Education

Let music make money for you – a career in the music industry

Have you considered a career in music? Many people have a passion for music but believe that it is a hobby and that they will not be able to earn a living from it.
Boston City Campus & Business College has always maintained that bringing your passion and career together makes you more successful.
This conviction led us to establishing a partnership with Soul Candi who have been a success in the music industry for years. “Most people struggle to create a career in music.
They simply do not know how to get from where they are to where they want to be. In order to create a music career, look into one of the qualifications available at Boston in the music industry.” So says Blanka Mazimela, HOD of the Soul Candi brand at Boston.
Boston last year launched an additional Soul Candi short learning programme to introduce students to the industry.
The new programme is available at all branches nationwide, and is called the Introduction to Digital Music Composition and Production. Mazimela says this short learning programme was introduced to broaden access across all Boston branches.
This programme adds to the existing repertoire which includes DJ101 (offered at selected Boston Branches), The Music Business (offered nationwide), and Digital Music Composition & Production (offered at selected Boston Branches).
In 2017 Boston held an intercampus DJ competition. The winners of the competition, graduates of the Boston Soul Candi DJ101 short learning programme, were selected to perform at the ‘Colour in Ekurhuleni’ event held at Germiston Lake. The event was a huge success and showcased the industry expertise of Boston.
What types of careers can you pursue with a qualification in the music industry?
While you may need to combine or supplement a qualification such as DJ101 with, say, a business diploma, which would give you a greater edge in understanding the full running of a business, these are the types of careers that you could explore in the music industry: Performing & Writing Careers. DJ (Nightclub DJ). Recording Careers. Record Producer. Record Industry Careers. Music Business Careers. Personal Manager. Facility, Arena, & Club Careers. Concert Hall Manager. Film Music Careers. Composer. Music Journalism.
Music Producers write, arrange, produce, and record songs, whether they are shaping the sound of another artist’s album or creating beats or songs for their own projects.
With the growth of home recording technology and boutique recording studios, many Producers find themselves pulling double or triple duty as Studio Owners and Sound Engineers. A music producer will be responsible for every aspect of the business and it’s definitely not all glamourous – there is admin and slog involved!
A typical day will start with checking notes, prepping the studio, checking functionality of equipment. If the studio is booked out, it needs to be in perfect running order for studio fees to be charged.
While on recording breaks – a Producer will attend to admin such as emails, orders, bookings and accounting.
There is a lot of work that goes into being a Producer outside of the studio such as attending rehearsals, meetings, writing sessions, and going out to shows.
Program Directors are in charge of what is produced by a radio station.
They manage the station’s programming and oversee the different departments and staff at the station to ensure that the station always sounds its best and suits the needs of its listeners.
“As a program director or manager, your plate is full. At any given time, a Program Director’s duties could include organizing promos, making sure the DJs are informed about upcoming promos and station events, sitting in meetings, checking music logs to make sure they’re accurate, working with the Music Director to produce logs for the next day, coordinating interviews with celebrities and musicians, and managing and scheduling programming,” says Mazimela.
“Programme directors spend a lot of time on their admin,” notes Mazimela. While the industry appears to be glamourous, there is still a great deal of admin work to be done such as returning emails and calls, dealing people, meetings with PR companies and more.
Whatever direction you choose in music, Boston’s collaboration with Soul Candi will ensure you gain the industry skills you require to start your career in this really exciting and happening industry.

Contact Boston on 011 551-2000, e-mail info@boston.co.za,
visit www.boston.co.za, or Facebook.

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