2. CEO
• Record label CEOs manage with skills in business and any specific to
the production of music. They pedal the focus on marketing and
music distribution, as well as keeping up communication throughout
the company and stabilising the finance.
• The jobs involved with being a CEO included recruiting staff, managing
exposure for the label and negotiating for the best distribution deals,
delegating rolls to employees and dealing with the rapid changes in
the music industry.
3. Vice President
• Most record companies have several Vice Presidents, usually for each
department that helps the corporation to function. Examples of these
departments include: business matters, legal affairs, art (visuals),
artists and repertoire, publicity, marketing, sales and label liaison.
• They will manage their smaller teams daily and depending on the size
of the company, there can be 10+ VPs.
4. Business Affairs/ Accounting
• Business Affairs and Accounting assistants work with the artists in the
record company to advise them on financial matters (making, saving
and investing).
• This includes tax returns, reviewing royalty statements, helping with
applications for financing, analysing contracts, and reviewing business
plans.
• When the artists go on tour they also advise on how to create budget
for the tour, confirming expenses, and checking the collection of all
income.
5. Legal
• Many labels hire lawyers to draft contracts and deal with legal
matters like copyright infringement.
• Music lawyers work alongside songwriters, managers, producers, and
negotiating distribution, publishing, music placement
• They can file lawsuits when the artist’s property rights or copyrights
are invaded.
6. A&R
• A&R stands for artist and repertoire.
• They are predominantly responsible for finding new recording artists
and signing them to the company .
• A&R also oversee the process of recording music and the commercial
development of the recording artist.
• Marketing and promotion are jobs that they assist with.
• A&R also act as a liaison between the artist and the record labal as a
whole.
7. Artist Development
• Development Representatives work with artists to nurture and
progress their careers artistically and financially.
• Specifically this includes guidance with branding, live show
perfection, recording material, and gaining a following online and in
audiences.
• An emotional aspect of the job is taking the pressure off the artist
and simplifying the procedure so they can focus on being creative.
• They handle scheduling, logistics, paperwork, and help build
relationships with producers, lawyers, publishers and other roles
within the record company.
8. Marketing
• Jobs included in being a marketing rep are creating surveys for market
analysis, briefing radio stations and trade magazines on record sales,
delivering and setting up promotional displays, and devising radio
station giveaway contests.
• The main responsibility is to develop plans and tactics to market and
sell the music.
• A local Marketing Representative will supervise specific territorial
markets and Regional Representative will manage whole regions e.g.
the south of England.
9. Online and Media
• New media and Online managers are accountable for the creation and
implementation of digital marketing initiatives, for example mobile
advertising, social networking and online campaigns.
• They make plans on the internet and mobile assets they have to support
the asset, co-operate with the press, sales team and advertising within the
company to find partnership opportunities.
• The manager oversees releases and works with producers to create
content, including media like a Twitter page, and write reports on the
effectiveness.
• The main goal of the new media manager is to find new methods in which
the artist can be exposed.
10. Art Department
• The Art Department manages all product design: CD, Tape, Vinyl cover
art etc as well as trade and customer advertising, posters and flats,
and other print media.
• Jobs include album cover designers in which graphic designers work
closely with the artists.
• They play a large role in the visual exposure and image of the artists.
11. Publicity and Promotions
• They oversee the entire publicity and public relations department,
assign publicists to the artists and help to create campaigns.
• Publicity Directors are responsible for all aspects of the campaign and
are there to make sure the artist is portrayed enough, and in the best
way possible. They will also go to press events so as to associate and
bond with the media.
• They work closely marketing along with the artist and repertoire and
promotion departments within the company.
12. Sales
• The Salesperson’s aim is to sell the artist’s music and other products
e.g. merchandise.
• They are in charge of CDs, DVDs, and videos as well as checking
accounts and the retail front, e.g. communicating with stores and
venues.
• The Sales Rep must keep within budgets and quotas but still make the
best profit and quality possible, so as to ensure the success of their
client.
• They also manage large orders and discounts, as well as noting
inventory and the productivity of re-releasing music.
