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Exploring Careers Behind the Music
At Sony Music, we know that careers don’t always follow a straight line, and that’s true in the music industry. To help shine a light on the different pathways, Sony Music’s Alex Mitcham (Senior Commercial Analyst) and Charlotte Tindle (Junior Talent Aquisition Manager) tell their stories and share advice for anyone considering a career in music.
Could you both introduce yourselves and what you do at Sony Music?
Alex: I’ve been at Sony for six years and I’m now a Senior Commercial Analyst. In simple terms, my role is about looking at the data behind streaming and sales to help our artists.
Charlotte: I also joined six years ago and work in Talent Acquisition — essentially Sony’s recruitment team. I hire for roles across the UK and internationally, and I also support our early careers programmes.
How did your journeys into music begin?
Alex: I grew up in Telford in the West Midlands and went on to study Maths at Imperial College London. For my Master’s, I did a dissertation at the intersection of maths and music — using AI to generate music. After university, I knew I wanted to work in music but didn’t land my first few applications. I then found a role Sony Music, which placed me into the team I’m in today. I’ve grown here ever since.
Charlotte: My path was a bit different. I was always creative at school, and I also DJ’d weddings with huge speakers passed down from my grandad. Later, I moved into recruitment, but I missed music. I interned at an indie label part-time to get experience, and eventually discovered I could combine both worlds — recruitment in the music industry. That’s how I came to Sony Music, and I’ve loved it ever since.
Many people assume the music industry is only about artists and A&R. What roles do people often overlook?
Charlotte: There are so many! Marketing, digital, finance, sync (placing music in TV and film), distribution, technology, HR — the list goes on. It takes hundreds of people behind the scenes to make sure a release goes live and reaches fans on time.
Alex: When I started, I met someone in the sync team who explained her role was matching songs to TV or film scenes. I remember thinking: “That’s the coolest job I’ve never heard of.” There are so many careers like that in music, and they all play a vital part in the ecosystem.
The industry is sometimes seen as “who you know.” Is that true?
Alex: That’s a myth. It’s more about passion and persistence. You can build networks through events, talks, and initiatives that are open to everyone. Just showing your passion, whether that’s music and maths in my case, or music and people for someone else, makes a huge difference.
Charlotte: Absolutely. At Sony, we’ve also worked hard to make the industry more accessible. In Talent Acquisition, our aim is to break down barriers so that anyone who’s interested in music can apply and feel they have a fair chance.
What advice would you give to someone applying for an internship or early careers role?
Charlotte: First, there isn’t one route in. Do your research and find out what roles exist, what excites you, and think about the skills you already have. Create your own projects: start a blog, volunteer at a community radio station, create content on platforms like TikTok, or organise local events. That shows initiative and passion.
Alex: And don’t be afraid of rejection. Every “no” is just a step closer to the right “yes.” I didn’t get my dream job first time, but persistence got me here. Be resilient, be authentic, and put yourself forward for opportunities. You never know where they’ll lead.
How do you see your futures developing at Sony?
Alex: I’m continuing to grow within my team, and over time I’d like us to get even closer to the music side. I’d love for us to spearhead strategy conversations with the artists or maybe even touch A&R.
Charlotte: For me, it’s about continuing to make a positive impact on the culture at Sony Music and ensuring people from all walks of life can see themselves here. That’s what motivates me.
Finally, if you could go back to school and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Alex: Do something you love. It makes the day-to-day so much more rewarding.
Charlotte: Don’t wait for someone else to give you an opportunity. Make it happen yourself.
Considering a career at Sony Music?
Head over to our Careers page to find out more about our available roles, including our Internship Programme – the deadline for applications is Monday 25th August at 10am.