How to Build Your Dream Team to Develop Your Music Career

When you start your music career, chances are you’ll be doing a lot of things on your own. You will need to be your own manager and work hard to expand your reach and build your fan base.

Eventually, you’ll reach a point when you need some extra support so you can continue to grow your brand. You can pass off responsibilities like promoting, marketing, and booking, to people in the industry who specialize in those tasks. After all, you got into this business because of your passion for music, not because you love administrative tasks related to music!

You need to find the right people to fill these roles so you can surround yourself with people you trust. Keep reading to learn more about who you should hire and how to build your dream team.

Why Do You Need a Team?

In the music industry, building relationships is key to your success. Networking helps you get in touch with people who can be paramount in advancing your career. A team of skilled individuals can help you do that.

Have you noticed that being your own manager, agent, promoter, and publicist is a lot of work? Let a team of professionals take that load off your shoulders so you can focus your energy on the creative side of your career. Not to mention, your team will likely have a wealth of experience and knowledge to help you make the best decisions for your brand.

Who Should Be on Your Team?

Now, let’s go over some of the different roles you’ll need to fill on your team:

Booking Agent

A booking agent is a person who will contact the right people to book you shows and performances. A good booking agent will have a hefty list of contacts to pull from to make sure you get in front of your ideal audience. They’ll also negotiate the deal and plan the logistics so you can simply show up. 

Your booking agent will likely work on commission. The benefit is, they’ll be more inclined to book you better opportunities when they get a piece of the pie.

Manager

Your manager will be your business lifeline. They will handle everything on the business side to help you succeed. This needs to be someone you trust as they will give you advice on running your business and sometimes even your personal life. A manager will create a business plan, establish goals and guide you to make smart decisions for your brand. Typically, a manager also works on commission and takes a percentage of what you earn overall.

Distributor

A distributor releases your music to streaming platforms so your audience can find it. Also called an aggregator, they will deliver your release to hundreds of digital stores and platforms. This team member might not be an individual, but a company you hire to provide this service.

Attorney

It’s always a good idea to have an attorney on your team, especially when you’re dealing with contracts. An attorney can easily sift through all the legal jargon to ensure that you’re not giving up any rights to your music and keep your business safe. They will also help you navigate music licensing.

Marketing Strategist

A marketing strategist comes up with plans to grow your fan base to sell more albums and tickets to your shows. They’ll identify your target audience and how to reach them through social media, advertising, emails, and other digital marketing avenues. With a marketing strategist, you can ensure that your fans are engaged in your career. It’s important to choose a marketing strategist who is familiar with the music industry.

Publicist

A publicist’s main responsibility is to maintain your image in the media. They create and pitch stories to journalists, blogs, and other media outlets to get your name and emerging career in the public arena. A good publicist has many connections they can reach out to promote your endeavors. They are most useful when you have something newsworthy to showcase.

Radio Promoter

Many people indeed listen to music through streaming services like Spotify and Pandora, but radio is still an effective way to reach new listeners. A radio promoter works with both local and national stations to get your music picked up and played on-air. Some also work with podcasts and YouTube channels to increase your reach.

Producer

A producer works closely with you in the music-making process. They set up recording sessions, book additional musicians, and even help compose elements of your music. They are skilled at ensuring a track has the right energy and flow. You’ll want to choose a producer based on their previous work.

Mixing Engineer

A mixing engineer is in charge of making sure your music sounds the best that it can. An experienced engineer can make all the difference in your final product. They will have the right tools to produce a high-quality sound that is ready for streaming or radio. 

How to Choose Your Dream Team

It’s important that you carefully consider each person that you bring onto your team. They will have a lot of access to your music and your career, plus the ability to make decisions that could make or break your success. Before an interview, research the individual. Find out what they are like to work with. How are they viewed in the industry?

When you do meet them, you’ll want to evaluate them not only on their abilities but the way they communicate and conduct themselves. Do you get along with them? Are they timely? Do they have passion and goals? These are all questions to answer before you decide to invite someone into your inner circle.

Mirada Media

By surrounding yourself with a team of individuals and companies who you can trust and rely on, your career as an artist is sure to grow and gain traction. There are so many talented, experienced professionals who can provide you with guidance and assistance as you build your brand. We hope this list helps you find the right people to join your team.

 Mirada Media is another helpful resource you have at your disposal as a musical artist. With our SecureMedia API, you can be sure that your music is safe and secure. No one will be able to access your release before it’s ready, or any sensitive documents without your permission.

To learn more about how SecureMedia works and our other services for independent musicians, contact us today!