My name is Alina Bălan and I am currently working as a PR specialist for Global Records, where I manage the image of a diverse roster of talented artists while continuously expanding my knowledge. I also write for Zile și Nopți and I am pursuing opportunities as a moderator, driven by my passion for conducting interviews.
Q: How does the music industry look like to you in 2024?
A: Accelerated and constantly changing, diverse, full of surprises, but sometimes difficult to showcase or discover.
Q: What are the main challenges that a young person faces when starting out in the current music industry (in Romania)?
A: Finding the balance between being taken seriously and taking yourself seriously, but not too much. I also believe the music industry challenges and has the inexplicable power to push young people, at the start of their careers, into high-pressure professional situations, often beyond their current knowledge. Finding a mentor is also crucial, in my opinion, and it’s difficult to find that person who truly inspires you.
Q: What is the professional achievement of which you are most proud?
A: I was most proud of myself when one of the artists I work with told me she loves that I challenge her with my ideas. This was after I encouraged her multiple times to speak more in public, including at conferences, because I believe in her and what she has to say. I love exceeding people’s expectations of me and helping them exceed their own expectations of themselves.
Q: How does the future of the music industry (in Romania) look like to you?
A: Much more visible on the international stage thanks to original artists and the people behind the scenes.
Q: How did you break into the music industry?
A: Nothing was accidental. I set out to make a career from my passion for music and followed the steps that happened exactly when they needed to. I started by interviewing artists and writing articles for the publication “Zile și Nopți” and volunteering at various music festivals. Then I joined MMB as an intern and began connecting with as many people in the industry as possible. This led to the Women in Music program and expanded my network, ultimately giving Global Records the confidence that I would excel in the position I applied for.
Q: What piece of advice would you give to a young person dreaming of working in the music industry?
A: Networking and knowledge—those are two super important words. Get to know as many people as you can, understand the place and position you want to work in, stay up-to-date with what’s happening in music, and have the courage to experiment and ask questions. My journey began with interviews when I spotted one of my favorite Romanian artists, Adrian Despot, at a coffee stand at MMB and asked him for an interview. You never know what might happen in this industry 🙂
