Building relationships in the music industry is similar to other industries in that it begins with joining a community and creating connections. Communities are the best place to build relationships. You can’t expect to establish connections with others in the music industry where opportunities are primarily based on “who knows who”. 

This is not to imply that your work will not speak for itself; rather, you have to be seen… “seeth thou a man diligent in his work”… you get the picture. And “to be seen,” you should belong to right community and create connections.

Creating connections refers to a number of things:

1. Putting yourself out there, for example, through volunteering, getting a music business education, social media platforming, blogging, and so on. 
2. Leveraging clear value propositions to influential individuals
3. Simply by being pleasant and helpful to others
4. Courageously pursuing your goals in a socially acceptable manner
5. Recognizing and affirming individuals who are building a name for themselves in the industry, particularly those at your level of development, and so on.

Are you ready to make connections in the music industry? Keep reading to understand how the industry works as it concerns building relationships. 

5 Ways of Building Relationships in the Music Industry

Work in the industry

The workplace will always be the perfect for building relationships. Fortunately, the music industry is a melting pot of work opportunities and people from all walks of life. You have a spot in the industry and access to other people like you whether as an A&R, Disc Jockey, Illustrator, Events Planner, Lawyer, or Audio Engineer, and so on!

When you come into contact with other individuals in the workplace, it is normal to identify those with whom you share similar interests. In addition, your colleagues will naturally gravitate towards you if you have a pleasant character. If you also exhibit an agreeable attitude to work, a healthy ego, and a drive to provide value, you would make friends easily. In summary, the workplace is an excellent option to explore if you are an introverted person looking to build relationships in the music industry.

Sign up for a music business course

This is highly recommended for individuals who are just starting out in the music industry. Do not sign up for just any music business course, but one with a certain level of popularity and structure. This is because, in addition to gaining an education in music, you want to connect with other people. Such a course should make use of platforms that allow people to interact digitally, physically, or in a hybrid manner. It should be hosted on communication platforms that allows the grouping of students into teams. Projects should be designed to put you in situations that will bring out the best (and worst) in you.

You need a course that challenges you, encourages healthy teamwork, and rewards you appropriately. This will motivate you to form natural ties with people in your situation, because who doesn’t need allies in an environment like that? If this is the option you are taking to build relationships in the music industry, you need a course such as the Music Business Academy for Africa.

Attend an industry function

Remember that building relationships is primarily reliant on a circumstance designed to bring people together, i.e., community. What better way to bring together people in the music industry than at an industry function? Workshops, conferences, parties, retreats, music festivals, concerts, and seminars are all examples. Of course, different functions are created and produced for various reasons. A workshop or seminar may be a better option than a concert for meeting potential employers. Some people have even gotten jobs at a party! At the end of the day, all that matters is your ability to spot opportunities and propose viable solutions to would-be clients/employers. The disadvantage of this approach of relationship building is that it requires serious follow-up on contacts. 

Volunteer

This is similar to number one. The main difference is that you are offering your expertise for little or no monetary compensation. In this case, you have identified an opportunity to create a relationship, but the only way to connect with the person who holds the opportunity requires some sacrifice on your behalf. You may have to offer free services in exchange for knowledge, a referral, recognition, exposure, and so on. Do your best to create this connection. This is also highly recommended for individuals who are just starting out in the industry.

Join and participate in an active fan base or artist street team

Joining an artist fan base or street team is a good idea for building relationships. It gives you access to freebies like concert tickets, merchandising, exclusives, or even invites to talk shows and podcasts. if you join an active fan base, you get to meet individuals who share your passion for the “fav” artist. This option is for music enthusiasts and people interested in music marketing.

Written by: Omobolanle Abiola

Have you read “Why Music Industry Mentoring is Important for Newbies?“