I found this article on getting started in the music industry. I thought it was interesting:

How to Break into the Music Industry
by Maria Palma (10-3-2007)

If you ask most children what they want to be when they grow up, most of them will tell you that they want to be a "firefighter", "police officer", or even "President". Then there are kids who say that they just want to be famous. Well, certainly the music industry is a place where many a star has been born. The music industry is a billion dollar industry. Who wouldn't want a piece of that action?

Whether you want to be a songwriter, producer, engineer, manager, or agent - if you want to get your foot in the door and be someone who is in it for the long-run, then I think it's important to have the business and interpersonal skills to face the challenges that this industry will bring. You can get these much-needed skills by attending a music industry school.

Here are some of the things you could learn if you attended a music industry school:
-music preparation, innovation, and entrepreneurial practice
-marketing, distribution, and sale of music products and services
-effective leadership and management in the music industry

Below is a sample of just some of the music industry schools you can attend in the United States:

Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University has a Music Industry studies program. The school is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Time Magazine named the Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business as one of the top 2 music industry schools in the U.S. The faculty consists of songwriters, authors, producers, entrepreneurs, and sound engineers.

San Francisco State University has a Music/Recording Industry Program where you can take industry-certified training classes
The USC Thornton School of Music offers a BM or BS in music industry which includes some general education in addition to core music classes, writing, and music technology courses

If you want to become an audio engineer and traditional academics doesn't appeal to you, then you may be interested in Music Connection.

Of course, there are many ways you can break into the music industry without having to attend a school. With the internet you can join a website created for beginners, create your own website, start a music blog, or simply network with people in the industry. It's a matter of getting your name out there and staying focused on your goals and dreams. There are many music moguls who didn't attend music industry schools. They simply had the drive to succeed. Do whatever makes you comfortable and makes you happy. That's what is most important!