Dancing to a Different Tune: My Experience Working as an Intern in the Music Industry

Navigating through the music industry with no musical background was tricky to say the least, but luckily I was surrounded by an incredible team that guided the way.

My name is Aliya Perry, and I had the amazing opportunity of serving as a social media intern for Alist & Co, LLC. Alist & Co is a PR agency in Philadelphia and works with people in the entertainment industry. My supervisor and founder of Alist & Co, Aalyah Duncan, introduced me to a whole new world and I will forever be grateful for it. I had the pleasure of working with so many talented people including house singer, Lady Alma, R&B singer, Durand Bernarr and the iconic group, Earth, Wind and Fire. Working with so many amazing artists gave me a new perspective on the music industry and advertising landscape. 

I learned how to effectively communicate with others and the importance of establishing meaningful connections, especially with your work colleagues. I was fortunate enough to work in such a friendly environment with two admirable women that were open to giving feedback and receiving it. One of my favorite parts about working for Alist & Co is that I was able to get in-the-field experience. While in the field I had the pleasure of meeting Emmy-winning video editing supervisor for CBS Television, Charlene Horne, and community affairs reporter for KYW Newsradio, Cherri Gregg. Speaking with such established people has helped me gain more insight on the industry and has opened my eyes to a lot of new opportunities and career paths. 

This experience was everything I thought it would be and more. While working alongside Aalyah and experiencing the industry first hand, I’ve learned that artists, musicians and entertainers always need help to create, recreate or develop their brand. I would love to help create logos, graphic designs or album covers for these creative professionals. Overall, I had an unforgettable internship experience. I truly feel as though Alist & Co. has shaped and prepared me for the real world.