Promotion Staffer Jobs

About This Music Career

You won't find many jobs with one specific duty, but a Promotion Staffer has one main responsibility, and that is to get airplay for the label's albums and/or music videos. In an attempt to accomplish this, the Promotion Staffer or assigned representative visits and contacts by phone radio and music station program and music directors.

The Promotion Staffer might be assigned a certain genre of music like pop, rap, gospel, or R & B, and they are also assigned territories. It is essentially up to the Promotion department to decide on where they want their music to first be heard. Thus, the Promotion Staffer generally works in a number of different markets. In terms of who Promotion Staffers work with, they usually work closely with program and music directors and disc jockeys in these particular markets.

The first thing done by the Promotion Staffer in an attempt to get music on air does is to set up appointments with the previously mentioned people. After sitting down and listening to the music with the directors, the staffer may leave copies of the albums with the radio station staff to listen to at their leisure.

Staffer's visit as many stations as possible in each of their markets. It is also beneficial for Staffers to engage in a lot of socializing, building networks, and taking TV and radio personnel out for meals or drinks. Another useful tactic is for the Staffer to bring personnel to a club to listen to songs live, and to then gauge the audience's response.

There is also a bit of research that goes along with being a successful Staffer. He or she may check in with Staffers in different markets in order to gauge how a specific track is doing. The Staffer might also be obliged to visit record stores to get an idea of the album sales in a particular geographic area.

Salaries
Promotion Staffer salaries vary depending on the size of the record label and the level of experience and responsibilities of the individual. All things considered, salaries range from $27,000 to $65,000 per year.

Employment
With so much competition within each record label, employment prospects are fair. It is always useful for individuals to build up a good reputation with their own, and other record companies in order to facilitate promotion.

Advancement
If Staffers are successful in getting their artist's music on the radio or on TV, they will fare better when compared to others who may not have had such positive experiences. The next step forward from Staffer is to the position of Director of promotion at that particular label.

Education and Training

Educational requirements vary, and small, independent labels may only require a high school diploma, but college or music school degrees certainly help your chances of breaking into the industry.

Experience, Skills, and Personality
Those within the area of promotion will definitely have an interest in music, records, artists, and radio. They may have previously been involved with product sales or a variety of other positions and have a reliable set of sales skills. Additionally, to get songs on air, Staffers must be pleasantly aggressive and articulate.

Unions and Associations
Promotion Staffers may belong to the Gospel Music Association (GMA), the Country Music Association (CMA), or other similar associations depending on the genre of music they promote. They may also belong to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) as associate members.

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