Hierarchy of job roles within the music industry

1. Max Cheshire
Music positionresearch.
12/10/2017
Record CompanyPresident: The presidentis
crucial,he/she isthe one whodecideswhether
or not to signthe artist/group,andtheywill
discussthe marketingideaandthe salesof the
songsacross the globe.Inadditionthey
oversee the administrationandanyconcerns
artistsand workerswill have.
Legal department: Ina recordcompany’slegal
departmentisheldresponsible forthe sorting
of all the contracts that are made betweenthe
companyand the artist.The legal teamwill
consultwiththe artistsmanagersand lawyers,
alsoany legal actionssuchas lawsuits
betweenmusiciansandthe label will go
throughthisdepartment.
Businessaffairs:Oftenthe unseenside of arecord
company,the accountingroll iskeyas it allowsthemtokeeptabsof bookkeeping,payrolland
personal finance of the artists.A well paidsalary,the loweststartingoff at£24,582 howeveritcan
rise to over£60,000
Executive Vice President: The vice presidentreportstothe presidentbutpresidesoverandmanages
the workingof the variousdifferentdepartmentsof amusiccompany. He/she isresponsible forall
belowthemshowninthe diagram. (Top right)
A&R: Standingforartistand repertoire,thisdepartmentis‘the mostglamorous’thisisbecauseitis
responsible forfindingthe newtalent,their role consistsof songselectionandchoosingproducers
whocan workon these trackswiththe new foundartists.
Artist Development: Publicityof the artist,the role hearistoodraw up charts of theirfuture career
and alsotake care of the developmentof the artistindividuallyaswell aswithinthe recordlabel.
Promotion:witha veryvariedannual wage of £12,000 to £60,000 the role of a promoterhasmany
differentlevels,thiscandependonwhoyouare promoting,andhow well youpromote themand
whichlabel youare hiredto workfor.For thisrole youwill needtoorganize publicityeventslike
mediainterviewsandpersonalappearances,notonlythisbutyouwill have toorganize toursand
dealingwithdesigners,printers,marketingstaff andbrands.
Marketing: Itis importantforeverymusicbusinesstopublicize andmarketitself andthisisthe job
of the marketingdepartment.Thisdepartmentmakessure thatall songs,albumsandartistsgetthe
rightkindof spotlightandrecognition.
PublicityDepartment: Despite the marketingandpromoters,someoneneedstotake the role of
publicity,thisareawill focusontakingcare of advertsand promotionsinthe newspapers,TV and
online.
New Media: Social mediaisheavilyinfluencingthe musicindustry,artistsandgroupscannow get
recognitionof siteslikeYouTube,andfromthistheycanbecome independentanddistribute music

2. Max Cheshire
Music positionresearch.
12/10/2017
whenevertheylike.However,artistsandlabelswill use platformslike Instagram, FacebookYouTube
and Twittertopromote,tours,live eventsandnew music.
Label Liaison:Thisisusuallydone byone person,ora small groupof people,theylieinbetweenthe
record companyandthe distributioncompany,theywill eitherbe basedina separate divisionunder
the huge corporate companyor ina differentware house entirelywhere theywill be there tomake
sure the CD’s hitthe stores.
Sales: Anextremelyimportantdepartmentof a musicbusiness company,theyare responsiblefor
the salesdepartmentwhotakescare of the fact the musiccreatedbythe companyisactuallysold
and puton the shelves
Art Department: Responsible forhowalbumartworklooksandalsoeitherproducingthe visualsfor
videosorfindingapersonor companyto produce visuals.