Landing Your Dream Gig: A Guide to Music Tech Internships

The music industry is a vibrant and dynamic field, constantly evolving with new technologies and trends. For students passionate about music and eager to break into the industry, internships offer invaluable opportunities to gain hands-on experience, build professional networks, and discover their niche. Remote music internships serve as an entry point into this competitive landscape. Whether your interests lie in artist management, sound engineering, digital marketing, or event planning, an internship can be the perfect launchpad for your career.

Why Pursue a Music Tech Internship?

Music internships offer a unique chance to be more than just a fan. They provide real-world experience, allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills in a professional setting. These programs aren't conventional; they place you at the heart of major projects, working alongside passionate teams and contributing to innovative creations.

Benefits of Music Tech Internships:

Hands-on Experience: Interns join global teams at the center of the industry, honing and acquiring new skills.
Skill Development: Internships provide opportunities to develop skills ranging from communication and digital marketing to editing and networking.
Networking: The community of connections interns build throughout their placements is an essential component of a future career in the music industry.
Portfolio Building: Interns build a portfolio that showcases their professional experience and the application of their top skills.
Career Exploration: These placements offer the perfect opportunity to discover where your passion lies within the music industry.
Making an Impact: You'll be making a real impact on the business and the world.

Types of Music Tech Internship Roles

The music industry is incredibly vast and diverse, offering a wide range of internship opportunities. Here are some common areas where interns can find roles:

Artist Management: This is one of the most high-profile areas of the music industry. Successful artist managers need great communications and public relations skills, as well as negotiation and leadership abilities.
Social Media Management: Many remote internships in music involve social media management. Interns may create and manage publication calendars for advertising and promotional posts, as well as for individual artists and industry organizations.
Public Relations and Promotion: Promoting artists, their music, and music industry events is an excellent way to learn more about the field and to meet the right people. Interns may draft press releases and coordinate with entertainment media, as well as assist in branding and other promotional projects.
Event Planning: Events are a key part of the music industry and the wider entertainment world. Interns may gain experience planning and executing virtual and in-person events, including budgeting and sponsorship, booking venues, and more.

How to Find Music Tech Internships

Several major music companies and organizations offer internship programs. Here are a few examples:

Spotify: Spotify offers a Global Summer Internship Program that spans 10 weeks. Internship spots are available in multiple locations around the world across business, product, and technical teams. At Spotify, they're not just offering internships - they’re building careers.
Warner Music Group (WMG): WMG's Emerging Talent Associate (ETA) Program is a semester-long, fully-immersive, paid opportunity available in the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons. As an ETA, you will be able to engage with departments across WMG’s businesses, where establishing a deeper understanding of music and fostering meaningful connections are of the utmost importance.
Universal Music Group (UMG): The Universal Music Group Internship Program is an immersive opportunity designed to provide hands-on experience and exposure to a career in the music entertainment industry. UMG recruits for their Summer intern cohort to join them at their New York, California, Florida & Tennessee offices. UMG also partners with specific colleges and universities that offer co-ops, ranging from 6-9 months, for students interested in gaining practical experience in their field of study prior to graduation.
Girlie Action Media and Management: This New York City-based company offers internships in PR, Digital Marketing/Social Media, and Artist Management.

Tips for Finding Internships:

Online Job Boards: Use job search websites and platforms that specialize in internships.
Company Websites: Check the career pages of music companies and organizations you're interested in.
University Career Services: Your university's career services department can be a valuable resource for finding internships and preparing your application.
Networking: Attend industry events, connect with professionals on LinkedIn, and let your network know you're looking for an internship.
Music Blogs: Pay attention to any and all relevant music blogs, especially the major ones.
Venues: Venues are also a great place to get a start. Go to shows!

Standing Out From the Crowd: Application and Interview Tips

The music industry is competitive, so it's essential to make your application and interview stand out.

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Application Tips:

Do Your Research: Let the company know why you are interested in Joining the Band! Pay close attention to the different program applications and apply to only the ones that you are interested in and that align with your background!
Show Your Passion: Your application is a chance to show who you are beyond your resume. This is your moment to stand out.
Highlight Relevant Skills: To land their dream internship, college students should choose a college major that will equip them with the special skills and knowledge necessary for the branch of the music industry in which they’d like to work.
Proofread Carefully: The time and effort you invest in your application are a direct reflection of your interest. Be sure to proofread your responses.
Create a Music Blog or Tumblr: Start a Tumblr dedicated to reviewing new music. “We also love to see if they have their own music blog, Tumblr, or ways that they stay involved without necessarily being attached to company experience."
Prepare a Stellar Resume: When filling out the application, a resume is required, along with written & video responses to some short answer questions. Your application is a chance for them to get to know the person behind the resume, so be sure to make your responses shine!

Interview Tips:

Be Prepared: Be ready to talk about why you are interested in the role as well as the company as a whole.
Show Enthusiasm: Professionalism, enthusiasm for the industry, attention to detail, and respect for the work environment, in general, are all a must!
Ask Questions: Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer.
Follow Up: After the interview, jot down a few notes. What questions did you feel you answered well? Were there any questions that caught you off guard? What did you learn about the company, the team, or the role that stood out to you?

Making the Most of Your Internship

Once you land an internship, it's crucial to make the most of the opportunity.

Tips for Success:

Treat it Like a Job: To parlay a current internship into a job, McElroy recommends students “treat the internship like you have already been hired for the job. If you take us seriously, we’ll take you seriously.
Be Proactive: Take initiative, ask questions, and volunteer for new tasks.
Network: Build relationships with your colleagues and other industry professionals.
Seek Feedback: Ask for regular feedback on your performance and use it to improve.
Stay Connected: Even after the internship ends, stay in touch with your contacts.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Spotify is committed to building a diverse workforce that is reflective of the creators, artists, and consumers on the platform. They aim to empower their teams to do their best work. You can read more about their commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Compensation and Time Commitment

Internship compensation varies, with paid Music Interns earning about $13/hour on average. The range for paid internships runs from $7.25 to $30.15 hourly. Internship hours are often full-time, such as 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Some internships may require a commit to 20-40 hours per week (based on individual business area)

Alternatives to Traditional Internships

°1824: Calling all freshman & sophomores - °1824 is UMG’s creative solutions team focused on the connection of artists and brands directly to fans through storytelling and experiences. Our offerings include content creation, ideation, PR, A&R, creator partnerships, experiences and digital marketing.With a staff of passionate and highly skilled visionaries, we own a direct connection to youth culture. °1824’s first-of-its-kind network of young creatives allows us to make an impact locally while thinking globally. We redefine artist development while building the careers of future industry executives.Part-time staff requirements include at least 1.5 calendar years left enrolled in university, based in the United States and available to work 20-25 hours/week. These roles are not internships or seasonal jobs. They are remote and dependent on strong communication skills.

Conclusion

A music tech internship can be a transformative experience, providing you with the skills, knowledge, and connections you need to launch a successful career in the music industry. By researching opportunities, preparing a strong application, and making the most of your internship experience, you can turn your passion for music into a rewarding profession. Remember, if you don’t love music, and I mean really love music, this industry isn’t for you. The reward is in the effort. It’s in meeting like-minded people who grew up feeling inspired over the same lyrics, that same sick guitar solo, or the same infectious beat.

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tags: #music #tech #internships