Want to be a music journalist? Follow our seven steps and it won't be long before you're interviewing chart-topping bands and launching the careers of hot new acts.
1) It's or its?: You can't be a music journalist if you can't structure a news story or don't know the difference between it's and its. Either enrol on a journalism course or degree (ideally not media studies as the courses won‘t teach you how to write), or you could study music at degree level, then take a postgraduate course in journalism. If you're not able to take a course, buy some good journalism books which will teach you how to structure news stories and features, as well as how to conduct interviews.
2) Keep your finger on the pulse: Get your hands on your favourite music magazines every issue or read music websites to keep up with what's happening in genres which interest you. You can't write about music if you haven't got your finger on the pulse. Also, find music articles which you think are well written and study the structure of them and the kind of language used. Read enough articles and you'll soon realise that music journalism is pretty formulaic and that the same phrases and ‘buzz words' come up again and again.
3) Practice, practice, practice: Set up a blog. This will give you the opportunity to practice news and feature writing and develop your skills. If you're not confident enough to put your writing on the internet yet, then don't worry. Just keep writing until you are confident enough to do so.
4) Get your name out there: Approach music websites, student media, local papers, and anywhere else you can think off and ask if they're looking for writers. You're more likely to get accepted if you can show editors examples of your writing - either published or unpublished. Expect to work for free (we‘ve all been there!) and to write about artists you've never heard of or on genre which is alien to you. It sucks, but impress your editor with your talent and hard work and eventually you'll get offered better reviews and interviews.
5) Work experience: Once you've built up a portfolio of cuttings, start applying for work experience at music magazines, larger music websites or music sections of national newspapers. This will help you build up contacts and show you've worked in a journalism office environment, which could help you land a job on the music press. If you get rejected by music publications, don't panic. Apply to publications on other subjects, ideally ones you're familiar with, as you'll still get to build up your skills and prove your commitment to a journalism career.
6) Start applying for jobs: Armed with cuttings and work experience, you're ready to start applying for jobs. Try editorial assistant or staff writer jobs, anything to get your foot in the door in the journalism world . . . and actually get paid to write! Again, if you're not lucky enough to immediately land a job on the music press, apply to other publications.
7) Keep at it: Keep writing and, if you're talented and committed enough, you'll land the job of your dreams. Plus, if you don't at least you get to write about something you love.
