Author Description

The book's focus is on successful music entrepreneurship and career development in the global music and entertainment industry. The list of specialized occupations filled by musicians is lengthy, e.g. performer, producer, arranger, composer, songwriter, lyricist, music editor, publicist, recording engineer, conductor, sound technician, manager, entertainment lawyer, promoter, booking agent, tour manager, music educator, vocal coach, private instructor, music supervisor, music programmer, electronic DJ, etc. There are also careers ancillary to music, such as event organizer, music therapist, radio station director, or entertainment director. Music plays an important role in advertising, marketing, video games, film, and digital media as well, and there are tie-ins to tourism, restaurant, and the hospitality industry. Music as an industry is multifaceted, and is a subset of the broader entertainment industry which includes sports, cinema, broadcasting, and creative digital media. The entertainment industry in aggregate is viewed as a potential growth area by governments and by commercial concerns, and often targeted and supported as a tool for sustainable international economic, social, and cultural development. There is even such a thing as music diplomacy, as a component of cultural or "soft power" diplomacy. As with many professions, the set of skills, knowledge, and strategies required to become successfully employed in the music and entertainment-related fields are not the same set of skills needed to do the actual jobs. Young musicians and others with the ambition to work in the music industry are often baffled by the many options available, conflicting information, and the lack of a clear path to success. They are thirsty for balanced and reliable knowledge about and clear direction on how to prepare for a career in the industry. Universities, colleges, and specialty training schools offer programs designed to help individuals prepare for careers in music, lead