‘The UK Black Music Scene is Thriving’: My Journey to my Dream Job as a Lawyer in the Music Industry
By Zardine Collins
I have always wanted to be in the music industry. Music is my passion. It’s supported me through some of my darkest days and coloured all my brightest. I did not, however, always want to be a lawyer.
I grew up loving the performing arts. For the best part of my early life, I believed that I was going to be the next Beyonce. This was a belief firmly supported by my parents, and so the dream felt possible to my younger self. At the time, they seemed like the world’s most supportive parents. As my childish naivety fell away, I recognised that they were just appeasing me with encouragement down the telephone in order to distract from them both being absent – metaphorically and physically. Perhaps I wasn’t quite as like Beyonce as I thought.
The decision that would set the course of my life was made during my college years: I would become a lawyer. I figured that the day-to-day life of a performer was not suited to the chaotic setup of my home life. I was academically able, so I could pursue something difficult. More importantly, though, is that lawyers make big bucks. No one in my family had been to university yet, so I was willing to try something different. I needed money, stability and a clear path to success. Being a lawyer seemed to check all these boxes.
Growing up on US TV throughout the noughties was where I was first introduced to the concept of music executives and music lawyers. When I first set out to become a lawyer, the dream was to move to the US and combine my career as a lawyer with my passion for music. Thanks to hard work, determination and pioneers such as Jamal Edwards, this dream has been possible on my home turf in the UK.
Jamal Edwards’ legacy has had a massive impact on the UK music industry, not only for artists but on the corporate side. His advocacy for self-belief and paving your own way has inspired many others to achieve their dreams. The UK music industry for executives is more diverse now than ever, and whilst there is still a very long way to go, the message is that we deserve to be in these rooms – and will be.
The journey to getting my qualifications has been paved with setbacks and obstacles, but also a few wins. I was unsuccessful in securing sponsorship to undertake the Legal Practice Course (the post-graduate diploma required to undertake formal training known as a Training Contract), so I took a bet on myself and chose to fund this with a Professional Studies Loan from the bank. I then also made what felt, at the time, to be a series of side-steps at different companies before securing my current (and dream) role at a major music publisher.
My perception of lawyers had been based on what I watched on TV. As I entered the profession, I began to understand the variety of legal opportunities that are available within any industry. Basically, if there is a contract involved along the way, you’re going to need a lawyer. Being able to combine a passion such as music with a legal career has enabled me to sidestep some of the prejudices based upon background and schooling, with the focus instead being placed upon a unique mix of legal skills and industry understanding.
At a time when the UK black music scene is thriving, where the culture finally feels like it is being recognised in the way it deserves, I cannot help but feel extremely grateful, inspired and proud to be a part of it. Maybe I’m not part of it in the way that I had initially planned, but I like to think that it’s in the way that I was destined to.