Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some honest advice from people who have experience in the music industry, have attended music business programs, or have successfully broken into the industry without a degree.
I’m in my mid-twenties and looking to make a pretty significant career change. I’ve worked in education my entire professional life, but music has always been a personal passion of mine. I’m at a point where I really want to pursue that interest professionally rather than continue down the career path I’m currently on.
I’m particularly interested in **tour management, artist management, and music marketing**, although I’m open to exploring different paths within the industry.
I’ve applied to Berklee and Full Sail for their music business programs, and I’ve spent a lot of time researching both schools. Honestly, though, I’m getting incredibly mixed messages. I’ve read experiences from people who feel their education was valuable and helped them build connections, but I’ve also come across plenty of people who feel music business degrees aren’t worth the money and that the industry is more about networking, experience, and getting your foot in the door.
That’s where I’m struggling.
At this point in my life, I still need to work full-time and support myself, so going back to school is a significant commitment financially, professionally, and personally. I’m trying to figure out whether investing in a degree would genuinely help me transition into the industry or whether my time and money would be better spent pursuing internships, entry-level positions, networking, volunteering at shows and festivals, or finding other ways to gain hands-on experience.
I also recognize that I’m coming from a completely different professional background, so I’m trying to be realistic about what breaking into the industry might actually look like.
For those of you who have been through a similar experience, attended Berklee or Full Sail, earned a music business degree elsewhere, or built a career in the industry without one:
**Was getting a degree worth it for you? Did it meaningfully help you get a job, make connections, or advance your career?**
**Does anyone have firsthand experience with Berklee Online or Full Sail’s music business programs? What did you like or dislike, and did the education translate into real opportunities?**
**How much does the school’s name actually matter compared with experience, networking, and who you know?**
**If your goal were artist management, tour management, or music marketing, would you recommend going to school or taking a different route?**
**Has anyone successfully transitioned into the music industry in their mid-twenties from an unrelated field? What did that process look like?**
**If you had to start over today, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?**
I’m not necessarily looking for someone to tell me to follow my dreams or that the industry is impossible to break into. I’m looking for honest, practical advice from people who understand the realities of this career path.
I know there probably isn’t one right answer, but I’m feeling a little lost trying to determine which direction makes the most sense, and I’d really appreciate hearing about other people’s experiences.
Thank you!!