A music editor reviews and writes about musical compositions, attends performances, and may provide consulting services. They may work for a publishing company, magazine, or website, and typically have formal education or training in music. In film and television, the music editor assembles and edits music for the soundtrack. This job requires a minimum of five years of related work experience.
There are several different job definitions for a music editor. In journalism, a music editor’s job is primarily to review various musical compositions and provide a written review or commentary. A music editor has typically completed formal education or training in music, either at the college or university level. Job opportunities for a music editor include reviewing music for a music publishing company, magazine or website or working on composing new music.
A music editor’s primary responsibility can be divided into three broad categories: attending music performances, writing articles and reviews, and providing consulting services. The types of music performances that a music publisher is expected to participate in are very varied, depending on the local music scene. Many music publishers cover a city or large area and may be reviewing musical theatre, classical music, jazz or the local band scene. The ability to review this wide range of genres requires a combination of open-mindedness and objectivity. All music genres have technical and performance-related elements which are the source of enjoyment for the listener. The editor must know what these main elements are, identify and classify them.
The music editor may be part of a larger music and performing arts review department, or may be the sole person assigned to cover music for a larger newspaper or magazine. In a large department, the music editor may be responsible for managing two or three writers who are actually participating in musical performances. He or she is then primarily focused on assigning tasks, editing writers’ notes, fact-checking, and ensuring a consistent voice is brought to the published work. Music editors for smaller publications may be responsible for writing all articles and reviews.
Music publishers often expand their roles to an advisory firm after several years of working in an editorial role. He or she may focus on a specific type of music or specialize in performance or stage presence. The skill set needed to become a music editor provides an enhanced ability to provide professional advice to artists on stage presence, technique, and audience experience.
To qualify for a music editor position, a candidate is generally expected to have a portfolio of work or a list of professional musicians they have worked with. This job does not necessarily have to be a music editor, but could be in the music publishing industry or related fields. This role is not an entry-level position, but requires a minimum of five years of work experience in a related position.
In film and television, the music editor’s job is to assemble and edit music for a production soundtrack. He or she is also usually responsible for creating the temp score or “temporary track”, which can help set the tone during production. The editor also syncs the music to the final image.
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