Hello everyone,
I’m looking to transition into consulting with a focus on the music industry, particularly in working with record labels and artists. I have experience with music creators and I’d like to explore how this background could be useful in consulting.
Here are some questions I have:
- Are there consulting firms that target music and record labels specifically?
- Or is this more of a niche within the larger media and entertainment practices of major firms?
- What career path would best set me up to consult for artists and labels? Should I aim for an MBA and then move into a major firm or consider smaller boutique firms?
- What skills or experiences are especially important in this field?
I would appreciate any advice, examples, or stories from anyone involved in consulting within the music sector.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Music consulting is basically unicorn hunting - everyone talks about it but hardly anyone makes real money. Yeah, there are boutique shops claiming they specialize in entertainment, but they’re mostly glorified accountants helping labels with streaming royalties. Big firms like McKinsey take on projects when major labels are bleeding money, but don’t walk in talking about your “passion for music.” They want hard numbers and cost-cutting strategies, not creative insights about artist development.
The music consulting space is definitely specialized, but there’s more opportunity than people think. You’ve got dedicated firms like Music Business Worldwide Consulting and Midia Research, plus regional shops focused on streaming analytics and digital transformation. The big consulting firms like Deloitte and PwC also have entertainment teams that work with labels on tech rollouts and rights management.
Your creator background is actually a huge advantage here. Labels want consultants who get both the creative and business sides of music. That combo is gold when you’re dealing with artist development ROI, catalog monetization, or negotiating with new platforms.
For your path forward, I’d hit the big firms with established entertainment divisions first, then maybe jump to a boutique once you’ve learned their methodologies. Build up your skills in data analytics, digital marketing measurement, and international licensing. Those technical chops plus your creative experience? That’s a killer combination in this space.