This is an up-to-date list of music industry jobs based in Los Angeles. These roles include in-person, hybrid, and remote positions.
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Music Industry Newsletterđ Open music industry jobs
These are job openings in the music industry in the last 7 days, which can be performed remotely or are based in Los Angeles. âOn-siteâ jobs are in an LA office.
đ LA Music Industry Networking
If youâre looking for a job in the music industry in Los Angeles, networking is key. Attending music industry events, joining music industry organizations, and reaching out to industry contacts can all help you find a job.
- Research: Follow artists, managers, booking agents, engineering team leads, product managers, and other industry professionals on social media like Instagram and LinkedIn. Find out about shows they might be going to or exciting products theyâre working on. Engage in meaningful ways. Some A&Rs, for instance, have their own Discord servers to get demo feedback. Some engineers post about their new machine learning projects on LinkedIn or their personal blogs. Follow along and try to engage meaningfully.
- Networking events: Attend local music industry events and meet-ups. There are dozens of weekly shows, industry events, parties, and networking-focused meetups all around LA. Go out and say hello to other musicians, managers, and those working behind the scenes.
- Join online communities: Join online communities like Reddit, the LASC, or the LA Music newsletter.
- Build relationships: Reach out to people in the industry! Theyâre not that scary. Build relationships over coffee dates and by supporting each othersâ projects. The only way to build long-term success is by genuinely supporting the scene. Be kind and offer to help. Weâre all in this together.
Many of the major music conferences and festivals in Los Angeles are excellent places to meet industry contacts and learn more about the business. These include ASCAP, NAMM, and other sync summits.
â Music Industry Interview Questions
These are some of the most common behavioral interview questions you should expect to be asked during your interviews in the music business. Having a background in music or a passion for it can greatly increase your chances of landing a job over other candidates.
Q1: Tell me about yourself.
This is the most common interview question of them all. Be prepared to talk about yourself for 2 or 3 minutes, introducing yourself, your skills, and what brought you to the interview today.
Concentrate on highlighting your strengths and notable achievements from previous roles, such as spearheading campaigns or collaborating closely with artists and managers. Infuse personality into your response by referencing recent favorite musicians or memorable concerts you attended.
Tailor your responses to align with the interviewing company. For instance, if interviewing with Warner Music, spotlight artists from their roster you've seen in concert.
If youâre interviewing with Dolby, you could emphasize experiences in physical product management and development.
Q2: Do you live in Los Angeles?
Given that many music industry positions are based in Los Angeles, CA, living in close proximity to LA can provide a significant advantage over other candidates who may need to relocate.
It is worth noting that many music industry offices are located in downtown Los Angeles, which offers convenient access to the Metro line and bus routes. Some are also in Hollywood and Santa Monica.
When responding to this question, highlight the fact that you relocated to Los Angeles because of its vibrant cultural and musical diversity. Emphasize your dedication to building direct connections within the industry by moving to the city where many of your favorite artists are from.
Q3: Why do you want to work in the music industry?
Next, be prepared to answer questions about why you are interested in working in the music or entertainment industry.
Emphasize your creativity and passion for the music business and all of its branches.
The music industry encompasses a wide range of fields, such as technology, creativity, and business spread across streaming platforms, data companies, record labels, artist management, and much more. All these elements must work together harmoniously for an artist or creative project to achieve success.
A career in music can be incredibly fulfilling and rewarding for those who have a genuine passion for music and understand its power to bring joy to the world and influence popular culture.
Q4: Tell me about your experience in the music industry.
Talk about your previous experience in music, even if itâs not related to the current role youâre applying for. If you do have existing experience in an adjacent role, lean into it!
Talk about marketing or event promotion projects you may have worked on in college or for a smaller record label. Talk about bands or artistic projects youâve been involved in and how you thought about growing those brands.
The music industry is unique in that it requires a diverse set of skills to solve both data-backed and creative problems.
Showcasing your skills across different parts of the business, no matter how small, can help you to stand out in a popular and crowded talent pool.
Q5: Who are your favorite musicians, artists, or performers right now?
Check out your Spotify Wrapped! Who are your top musicians and artists at the moment? How did you discover them, and what do you love about them?
Understanding what makes an artist unique and resonates with an audience is essential in the music industry. Following and enjoying an artist because they tap into the culture and promote positive social change are great reasons to appreciate their work.
Los Angeles is one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world, and itâs an excellent place to find a job in the music industry.
With an abundance of record labels, Web3 music startups, venues, and music organizations, the LA job market is one of the world's best.
Whether you're looking for an entry-level position in the music industry or an executive role, there are plenty of opportunities in LA.
Here are some tips on how to find music industry jobs in Los Angeles.
đ Advice for Finding a Music Industry Job in LA
Look for jobs at music venues and clubs.
Trying to get your first job in the music business? Try working at a music venue or club!
The pay may not be great, but youâll meet many bands and support staff. If you make the right impression, you could work your way into something bigger.
You probably wonât find job listings for many venues online. Small rock clubs barely have a social media presence, so donât expect to job-hunt on LinkedIn.
Venues like Kulakâs Woodshed are always looking for volunteers to help run local shows and open mics. You can sign up to work in person.
