Seeing New York from the river during a music internship

Music Internships in New York

New York's neighborhoods have each launched their own musical movements, and together they have shaped the sound of the modern world. Songwriters first turned sheet music into an industry on Tin Pan Alley, jazz flourished in Harlem's ballrooms, punk took shape in the clubs of the Bowery, and in 1973 a back-to-school party in the Bronx helped launch hip-hop. Each wave left behind venues, labels and professionals who carried its lessons forward.

Today the city remains one of the music industry's principal hubs. Major record labels and publishers keep headquarters here, the organizations that collect royalties for songwriters are based in the city, and its stages range from basement rooms to Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. For interns, that concentration means exposure to nearly every part of the business, from signing an artist to staging a sold-out tour, within a few subway stops of each other.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, our music internship program in New York can help you build practical experience within an industry that sets trends around the world.

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24Guaranteed Internship
Vetted roles in leading New York record labels, publishers, venues and music organizations.

14Complete Overseas Support
 Visa assistance, New York housing, social & cultural events and 24/7 staff support included.

22Global Career Network
Join 15,000+ alumni with dynamic workshops, networking events, and employer references.

Example music host organizations in New York

We've previously placed interns with organizations across New York's record label, music publishing, live venue, artist management and music marketing sectors. The organizations featured represent examples of the types of professional environments where participants have gained experience.

Why do a music internship in New York?

New York's music economy runs on connections between very different kinds of businesses. A label's A&R team scouts acts playing small rooms in Brooklyn, publishers place songs in films and advertisements produced down the street, and managers negotiate with venues of every size. Interns can see how these pieces fit together, and how a song moves from a bedroom demo to a radio playlist to a stadium crowd.

The city also moves quickly, with a pace of deal-making and discovery that keeps its music business restless. Showcases, industry panels and listening sessions happen nightly, and many professionals build careers by being in the right room at the right moment. Because the city supports every genre, from classical and Broadway to Latin, R&B and electronic music, interns can explore what suits them without leaving town. Combined with a deep bench of music law, marketing and technology companies, the city offers a broad education in how music is made, protected and sold.

New York is particularly strong in areas such as record labels and A&R, music publishing and licensing, live venues and booking, and music marketing, offering exposure to an industry that rewards ambition and curiosity.

Experience music in the city that keeps reinventing it

Historic influence
See how jazz, punk, hip-hop and Broadway each shaped the industry that exists in New York today.

Deep specialization
Explore the sector across labels, publishing, live venues, management and music marketing.

Industry density
Build connections with professionals across the business who work within a few subway stops of each other.

Genre range
Learn how classical, pop, hip-hop, Latin and electronic scenes each build audiences in their own ways.

Visiting Top of the Rock with other interns during a music internship in New York

Explore music internships in New York

New York's music landscape spans major and independent labels, publishing companies, live venues, management firms, music marketing agencies and classical institutions. Your internship could give you the opportunity to see how organizations support artists and reach audiences, with tasks suited to your experience and under the guidance of experienced music professionals.

Live Music Venues & Booking

Venues of every size depend on careful scheduling and promotion to fill their rooms. You could support gig listings, artist communications or ticketing promotion.

You could work on: Gig listing support · Artist communications · Ticketing promotion · Venue administration support

Music PR & Marketing

Getting a release noticed means building press lists, pitching to writers and planning social campaigns. You could support media outreach, press list development or campaign tracking.

You could work on: Media outreach support · Press list development · Campaign tracking · Social content support

Music Education & Community Programs

Schools and community groups bring instruments and lessons to young people across the five boroughs. You could support program administration, resource preparation or participant communications.

You could work on: Program administration support · Resource preparation · Participant communications · Event coordination

Artist Management & Touring

Managers coordinate bookings, travel and budgets for artists on the road. You could support tour itinerary preparation, booking research or fan communications.

You could work on: Tour itinerary preparation · Booking research · Fan communications · Administration support

Looking for music internships beyond New York? Explore our international music internships to discover opportunities across a range of destinations. 

Example music internship roles in New York

Depending on your skills and interests, you could take on a role such as:

  • Music Business Development Intern
  • Cultural Experience Intern
  • Music Education Intern
  • Artist Development Intern
  • Arts Administration & Cultural Operations Intern
  • Production & Events Assistant Intern
  • Music Content & Social Media Intern
  • Artist Management & Label Support Intern

Your exact role will depend on your host organization and placement.

Explore more example music and performing arts roles >

Spending a day at Coney Island during a music internship in New York

What can you gain from our music internship in New York?

A music internship in New York goes beyond a single line on your CV. It's a chance to see how one of the world's biggest music markets operates behind the scenes, developing practical skills through work that supports artists and audiences.

  • Build New York music industry experience

    International music experience on your CV shows future employers you've worked in a city that has shaped sounds from jazz to hip-hop. 

  • Work on real music projects

    Put your knowledge into practice through projects that could involve label releases, publishing administration, venue promotion or artist management, depending on your placement. 

  • Grow your music industry network

    Connect with professionals across labels, venues and agencies while building relationships with fellow interns from around the world. 

  • Understand how music earns a living

    See how royalties, ticketing, streaming and touring combine to support artists throughout their careers. 

  • Experience New York's music culture

    Gain insight into how history, ambition and constant reinvention shape the way music is made and sold. 

Going for a walk around New York during a music internship

What's included in the New York internship program?

Your program includes support designed to help you get the most from your international internship, from placement and accommodation to visa support, career coaching and 24/7 in-country support.

Explore the full New York internship program >

Hear from our interns in New York

Angel Velanky John Fernandes
Angel Velanky John Fernandes
Read their story
Elisa Brena
Elisa Brena
Watch their story
Natasha Baird
Natasha Baird
Watch their story

"The Intern Group’s staff and support were excellent throughout my experience. They were responsive, approachable, and always willing to help with any questions or concerns. From pre-arrival preparation to ongoing mentorship, they provided guidance every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and enriching internship journey." - Angel Velanky John Fernandes, intern in New York

"At first, I was so scared because moving here from the other side of the globe, all alone, was a lot to handle. But thanks to the amazing people I met through The Intern Group, I managed to get used to the city, create my own routines and just enjoy my time here. And trust me, it feels like it's been two whole lives, not just two months. It was that important to me, and I'm so glad I did it. I couldn't recommend it more." - Elisa Brena, New York intern

Taking a tour around Madison Square Garden during a music internship in New York

Is a New York music internship right for you?

A New York music internship could be a great fit if you're drawn to the business and culture behind the songs.

Whether you're a university student, recent graduate, gap year student or career changer, you can build practical music industry skills while experiencing how organizations in New York support artists and reach audiences. It's an opportunity to build your CV, expand your professional network and discover where a career in music could take you.

What is it like to live as a music intern in New York?

Living as a music intern in New York means Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem is a rite of passage, a crowd that decides in real time whether a performer stays or goes. Washington Square Park fills most afternoons with pianists, string players and singers, an impromptu concert in the shadow of the arch.

A visit to the apartment building in the Bronx where hip-hop is said to have been born gives useful context for the music you hear across the city. Student and rush tickets for performances at Lincoln Center or Carnegie Hall make a night at the opera or the symphony far more affordable than you might expect.

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Sightseeing around New York and visiting the Statue of Liberty during a music internship

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  • 2

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  • 3

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