Dawann Jones has created a career strategy map to help achieve his goal of becoming a music business executive. His plan is to start as an artist & repertoire intern at a major record label, then gain experience as a touring and event coordinator, music producer, and eventually a music executive. At each step he outlines the key responsibilities and qualifications needed to take his independent record label to a professional level.

1. TOURING AND EVENT COORDINATOR
MUSIC PRODUCER
MUSIC EXECUTIVE
DAWANN JONES
CAREER STRATEGY
MAP
DAWANN JONES
CAREER STRATEGY
MAP
Communicating with venues, musician management,
promoters, etc., to ensure quality control.
Facilitation of merchandising stands, seating
arrangement, ticket sales, and marketing/promotion
of the event(s).
Ensuring the event is up to local, state, and federal
standards.
My career passion is to become a music business executive. Currently, I
own and operate an independent record label based in Ohio. To ensure I
run an effective business and take my record label to a professional
level, I believe these are the career stepping stones I must go through.
My career passion is to become a music business executive. Currently, I
own and operate an independent record label based in Ohio. To ensure I
run an effective business and take my record label to a professional
level, I believe these are the career stepping stones I must go through.
ARTIST & REPERTOIRE INTERN
Assist in the development of new and current
artists.
Help organize and file weekly/monthly reports.
Assist with the facilitation of all aspects of
recording/mixing sessions.
Working directly with the A&R department to
ensure goals and tasks are completed efficiently.
Assist with the creation of a music project.
Hiring and managing 3rd party musicians
(background singers, writers, etc.) to help
with the music element of a project.
Liaison for all parties involved to ensure a
quality project.
Organize various recording sessions.
Oversee all aspects of a record label and/or
music project.
Handle day-to-day key operations involving
med-level and upper management.
Analyzing reports

2. ARTIST & REPERTOIRE INTERN (1 TO 2
YEARS IN POSITION)
Stay up to date on trending topics related to up-and-coming
musicians.
Develop an "ear" for music that will grab a listener's attention.
Must be able to assist in a musician's creative process.
Internships are fairly easy to acquire and fairly easy to keep with
driven determination. I will apply and gain the internship working for
a subsidiary of a major record label like Atlantic Record who is a
subsidary of Warner Music Group.
TOURING AND EVENT COORDINATOR
(3 TO 5 YEARS IN POSITION)
Previous experience operating and/or working major scale
event(s).
Organizational skills, multi-tasking, and attention to detail.
Able to micro-manage production crew.
To obtain this position, I will work for an event company like Live
Nation, which is the leading music event company in the U.S. Live
Nation is known for promoting within so this company would be a
great opportunity.
MUSIC PRODUCER (2 TO 3 YEARS
IN POSITION)
Understanding of different genres and musician personalities.
Previous experience operating and/or working in a recording
studio. (in-home studios do not count)
Basic understanding of music production fundamentals. (beat
making, arranging music, etc.)
To become a music producer, you must somewhat have an
entrepreneurial spirit. Becoming a notable music producer is only
attainable by having non-average talents and working with notable
talent and/or arranging music for new talent with "star-like" qualities.
I will work with various musicians to arrange timeless music that will
gain the attention of listeners and other musicians/business
executives.
MUSIC EXECUTIVE (10 TO 25+ IN
POSITION)
Creative problem solving, attention to detail, business-minded,
music-based background, budgeting, and other financial
literacy skills.
Ability to break new talent to the masses and ability to elevate
and/or maintain the stability of established artists.
Prior experience in marketing, promotion, distribution, and
other key aspects of the music business.
Becoming a successful music executive is attainable as long as there
are recognized notable professional experience(s). Highly recognized
music executives like Kevin Liles, Jay-Z, Coach K, and others, aren't only
great executives but they helped pushed the envelope regarding the
Hip-Hop/Rap industry. With the background and experiences from
prior positions, I believe I will become a notable music executive.