Is pursuing a career in the music industry realistic?
I’m 16 and I’ve been thinking a lot about working in the music industry in the future. Not as an artist, though. I’m much more interested in things like artist management, creative direction, A&R, or generally the creative/business side of the industry. I’m still figuring out exactly what I would want to do.
Music has been my passion for years, and this isn’t just some random career idea I recently came up with. I genuinely love music and everything surrounding it, and the more I learn about the industry, the more I can see myself building a future around it. I know I still have a lot to learn, but it’s something I genuinely want to pursue and take seriously.
I live in a pretty small village, so there aren’t really many people around me who are interested in the same things or who know much about working in the music industry. That’s also why I’m trying to learn as much as I can online and from people who actually work in the industry.
I’m planning to read „All You Need to Know About the Music Business” by Donald Passman because I want to get a proper overview of how the industry works and what possibilities there are if you don’t want to be an artist. Would you say it’s a good book to start with?
The thing is, my parents aren’t really supportive of this idea. My mom is actually pretty upset about it, and almost everyone I’ve talked to about it has told me that it’s “crazy” and that I should find something more “proper” or secure.
I understand where they’re coming from. I know the music industry is competitive and that loving music doesn’t automatically mean you’ll have a successful career. But at the same time, I don’t want to choose a life just because it looks safe from the outside if I already know it might not be the kind of life I want.
I’m still in school and I’m planning to go to university, so I know I don’t have to decide my entire future right now.
So I guess my question is: is it unrealistic to seriously consider a career in the music industry, or is it actually reasonable to explore it and see where it could take me?
Also, if you’re a woman working in the industry, I’d especially love to hear about your experience and whether you feel like being a woman has affected your career in any way.
I just don’t want to blindly chase a dream, but I also don’t want to give up on something I genuinely love simply because everyone around me thinks it’s crazy.