{"id":922,"date":"2019-03-05T10:22:42","date_gmt":"2019-03-05T10:22:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lastminutemusicians.com\/blog\/?p=922"},"modified":"2026-03-29T08:19:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T07:19:53","slug":"music-industry-internships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lastminutemusicians.com\/blog\/music-industry-internships\/","title":{"rendered":"Music industry internships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last updated: March 2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those looking to get a foot in the door of the music industry, internships have always been the traditional route towards a full-time permanent position. In this blog, we give some more information how how internships work…<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

In days past, the role of the intern may have meant little more than fetching the coffee and doing the photocopying, all too often without any meaningful wage.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, while the tasks required of you may not have changed, the industries\u2019 attitude to compensation may have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK Music has drawn up an ‘Internship Code of Practice’ which aims to encourage music industry employers to pay their interns\u00a0fairly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Code of Practice aims to show employers what they should be offering, whilst also imparting crucial knowledge to interns as to what they should expect from their employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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However, will it be incorporated by idealistic music industry companies or shunned in favour of a free workforce, leaving many talented individuals who simply cannot afford to work for free out in the cold?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interns should be paid and judged on their talent, not their ability to work for free<\/p>\nUKMusic.org<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Whilst the Office for National Statistics<\/a> tracks UK unemployment figures for those aged 16 and over, many young graduates looking to enter the Music\u00a0Industry continue to fight tooth and nail for (all too often) unpaid\u00a0internships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures also rarely take into account the wages being earned by those working in the so-called \u201cGig economy\u201d or on zero-hours contracts, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst placements from bigger companies such as Sony Music and Live Nation are well designed (usually between 6-12 months long and paid a suitable wage) it is internships from smaller companies who regularly do not pay interns and in many cases expect them to work long hours for free. This can often call into question their overall value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is an internship?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An internship is a role (often undertaken by young people and graduates) to gain experience in a defined line of work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theoretically, the talent, skill and work ethic of an intern during their placement will be assessed by the company – therefore increasing the intern\u2019s chances of future employment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if an intern feels undervalued and disenfranchised by a work experience placement, it can be the case that simply having it on a CV can lead to better opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to ask for a reference when you leave your internship – a good reference can prove very valuable in the quest for a full-time role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As is the way with many industries, building up personal relationships with employers and people offering paid work as a musician<\/a> will always be of benefit.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no denying that the music economy in the UK creates jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to UK Music’s This Is Music 2025 report<\/a>, the core music industry contributed a record \u00a38 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy in 2024 \u2014 up 5% from \u00a37.6 billion the previous year \u2014 and supported a record 220,000 jobs (full-time equivalent).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The music industry continues to grow, with streaming driving sustained revenue increases both in the UK and globally \u2014 meaning internship and career opportunities are expanding alongside it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the US in particular, streaming continues to be the dominant revenue driver. According to the RIAA’s 2024 Year-End Report<\/a>, US streaming revenue reached $14.9 billion \u2014 representing 84% of total recorded music revenue \u2014 demonstrating the industry’s ongoing strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of an internship:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

An internship can provide many different opportunities. While the actual tasks required of you will vary, you could end up sitting in on high-level meetings and attending dinners, gigs or functions (possibly even awards parties!), all usually on expenses. This can be a great path towards getting paid gigs<\/a> and building a sustainable music career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through these events, you’ll meet new and exciting people and make connections by networking. The more you can build your reputation as a hard worker, the more likely you will be to secure a full-time position and develop professionally as a musician<\/a> within the company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n