Music Journalist

$25,000 to $150,000+

Writer, Music Critic, Music Reviewer

Writes articles for publications or blogs, Writes reviews and critiques musical groups and artists performances, albums, videos, etc.

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Music Journalists have the opportunity to work in a variety of different situations, including working on staff at a local weekly newspaper, where they might write a daily, biweekly, or weekly column about what is going on in the music business. He or she might also be responsible for writing reviews on concerts, shows, and artists who might be performing locally. With the emergence of online publications, the Music Journalist can also find plenty of opportunities on the internet. As Music Journalists move out of the smaller, local market, and into positions with larger papers or magazines, their jobs become more specialized – meaning they might become a rock music writer or a jazz music reviewer.

To write, one must know a lot about the topics they are covering – they must also enjoy learning about the topics they are covering. The Journalist receives initial information via press kits, and then may perform a phone interview so the Journalist can obtain more background material. Then, the Journalist will most likely attend the show or concert, and must then work hard to complete their review of the show within a timely manner after the show. So, when actually compiling a column, the ability to work under pressure is a must, as the finished review may have to be completed and handed within just an hour after the show ends. Also, keep in mind that to be a successful Journalist, one cannot let personal preferences or bias impact their reviews.

To obtain some information that other Journalists are not getting their hands on, the individual cannot be afraid to ask the questions that nobody else is asking. The Music Journalist who will succeed is the one who asks questions that no one else has thought to ask, and thus developing a really interesting story.

Music Journalists can gather material in a variety of different ways, including performing research on prior stories in other magazines or publications. As mentioned, they may also perform their own interviews of acts personally or over the phone. The Music Journalist either takes notes or records the interview, and may even talk to an act's friends and family members in order to end up with a factual and interesting story.

In terms of working habits, Music Journalists work full-time or part-time, depending on their work arrangements. They sometimes work as "stringers" for publications, meaning they work on a concert-to-concert basis. They can even work on a freelance basis doing stories for commissions and fees, or writing articles to sell themselves.

A Music Journalist works under the editor of the publication for which he or she writes, and many Music Journalists become editors after a few years in writing as Journalists.

Salaries
As mentioned, Music Journalists can work in a variety of different settings, with each one carrying its own salary. With that said, a beginning journalist writing for a local paper may earn approximately $25,000 plus per year. As he or she gains more experience, their salary can increase to $30,000 or more per year. If writing for a major publication, a Journalist can earn between $40,000 and $150,000 per year. On average, a Music Journalist working for a good publication can expect to earn between $35,000 and $50,000 per year.

Employment
If an individual doesn't mind starting at the bottom, or moving to a different location to begin their career, then employment prospects are good because almost every newspaper has some type of music/entertainment section.

Advancement
A Music Journalist can expect to advance is they have a good, unique writing style, while working responsibly, developing useful contacts, and maintaining a good reputation. They usually advance by obtaining positions at more prestigious publications, moving from a job at a local paper to a position with a regional newspaper. From the regional newspaper, they can find work with a newspaper in a major city as a Music Reviewer or Journalist; or they can find a position with a major music-oriented magazine.

Education and Training
A college education is required for most newspapers jobs. However, individuals might be able to obtain a position on a smaller, local newspaper without a college degree. The only problem is that from there, advancement is difficult without formal schooling. Many colleges offer Journalism degrees, but one does not have to obtain a specific degree in Journalism - a general liberal arts degree usually suffices.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
High school is where most Music Journalists begin their careers. Then, during their college years, they obtain positions for the school paper, or part-time writing positions for local newspapers where they can review concerts, write music columns, and critique records. With so much writing, the Music Journalist must have good writing skills and a solid knowledge of the type of music he or she is writing about. Most newspapers operate under strict deadlines, so the Journalist must be well suited to work in this environment.

Unions and Associations
One of the most important organizations is the Music Critics Association of North America, which sponsors seminars, conferences, etc.

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