Music directors for radio work closely with program directors to craft a station's musical playlist. They also serve as the liaison between the radio station and radio promoters, musical artists, and listeners. Similarly, in-house curators at streaming services such as Spotify and Google Play seek out new music in order to create and maintain popular playlists, at the same time monitoring listener habits and algorithm research.

What Does a Music Director/Curator (Radio/Streaming Service) Do?

Music directors (or MDs) work at mid-sized and smaller radio stations, where they are responsible for curating and maintaining the station's library of music. This means choosing songs to play based on the station's format, the interests and tastes of their listeners, and the MD's own good taste.

It also means going through the piles of new releases that arrive every day, assessing which ones will resonate with listeners, and then—during weekly meetings with the program director—suggesting which tracks should be added, what time of day they should be played, and how often they should repeat. Music directors also field song submissions from record label radio promoters and independent artists. Other duties include taking part in promotional events and activities on behalf of the station, devising music-related contests and giveaways, and monitoring audience research.

In the digital era, the job of tastemaker for mass audiences has moved over to streaming platforms like Spotify, Google Play, and Apple Music, where teams of behind-the-scenes curators create playlists from a music library that includes almost every song in the world. With one out of every five plays across all streaming services happening inside of a playlist, curated playlists are quickly becoming the dominant form of music discovery. Playlist curators, like their counterparts in radio, are constantly lobbied by artists, managers, and promoters hoping to get exposure for their songs. 

Work Life Balance

Although radio station music directors technically work standard office hours, they usually spend a large amount of off-duty time scouring live shows and the web for new talent. Networking with music industry professionals at social events and concerts is also a big part of the job. Although playlist curators are generally asked to come into the office for a certain amount of time each week, aside from that, they enjoy very few restrictions on their work life. For playlist curators, working generally means listening: a task that they undertake anywhere, anytime, and usually—considering the massive amounts of music released every week—all the time. 

Community

Good music directors are curious, open-minded, and passionate enough to spend hours each day combing through new releases to find a fantastic band or sound. MDs and curators should be voracious consumers of music, social media, and pop culture, ready to jump on viral tracks at the drop of a dime. It's also important to be forward-thinking—with the taste and vision to shape cultural trends—and bold when necessary; music directors who constantly play it safe with market-tested tracks are unlikely to stand out from the pack, and won't carve out much of a musical niche for their station.

Finding Work

Aspiring radio music directors should do everything they can to get involved in radio: working at a college station, DJing a radio show, creating playlists for the station, and learning basic broadcasting practices. From there, one can go out for entry-level radio station positions, apply for internships, or volunteer for the local station's street team.

Jobs for playlist curators are rare, but the field is growing every day. In 2016, Spotify had a 50-person team—many of them former DJs and bloggers—that had created more than 4,500 playlists, 30 of which had over a million followers. Job openings are posted on the services' respective websites. 

Professional Skills

• Broadcasting
• Scheduling
• Hiring
• Music programming software
• Research and analytics
• Good ears for music
• Written and verbal communication
• Networking
• Negotiation

Interpersonal Skills

Good music directors are curious, open-minded, and passionate enough to spend hours each day combing through new releases to find a fantastic band or sound. MDs and curators should be voracious consumers of music, social media, and pop culture, ready to jump on viral tracks at the drop of a dime. It's also important to be forward-thinking—with the taste and vision to shape cultural trends—and bold when necessary; music directors who constantly play it safe with market-tested tracks are unlikely to stand out from the pack, and won't carve out much of a musical niche for their station.

Industries

• Film, Video, and Television
• Technology
• Video Games
• Advertising
• Artist Services
• Music and Audio Tools
• Radio and Streaming Music
• Recording Industry
• Health and Wellness
• Theater
• Live Music
• Opera
• Dance
• Orchestra, Chorus, and Band
• Education
• Arts Administration
• Journalism
• Church and Worship

Top US Cities for This Role

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco Bay Area
• New York City
• Boston
• Nashville