Edu Focus: Australian Institute Of Music

What job are you currently in and what are some of the tasks involved with this job?
I am currently working as the Marketing Coordinator for Warner Brothers at Warner Music Australia. My main role is to ensure that we have all of the assets relating to the artist downloaded on our system when they come through from overseas. I am also responsible for ensuring all appropriate radio stations have the correct audio, information and artwork when a new track is released to radio. The artists I specifically work with include Kimbra, Michael Buble, Regina Spektor, Green Day and Lisa Mitchell. Recently I have been assigned as the project manager of my own artist, Lewis Watson, a 19 year-old singer/songwriter signed to Warner Brothers UK. I am responsible for shaping his Australian career, which is a very exciting opportunity.

Are you enjoying this job and is it what you first expected it to be?
To me, this is an ultimate dream job – from interning at Warner, I knew what the job entailed, but I was unaware of the extra perks and opportunities that came with it. When I am asked about my job, it's hard to say anything other than “I love it, it's my dream job,” Because, quite honestly, I have never loved going to work as much as I do now.

Do you believe you would have this position without your prior education? 
To be honest, I don't believe I would have got anywhere near this position without my education. The reason I initially got my internship with Warner was through my degree at AIM. When you are applying for jobs in the industry, you are always up against people who specialise in specific areas, whether they want to be in the music industry or not – they are 100% committed to Marketing or PR or Law. Luckily, my degree was Entertainment Management, so it covered many of these fields.

Where did you study?
I completed two degrees, my first was at the University of Wollongong majoring in Production and Composition, which covered an audio engineering and composition/arranging field. Then I went on to complete a degree at the Australian Institute of Music in Entertainment Management. I do feel though, if I had not furthered my studies at AIM, I would not have the position I do now.

What was your favourite aspect to this course?
I would be crazy if I didn't say that my favourite aspect of the degree was the internship program. In your last year of the BEM degree, you have to complete two different internships within the industry. AIM has connections with the biggest record labels, recording companies, publishing companies and studios. Through AIM's internship program, I got to intern at Warner Music Australia and the Gordon Frost Organisation. It's not every day you get to spend two full days at some of the coolest workplaces in the country as a part of completing your degree.

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