on the Von Trapp family singers who were famous in the pre-world
war 2 era.
d. Rocketman for
Elton John
e. All Eyes
on Me for Tupac
f. Whitney for
Whitney Houston.
g. Selena for Selena Quintallina-Perez
In Nigeria, we have Ayinla for Ayinla Omowura (Waidi Yusuf Gbogbolowo).
32. STYLIST
This professional is responsible for making a musician look good by styling the music artist's hair, clothes, shoes, etc.
33. MUSICAL
THEATRE ARTIST
This professional combines music and acting on stage and film in her performances.
In a musical theatre, songs are rendered in-between dialogues.
She can also be an opera singer where songs are sung to act in a play instead of dialogues.
34. STAGE
MANAGER
This is one who plans the stage for music concerts and music festivals. She ensures that all required musical instruments are delivered, a music artist's technical rider is adhered to and she plans the soundcheck including other duties involving the stage.
35. MUSIC STUDIO
MANAGER
This is one who manages a music studio that is used for music rehearsals and or music production, mastering and mixing.
36. GREENROOM
MANAGER
This is a caterer of
food and drinks for A-list music artists in the green room. A green room is The VIP section of a concert venue for entertaining top musicians.
37. MUSIC DIRECTOR
This person directs
music for choirs, choral groups and contemporary music. This term is loosely used in place of a music supervisor of films.
38. MUSIC INSTRUMENT MANUFACTURER AND REPAIRER
You can learn how to manufacture violins, guitars, drums, etc.
39. MUSIC
PROMOTER
This professional creates awareness for a music performer's songs online and offline via blogs, social media, radio, television, etc.
40. MUSIC
DISTRIBUTOR
This is a person who makes recorded music available to the public for purchase via offline and online music stores, streaming and download services, artist's website, etc.
41. MUSIC RETAILER
This is a person who sells compact discs, music books, music vinyl, musical instruments and accessories via offline and online shops.
42. SECURITY
You can own a security company that provides bulletproof vehicles, bodyguards, entrance and exit security, CCTV cameras, body cameras and other forms of security to music professionals.
43. INSURANCE BROKER
As an insurance broker,
you will represent your music client to buy an insurance policy. Examples
of types of insurance policies that you can buy are:
a. Life Assurance
b. Property Insurance
c. Fire Insurance
d. Social Insurance
e. Guarantee Insurance
44. MUSIC RESEARCHER
This professional works with a music supervisor, record label, music publisher, music manager, filmmaker, radio, television, etc to help garner information related to music, music artists, music events, etc for use in content creation.
45. MUSIC LIBRARIAN
This person can work in a local and private library, radio, television and publishing organization to organize, catalogue and maintain collections and answer reference inquiries from users of the library.
46. DIGITAL MEDIA
MARKETER
A digital marketer performs the following functions: Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Email Marketing, Content Marketing, Public Relations, Social Media, etc.
46. SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Based on the above functions, you may decide to focus on only one digital marketing service such as managing the Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn accounts of a musician or focus on only one type of account. For example, you could be a Pinterest guru, managing only Pinterest accounts for several musicians.
47. APPLICATION
DEVELOPER
This is a professional who creates, designs, deploys and updates programs for a particular device, the web or a particular operating system. You can use this knowledge to create apps for musicians according to their needs.
48. MUSIC CONDUCTOR
This professional conducts an orchestra.
49. AMBULANCE SERVICE
Apart from making your ambulance service available at music concerts and festivals, you should be able to make the first-aid service available at these events.
50. PERSONAL ASSISTANT
Top musicians require the services of these professionals to help them organize their meetings and performance calendars, organize and respond to their emails, pick their calls, check on their laundry service providers, etc.
51. PERSONAL FITNESS TRAINER
Use your expertise to make musicians be in top physical shape for their performances, music videos and interviews.
52. TUTOR
Be a tutor to musicians.
Help them to polish their English language.
You can be a language tutor and teach them other languages like French, Spanish, Mandarin, etc.
Etiquette tutoring is another knowledge that you can provide for musicians by teaching them how to eat with a fork and knives and how to behave at different gatherings.
53. LAUNDRY PROFESSIONAL
Take care of the dirty laundry of A-list musicians.
Wash, dry clean and iron their laundry.
Pick up and drop off their laundry as soon as you are done and get paid for your services.
54. PROJECT MANAGER
Handle projects for musicians such as the purchase of gift items on behalf of a musician, visits to the orphanage, prison, etc, organize activities for their fan club and foundations.
55. TICKETING OFFICER
Sell concert tickets to fans of music artists via a website, take a percentage and make profits on the sale of several tickets for several music events.
56. GRANT AND DONATION WRITER
Help independent musicians source funding for their music and private projects via your writing skills.
57. BUSINESS PLAN AND PROPOSAL WRITER
Help source for opportunities for musicians via your excellent writing skills.
58. SPEECHWRITER
Write breathtaking speeches for musicians and make cool cash.
59. GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Design single and album covers, social media and website graphics, etc for musicians.
60. MUSIC COLLECTING SOCIETY
Usually, music collecting societies are limited by guarantee.
You can send your curriculum vitae to the available ones for an opportunity to work at their organization.
In the USA, the collecting societies are ASCAP, BMI and CESAC.
In the UK, they have PRS, MCPS and PPL.
In Nigeria, we have the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).
These organizations help songwriter, composers and lyricists to collect their blanket licences, performing royalties and other royalties and distribute general and specific royalties.
61. LOGISTICS PROVIDER
You can provide musical instrument and sound set up, chauffeur-driven vehicles, deliver invites for music concerts, etc.
62. BACKUP SINGER
Use your vocals to support the singles and albums of musicians in the music studio and in live music performances.
63. SOUND DESIGNER
You can create sound effects for films and theatre productions.
64. MAKEUP ARTIST
Make performing artists look great with your makeup skills.
You will work in collaboration with a stylist.
65. MUSIC COACH
Provide music business, life and performance coaching for music professionals.
There are more careers but I will stop here. The music industry is an unlimited one.
The second part of my speech is 15 Success Tips for Music Business Professionals.
Check it out in my next blog.
Musically yours,
DJ Irawo
