Also known as:
Singer Songwriter / Popstar / Rockstar / Rapper / DJ
Skill Level:
Entry and Experienced
What does an Artist do?
If you are a music artist, i.e. a singer songwriter, band member, electronic artist, etc, you are most likely a ‘featured artist’. This term refers to the individual or group most prominently featured on a sound recording, track or album. For instants, if you are in a band and are included int eh press shots, album artwork, etc, you are a featured artists.
What’s an Artist good at?
If you are / would like to become a featured artist, you have to have a wide range of skills on top of your actual craft (be that songwriting, performing, arranging, recording, etc.). When you’re starting out, you will most likely be your own manager, accountant, booking agent, record label, social media manager and more.. Excellent time management skill are essential to make sure that you have enough time to create music and hone your craft as well as build your business. As you progress, you will be able to grow your team so as to share the workload and keep growing your business.
Primarily, your strengths will lie in your art, whether that’s creating it or performing it.
Tools of the trade:
– talent (creative & business acumen)
– instruments / gear / laptop
– software (business & creative, i.e. excel, photoshop, protools, logic..)
– social media channels / platforms / website
Who does an Artist work with?
– other artists (musicians, songwriters, producers)
– music distributors
– record labels
– publishers
– sync agents
– PR agents
– music lawyers
– music managers
– your fans
– manufacturers (merch, CDs, vinyl)
– photographers / videographers
– promoters
– booking agents
– tour managers
– producers and audio engineers
How do I become an Artist?
You become a featured artist primarily by being creative, working hard and creating opportunities for yourself. There are a multitude of ways to get into full-time music making and no set of rules on how to build your own career. This has its up and downsides. Traditionally, you’d start by writing (or choosing) a set of songs and start performing them as much as possible to hone your craft (at open mic nights, then at small venues, etc). Once you have material you are happy to record, you will either team up with a label to release your music or (more likely) self-release. Building up an audience and growing your business takes time. Most ‘over night successes’ were ten years in the making.. Seek advice and education from membership bodies and artist communities and be prepared to work hard and be patient. Don’t forget to have fun along the way.
Is the role a skills shortage?
For further information about being a musician please go to www.musiciansunion.org.uk
Search for a course of study with trusted UK Music partners here: https://www.ukmusic.org/skills-academy/music-academic-partnership/
For more inspiring ideas on careers in the Creative Industries check out: https://discovercreative.careers/#/