Alex Boateng (as well as being a badman DJ) is a Consultant/Product Manager at Island Records. Home to acts such as Tinchy Stryder, Jessie J, Devlin and more. Here are his top ten tips on how YOU can steal his job…

1) Understand marketing basics

Read books, search the Internet, look at albums/singles you’ve brought and ask yourself why you made that decision to buy them. Use those skills to decide marketing plans surrounding why others would buy music too.

2) Love music

You’re working in and about music, be a fan. Love what you do because otherwise someone else who has a clear passion for music will step in [Laughs] and steal your job.

3) Understand the people you trying to sell music to

You won’t always work with music and genres you’re familiar with. When marketing you need to know your audience, you wouldn’t put a radio advert for a grime album on Magic FM.

4) Have good relationships with everyone.

Build up your contacts; whether they’re artists, DJs, designers, pluggers or accountants, they will become very handy. When you’re marketing an artist you need to know off the top of your head who the best designer for their logo will be, the best director for their video, the best artists for them to feature with and have their details. Managers should know this stuff too but when you’re at a label your input is expected.

5) Be honest

Always share an opinion, it’s always valid and matters. Even if you don’t like it, it’s still an opinion. I put stuff out there that people will want to buy it – I’m the first to listen so if I wouldn’t buy it, who else will?

6) Be on time

It gives you more time in the day & if you're in charge you've got to be there first!

7) Listen to lots of music

Listen to the radio, go to gigs and be aware of what’s going on. Be in the know. Especially about your own artists, if someone asks me what date Tinchy Stryders album is out and I don’t instantly know then I’m not only failing myself but I’m failing my artist too.

8) Know what you’re good at

Know what you offer, so you can master it. If you’re good with numbers you can step into a campaign and be confident you can deliver.

9) Know what you’re not good at

So you can either build up on your weaknesses or get someone else who specialises good at the areas you’re lacking in to step in.

10) Don’t get too stressed

Be organised, make a to-do list and stick to it.

www.twitter.com/twintings

Tinchy Stryder ft Dappy (N Dubz) – Spaceship is out June 12th 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTV4mr94ijk