In the News: Is the Music Industry Tone Deaf?

In the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, iTunes has announced that starting next week, it will cost 30% more to download your favorite songs.

The decision seems more than a little out of touch with the economic reality of many would-be downloaders. In fact, columnists around the country have strongly criticized the decision. And you know, I’m wondering if this price-hike won’t just push more music enthusiasts away from iTunes and toward illegally downloaded tuneage?

What does all this have to do with finding a job, you might be wondering? Well, in my daily searches for news on the music industry, it seems that this is one Hollywood-heavy business that’s really feeling the pinch of the recession. Maybe that’s why music providers like iTunes have taken to hiking up their end-product prices.

But while profits and therefore jobs may be dwindling in the music industry, there are still opportunities for industrious hard workers. You might want to consider interning — it may not pay many of the bills, but it is a great way to get your foot in the door of a very competitive industry.

To learn more about a career in the music business, check out JobMonkey’s articles on recording engineer jobs; DAW Operator, Arranger and Composer jobs; and music production jobs.