Industry: Entertainment and Sports
 The entertainment industry can be divided into four main divisions: television, film, music, and sports. Television has seen the most growth in recent years due to the increase in household televisions, increase of networks and shows, and the increase in popularity of night time television. Whether viewers are watching reality TV, a drama series, or a late night comedian, the number of television viewers has increased substantially in comparison to the film industry. Films were the original entertainment boom, and still remain a thriving sector of the industry because of their timeless aspect which insures their classic state far into the future. Blockbuster films have transformed the film industry by shifting the focus towards special affects and at home move viewing technologies such as blu-ray.
Even though the film industry has changed with the growth of home rentals, the music industry has experienced a complete turnover. As online music availability has increased, the concern for pirating and the loss of album revenues has become more of a prominent concern. Music is the only industry in which technology advances posed a threat to the revenue and many companies focused on building revenue through concerts and paraphernalia, but the growth of the online music community demanded a change in how the music industry is run. The music industry fought downloading music for a significant amount of time, but eventually music producing companies such as Sony decided to embrace the online music community by making albums available online and offering a wide variety of online specials such as ring tone downloads. As itunes has become more user friendly and more widely known, music consumers are utilizing all that the online music resources have to offer. The music industry has downsized in order to focus their resources on the promising few, which makes jobs in the music industry highly competitive. As in the film industry, individuals looking to work in the music industry will most likely have to start at the bottom and work their way up.
In order to be successful in the entertainment industry you need good luck and a non-stop networking attitude. Entertainment success is all about who you know, and you may have to start at the bottom in order to gain initial access to the highly sought after professionals. The work may be tedious, the hours long, and the boss unruly, but if you can stick it out and use your position to its advantage, then be encouraged that it is possible to be successful in the entertainment field. Celebrity idolization has also increased the entertainment industry’s breadth of individuals who are infatuated by the glamour and glitz of the pop-star/movie-star/rock-star lifestyle. Many working professionals escape in their dreams of living a rock star lifestyle with no deadlines, angry bosses, or boring desk job. However, the entertainment industry is one of the most competitive industries because there are so many dreamers out there looking for their big break. If you have persistence, talent, gumption, and a professional demeanor, you may be on the edge of your big break.
Sports is a category all to itself. Working in the sports industry is usually every employee’s dream. The atmosphere is relaxed, the work is typically the passion of the employee, and the companies usually promote creativity and growth. Sports companies are looking for talented individuals who can promote the team, the star player, or the location of the highlighted game. Positions within the sports industry range from marketing, business development, and event coordination to security, PR, and selling commercial space during highly viewed games. Spectator sports such as baseball, basketball, hockey, and football have increased in popularity as television broadcasting has increased and the availability of viewing games at home has increased. The advances of high definition television has also influenced the increase of at-home viewers, along with the spike in ticket, food, and parking prices at arenas. Employees in the sports industry tend to be friendly, creative, people-centered individuals who are abreast of current trends and enthusiastic about their work. Sports management and sports marketing positions are the key to success in the sports industry. The ‘sports industry’ varies from sponsors for individual players, sports drinks, and athletic gear to the marketing necessary to reach those individuals.
Whether you are looking to be employed in the entertainment industry or the sports industry, a determined attitude and natural passion for the job is crucial. The hard work will pay off in the end if you can stick it out long enough to obtain your dream job!
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