Melissa Goldberg gives MMBS students insight into music industry

The music industry is one of the hardest businesses to enter, especially if you aren't the niece of a pop star or the son of a world famous movie producer. 

However, Melissa Goldberg shows that you don't always have to rely on personal connections to break into the industry.

Goldberg works for Total Assault, a digital marketing business that markets for record labels and artists.  She spoke to students of the Maryland Music Business Society, saying that while it is hard, getting into the industry is certainly not impossible.

"When I got to my first internship at Interscope Records, I was different because I didn't have other connections in the music industry," she said.  "But my peers who started from the bottom tend to be very passionate and willing to work hard for the industry."

Shayna Hodkin, vice president of concerts of MMBS, said that listening to Goldberg was very inspiring because of how she got into the business. 

"She makes the idea of actually working in the music industry less far-fetched," said Hodkin.

Goldberg has had an interest in the music business since she was a young girl, but didn't get involved in the industry until her senior year of college.

"I got an internship at Interscope Records in the Artists and Repertoire department and in the New Media department," she said.  "I felt it was good to do both because it means I will get experience in different areas."

While working in the Artists and Repertoire department was her dream job, her experience in New Media benefited her greatly when she began working for Total Assault.

Total Assault is a digital marketing company that helps artists and record labels market their music.

"The only market I saw going somewhere is digital marketing.  Artists are not renewing their contracts with record labels and going out on their own," she said.  "This is causing record labels to shrink, and they hire us to do the marketing for them."

Goldberg also emphasized that it is good to have a diversity of skills, because being able to do everything from helping to produce music videos to finding new venues for bands will help them be more successful. 

"The people in the other departments are not going to care about the band that you signed on," she said.  "You have to have your hand in every aspect or else the band will be forgotten."

Besides having skills in marketing and producing, Goldberg said some more basic skills are essential for everyday life in the industry.

"Common sense and people skills are the two most important skills you could have.  You need to be able to make connections and establish client relationships or you will not be successful," she said.