Nicole Stringer is Chugg Entertainment’s Head of Marketing Communications and boy has she worked hard to get there. Nicole sits down and shares her experiences from internships to touring Sia and plenty in between.

What is your current role and how long have you been doing it?

My current role is Head of Marketing & Communications at Chugg Entertainment; I was presented with a great opportunity when the marketing team restructured earlier this year, moving from Head of Publicity into my current role.

How long have you been working in the music industry?

I think it’s been about 11 years now. It’s gone quickly…

What experience did you have before taking on your role?

I studied a Communications degree at uni, with a major in PR. Once I decided I wanted to work in music, I interned at Sony and then with a couple of different freelance music publicists, where I gained invaluable experience. I then scored a junior full-time role at EMI, before moving across to Universal Music as National Promotions Manager, and finally landed at Chugg Entertainment as the in-house publicist. I’ve been here just over three years.

What does a regular day look like for you?.

Team catch-ups, conference calls with record labels whose artists we are touring, lots of emails, writing of media releases and pitching of interviews. Plus liaising with artist managers and agents on tour marketing and publicity activity. Sometimes overseeing on-ground promo, and attending the shows.

What do you love most about your job?

The incredible people I get to meet every day. Some of my best friends are people I’ve met working in music.

What is the biggest challenge of your role in today’s music industry?

The changing media landscape, in particular, the decline of print and major TV opportunities for artists. On the flipside though, there are far more opportunities across digital media than ever before.

What are some of your favourite campaigns you’ve worked on or artists you’ve worked with?

We toured Sia last year, which was both challenging and incredibly rewarding – we had an all-female lineup (Amy Shark, Charli XCX and MO supported) for the first time ever in Australian stadiums. It was a really special moment.

We also toured Hanson last year, and they are without a doubt the hardest working, most lovely band I’ve ever worked with. A total dream.

You get to work with a lot of great bands – what about the Australian music scene excites you right now?

The volume of quality live acts touring Australia right now, both local and international.  It feels non-stop, there’s always something new to discover, or an old favourite coming through town.

The growth of country music is also really exciting; it finally feels as though it’s crossing over into the mainstream, in line with where it sits in the US. Commercial radio is getting on board, the public is paying attention, and we’re seeing country acts sell out arenas in capital cities in a matter of minutes.

What is the most valuable advice you’ve been given?

Never burn your bridges. The Australian music industry is too small.

What advice would you give young people who aspire to a career in the music industry?

Get a foot in the door, work hard, and be patient. Go to industry networking events and connect with people that can offer you advice and help you get to where you want to go.

What three artists should we be listening to right now?

We’re touring a UK artist, Mahalia next year; she’s doing big things over there and was just nominated for a Brits Critics Choice award. I’m really excited to see what she can do live.

Ravyn Lenae and Billie Eilish are two young US artists making cool music right now.

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This interview originally appeared on the Ticketmaster Blog.