3 guaranteed ways to get your foot in the door in the music industry

People always say “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”

But If you don’t have any connections in the industry, here’s how you can break in. 

Make someone look good

It's rare that someone doesn't want to present a top-tier product or image to the world. In the music industry, this need for quality is a constant.

Artists and their teams will always need someone to take photos and shoot compelling music videos. Either handle this for them or connect them with someone who can. Consider the idea that making someone sound good is just as important as making them look good, especially in music, you may know a producer with beats that an artist would be into, and making that connection puts you in the room.

If visual or audio creative isn't your lane, conducting interviews and writing articles are equally attractive offerings. Managers and publicists are always looking for new outlets to help their artists share unique stories with a wider audience and cut through the noise of a crowded media landscape.

So, find your own zone of genius that you think can make someone look good, be genuine about what you’re offering them, and be patient as you build the relationship.

Make someone’s life easier

In a world where everyone's schedule is packed to the brim, you have a unique opportunity to shine by making life genuinely easier for someone. 

Imagine being the person who swoops in and takes simple but inconvenient tasks off a busy manager’s plate every day. Maybe you could be the one who takes notes on team calls and sends action items to everyone. You might offer to take the stress away from a busy executive (or even an executive’s assistant) by organizing their Google Drive folder and email inbox so they can run their operation more easily. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert, you just have to care enough about delivering a high-quality result.

The key to making someone's life easier is not just solving their problems, it's anticipating them. Be the one who thinks two steps ahead, who's ready with not just one, but two or more solutions to any issue that crops up. The value you should bring lies in handling problems before they even become problems. 

So, in a world where everyone is busy, be the one who offers relief, solutions, and a sense of order in the chaos.

Help someone make more money

At the end of the day, we all have to make a living for ourselves. One of the most straightforward paths to getting your foot in the door of the music business is to help someone achieve that.

This isn't about coming up with get-rich-quick schemes. Instead, it's about demonstrating how your expertise can significantly boost their existing income. 

Do some research on the artist or team you want to work with and find ways to add another vertical to their business model. For example, most local artists would love to earn money from a brand partnership deal. If you have good relationships in your city, you could help broker a small-scale deal between a local business and an artist you want to work with. 

You could also help an artist and their team add more money to an existing vertical they have. Since they are already earning from live shows, your entry point might be throwing a party or concert and compensating the artist for the performance.

By taking this approach, you can establish yourself as an invaluable contributor to the financial growth and success of an artist’s (or company’s) business model.

That type of skill set will open up doors, and most importantly, make you irreplaceable.