Bigger venues sometimes use their websites to announce job openings or volunteer opportunities. Check back regularly, as these jobs are sometimes seasonal. Getting onto venue newsletters is also an excellent way to stay in the loop.
Go to shows around town and get to know the people who work there.
Some of the most popular local venues with job listings include:
- The Hollywood Bowl: Since it opened in 1922, many famous musicians have played at the Hollywood Bowl, which is a historic music venue in Southern California. With its stunning outdoor setting and state-of-the-art acoustics, it continues to be a premier destination for live music events. They hire staff to help guests at the shows and at the corporate level to produce and promote world-class events.
- The Wiltern: The Wiltern is a historic music venue located in Los Angeles, California. It has a capacity of 1200 to 4000 people and hosts a variety of live shows and events throughout the year.
- The Greek Theatre: The Greek Theatre is a world-famous outdoor music venue located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles. Itâs been home to everyone from Radiohead to Frank Sinatra. Help VIP guests have a good time or be a show runner to grab last minute gear or snacks. Most of this work is part time or seasonal.
- The Troubadour: The Troubadour is a legendary music venue located in West Hollywood, California. It has played an important role in the development of rock and roll and has hosted performances by many famous musicians, including Elton John, James Taylor, and Guns N' Roses.
Join a music organization or non-profit.
These groups help facilitate talks, fight for fair pay and workersâ rights, and foster the local music community.
- The Recording Academy: The Recording Academy's goals are to honor achievement in the recording arts and sciences, promote the health of the music industry, and guarantee that music will always be an enduring part of American culture.
- Work with The Recording Academy: Check for job postings on The Recording Academyâs website regularly. They hire for both music internships and full-time positions.
- American Federation of Musicians (Los Angeles): The AFM47 chapter of the AFM musician union is alive and well in LA. Theyâre dedicated to fighting for fair wages and benefits for musicians. Volunteer to help organize or join their board of directors to help out.
- Work with American Federation of Musicians: Often, the AFM union has openings on their board of directors. You can also volunteer to be part of their monthly meetings or to help organize event for members.
- Los Angeles Music Center: The Music Center is one of the largest performing arts venues in the country and serves as a cultural hub for all of Los Angeles County. They need ushers, creative directors, booking agents, and more.
- Work with LAMC: Between seasons, LAMC posts jobs for both managerial and entry-level positions. Sometimes internships are shared too.
- Harmony Project: The Harmony Project uses the transformative power of music to help underprivileged students overcome academic and social obstacles and gain entry to higher education.
- Work with Harmony Project: Harmony Project is always on the lookout for artists who are interested in teaching in their school programs. From cello and viola instruction to general music classes, youâll work with children aged 5 to 18 to develop their musical skills and appreciation. They offer full-time and part-time teaching positions throughout Los Angeles.
- Los Angeles Jazz Society: Non-profit providing jazz music education and performance opportunities.
- Work with the LA Jazz Society: Join this organization and attend monthly concerts and events to get to know other musicians and educators in town. LA Jazz Society also organizes jazz shows in public schools around the county.
- Los Angeles Music & Art School: The Los Angeles Music and Art School (LAMusArt) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization whose mission is to provide equitable and affordable access to multidisciplinary arts education programs to the K-12 population of East Los Angeles.
- Work with LAMusArt: LAMusArt is always looking for volunteers to help expand their cultural reach. From time to time they also look for executive leadership to join their board.
Get a corporate music industry job.
If you're looking for a more corporate job in the music industry, Los Angeles is also home to a number of record labels, music publishers, and music distribution companies.
These companies are always looking for talented individuals to join their teams and help them share the best music possible with the world.
Major record labels hiring in LA
In general, major record labels are always hiring or accepting applications.
Indie record labels
Indie labels arenât always hiring.
However, reaching out to their A&Rs or founders on LinkedIn or via email with an introduction email might lead somewhere. Check out their websites for job postings or opportunities to volunteerâmaybe you can take show photos or help sell merch!
- Sargent House: Sargent House is a record label and artist management company based in Los Angeles, founded in 2006 by Cathy Pellow. The label specializes in heavy rock and experimental music. Sargent House has gained a reputation for supporting female-led projects and promoting diversity in the music industry.
Streaming and media companies hiring
- TikTok: Jobs related to managing music rights and licensing.
- Netflix: Licensing music for film and TV.
- SiriusXM: Music programming and licensing coordinators.
- Spotify: Global streaming platform needs help managing their catalog.
- Paramount: Clearing music for TV shows and films both in theaters on on streaming.
đ¤Â FAQs About the Music Industry in LA
Is it hard to make a living in the music industry?
Yes, it can be tough to make a living in the music industry. But itâs not impossible.
Individual musicians can make money from playing live shows, writing songs for other artists, streaming their own music, selling merchandise, licensing songs to films, or even teaching vocal lessons or piano lessons.
For those who work in the industry-side, things are a little easier.
There are thousands of jobs managing and supporting artists, negotiating contracts, marketing new releases, creating video content for social media, booking shows, and working at rehearsal and recording studios.
Your ability to make a living in a creative industry will come down to who you know and how adaptable you are!