Internship Update.

I have been working at the label for 3 1/2 months now. I drive all the way to Culver City and back twice a week for practically nothing, yet it's one of the few places that I'm happy at. I'm basically on my own there, but if I wanted to be social all I have to do is turn around or yell into the office that my boss tends to sing in. It's been fun learning about a different side of the music industry and I've met some pretty amazing people.

However, I have seen many interns come and go because the job was not what they expected. We basically sit in front of a computer all day listening to music that we'd otherwise turn off if it came on the radio. Not exactly the best job description. These kids were expecting to get free stuff and meet famous people and actually do something. But for the most part, we don't do much. Just the tedious work that needs to get done, but not by someone who actually gets paid to work there.

At one point I was asked to do a little bit more. I listened to the compilation CDs the label produced, wrote down my thoughts into a cohesive review and then sent them into another intern who was supposed to post them on various sites in promotion of the album. I soon found out that these reviews that I put much time and effort into were only being posted on itunes as a customer review. Which anyone with an itunes account can do. So I respectfully declined to do any more reviews and I stuck with the music categorizing and rating.

But I was not satisfied and feared that my restlessness at the label would lead to my departure. My boss knew of my various achievements in the industry as well as my skills as a writer. He had been looking for a position within the company where I could use my knowledge of the local music scene as well as my ability to make friends and business partners with bands. A month later and he still had nothing. So today I asked if there was anything I could do. He smiled and told me that he knew I was going to ask him that.

Recently, two of the other interns, both guys, had been "promoted" to higher positions. They were still unpaid interns, but had much more responsibility. The two of them would be compiling lists of about 100 songs and then making the compilation track lists from those lists. One guy was "King" of the Latin, Reggae and World genres while the other was "King" of the Metal, R&B, Hip-Hop and Rock genres. Andrew promoted me today to "Queen" of the Indie/Emo Rock and Pop genres. So I will be taking the top rated songs and making them into compilations. Me and two guys basically replaced one of my bosses who left to join another label.

I believe that this is just one step towards my dream job. But it's a pretty big step. And I love knowing that I earned it instead of just being tossed into it. My boss trusts my musical judgement as well as my ability to keep to a deadline and not all of the sudden stop showing up to work.

What comes after album producer?

Record Label CEO, of course!