Work for an established talent agency or a record label. This will provide steady income and will teach you the ropes of the business. Before beginning employment, research the agency or label with the Better Business Bureau to determine its legitimacy.
Become familiarized with different genres of music and the cultures associated with them. Understanding the music will help you understand the artist. Stay current by keeping up with new trends and artists by reading music blogs, going by word of mouth and watching YouTube videos for the newest singing sensations. Visit music venues, studios, open mic nights, community music theaters, school performances and churches. Great singers have been discovered in subway stations, bars & clubs, wedding bands and parties.
Get to know the politics behind recent signings. Study your label by reading bios and press kits, listening to demos and talking to coworkers and superiors. Research who they have signed in the last year; see how these artists have performed and how have they been received within the label. Take notice of artists who are "triple threats;" they can do three of any of the following skills: sing, dance, write, play an instrument or act. Find out if the latest signed artists have similar physical aesthetics, or if there is a current sound that seems to be making all of the hits on the label. Talk to producers, interns and A&R reps who can provide further inside information for getting a grasp on the label's vision.
Networking is key. Take advantage of Internet social networks to make new contacts; however, do not solely rely on this form of communication. Go out into the community. Visit other talent agencies. Go to parties and speak to different people in the music business. Being acquainted with an intern or assistant can get you closer to becoming familiar with producers or artists. Become a "regular" at popular and underground music venues to meet more artists to recruit and scouts to befriend.
Develop an eclectic taste in music from 1960s folk rock to contemporary pop and hip hop music. Check out what is current on the airwaves and the charts, but also listen to the classics in different genres. Think about what the music industry is missing today, and notice what it seems to be driving the biggest record sales. This will help you form a clearer picture of what kind of music artist you are searching for as a scout.
Take initiative. Seek out opportunities. Do not wait for assignments to come to you. Make a good impression; show your work ethic and assertiveness by showing your label numbers. Write down your target number of artists that you would like to recruit. Set out to accomplish that amount within your monthly goals. Showing results will set you apart from others in this competitive industry. This will demonstrate your readiness to take on more responsibility with the artists and climb the music business ladder.