ADD ADVICE TO FAVRoss, Head of Music, RDF Media
Name: Ross
Degree: Politics 2.2, University of Sheffield (graduated 2000)
Other qualifications: None
Current job: Head of Music, RDF Media
1. What does your current job involve? Describe a typical day at work.
I help choose, commission and license the music used on RDF Media’s TV programmes. This means that I spend a lot of time listening to music (new and old), watching programme edits and finding music to fit. I often work with composers to produce original scores and themes.
I meet producers and editors to discuss what music they’ll need for the programmes coming up, and I negotiate and liaise with labels and publishers for the use of their music in TV programmes.
2. What other jobs have you had since graduating (including any others with your current employer)?
Before moving to RDF Media as a music supervisor, I worked at the BBC as a contracts and rights assistant and later as a music copyright assistant.
3. What do you like most about your current job?
TV is a freelance industry so you work with a new team on each production. You meet new creative people all the time.
I also get to see a lot of gigs and have a lot of new albums sent over.
’TV is a freelance industry so you meet new creative people all the time’
4. What do you like least about your current job?
The café menu isn’t the best. Apart from that, it’s all good.
5. What are the most important skills required to do your job?
Working well under pressure – you’ve got to work across a lot of inflexible deadlines. You can have a number of different programmes that are editing right up to transmission.
Confidence in dealing with people, most of whom are under pressure.
Diverse music interests and an understanding of music production ‑ knowing what makes good music and what makes it work. You develop a lot of this as you go.
6. What made you choose this career path?
A bit of luck really.
’I get to see a lot of gigs and have a lot of albums sent over’
7. What did you want to be when you were 12?
Army engineer.
8. What is your long-term career goal?
I want to run my own company or have a large slice of equity in someone else’s.
9. What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Working with turkeys at the Bernard Matthews factory in Norfolk.
10. What one tip would you give to someone currently at university wanting to pursue the same sort of career as you?
Keep listening to music and explore the wide range that’s out there. Learn about basic film- and sound-editing software and learn about films in general. You’ll give yourself plenty of great options with these skills.
