The main job of a radio station’s Music Director is to find the right music for the station, but it’s more complicated than just picking quality music.

J.B. King, the Music Director/Program Director at 98.5 KLUC in Las Vegas says, “What my job entails is making sure of the music that’s available to us, that we’re finding the right music our audience wants to hear, which generates the best ratings, which in turn helps our sales department sell airtime.”

Many Music Directors also work as Radio DJs, and depending on the size of the station, the position may or may not be combined with that of the Program Director. If both positions are not held by one person, the MD and PD will work closely together. The Music Director will also work in some capacity with the station’s Promotions Staff or Sales Staffm and Video Jockey.

The average annual salary for Music Directors is approximately $43,100. The salary range for Music Directors runs from $24,000 to $55,000.

The role of Music Director is a salaried position. Annual earnings can vary greatly depending on the size of the station, the size of the market the station is in, public or for-profit station status and the MD’s own professional experience.

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In spite of having regular set office hours at the station, this is not a simple 9-5 job. The MD spends a lot of off-the-clock time researching new music and keeping up with the trends, as well as building relationships with music industry figures at social events and concerts, which he or she will frequently attend. This can lead to some late nights.

King said if you work hard, you can make this your career.

“If [you’re] willing to spend the time to work hard to get the position [you] desire,” he said. “Very few individuals walk into a station and get the job they want, especially if they don’t have experience.”

Most Music Directors usually start their career path by working in several entry-level positions at a radio station, gaining experience through employment as a DJ, Promotions Staffer, or Assistant Music Director. Advancement in this role could mean taking on the position of Program Director or Station Manager or getting hired to work at a bigger station in a major market.

To get on the career path to landing a job as a Music Director, get a foot in the door by applying to any available entry-level position. King advises aspiring radio professionals “wherever they are to try to get involved through an internship, through college, find a part-time job working on a street team within a promo department. Sometimes they’re looking for assistants.”

• “Have a passion for music.
• Contact a radio station you like and see if there’s an opening for a part-time job in any department to get in the building. [People who do this] express an interest and are given a chance.”

Broadcast industry work experience is necessary for anyone who wants to become a Music Director. When searching for that first gig in radio, the position doesn’t really matter as much as making the connection and proving your dedication.

King says it’s important to “just find a job in radio so that you can get into the building. There are usually many people who would love to teach you what you want to learn.”

This experience can only be gained through hands-on training through work at a station, and competition for open positions can be strong. Once you’ve landed an entry-level job, however, King says, “We can teach anyone who wants to learn. What we use [in radio] is not the day-to-day music programs people use at home.”

He also states the importance of understanding the business side of the broadcasting industry in addition to being a music lover. “Have a passion for music and radio: those are two different things. What we do in radio is generating ratings to generate revenue. Some people love music and just want to play music.” A successful Music Director will need to combine that appreciation for music with solid business sense.

To be successful, the MD must be the type of person who is always up on musical trends and always exploring.

King says, “Nowadays music and new music is constantly available. Ten to fifteen years ago, music was available only when record companies decided to release it.”

The proliferation of home studios and the popularity of YouTube means people can get signed quicker and their music can be more immediately accessible. Therefore, the MD has to have a strong sense of what will be popular among the station’s audience.

“We do get music from record labels, but we’re also looking at social media; if there’s something trending that goes from 500 views to 5 million in a week. We look at everything we can to find music,” he adds.

Although a degree is not a requirement for the job, King advises “at least experience college because it gives you the option of finding out what you want to do.” College experience can also give the aspiring radio professional access to opportunities like for-credit internships at local stations, or student jobs at campus radio stations.

Several professional networking and support organizations exist for radio professionals, with the National Association of Broadcasters being one of the most well-known. These groups provide valuable opportunities for radio professionals; however joining immediately might not make sense for someone just starting to build a career.

King advises students to first focus on building their work experience.