Imagine if listening to music was part of your job (sign me up!). Well, it is for Brittany Schreiber. At 29 years old, she is the Music Booking Producer at NBC News. This means, for example, all the artists that come on the TODAY Show, Brittany books. All the concerts, she handles. Yes, I know, you’re all green with envy right now! I’m SO excited to be featuring her today, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her and all about her journey. From being an SNL Desk Page to Andy Cohen’s Executive Assistant to being included on multiple Billboard lists, this girl has really made a name for herself. Let’s dive in…
What was your first job out of college?
I was an NBC Page. My assignments included SNL Desk Page, TODAY Show Green Room, and executive assistant to Bravo’s Andy Cohen.
How long have you been working at TODAY?
Almost six years. I started November 2010.
What positions have you held at TODAY?
I was an Executive assistant to senior producers of the 8am hour, 10am hour and Weekend TODAY. I was also a TODAY Talk Researcher for the 10 am hour and an associate producer.
As the Music Booking Producer, you must listen to TONS of music – who are your favorite artists at the moment?
I always find myself revisiting the artists who are lined up to play the plaza, so Celine Dion has been on repeat these days. I love Mickey Guyton who is rising on the country scene as well as two new Swedish artists Leon & Zara Larsson. My current standbys are Thomas Rhett, Charlie Puth and Rachel Platten!
What has been your favorite concert on the show? If you can’t pick one, feel free to name a few!
So hard to pick…I imagine this is like picking your favorite child! I always love the energy of the summer plaza concerts. This summer, we kicked off the concert series with an epic “Puff Daddy and the Family” performance. They performed a medley of all the Bad Boy Family hits that I grew up listening to.
Shawn Mendes was our biggest concert so far for Summer 2016. We had fans lined up for blocks and blocks. It’s incredible to watch an artist who started in the TODAY studio fill up the entire 30 Rock Plaza. The crowd stretched to 51st street!
As far as in-studio performances go, Adele was a huge success for us!
Have you always been interested in the music industry? If not, when did you become interested and how/why?
I have always loved music. It is the way feelings sound and the best way, in my opinion, to express what you’re feeling and/or thinking. I was always interested in the television industry and hadn’t really considered the music industry. When I discovered that the music booking job combined my love of live TV and music it felt like the perfect opportunity.
Walk us thru a day in your life! I imagine no two are the same.
Most days start with music! I usually arrive to the studio about a half hour before bands do their final sound check. I’m in studio making sure everything runs smoothly for their live performance. After that, I head back to my desk and start booking! Twice a week we have booking meetings where we take the artists and projects we’ve received for that week and pitch them to our senior producers who ultimately make the final call whether or not we can offer them a performance. I work with the producers to decide where an artist fits within the four hours of TODAY. A few nights a week I head to shows and check out the newest acts in music. I typically like to see an artist live before booking them on TODAY. It also helps me decide whether or not they’ll be the right fit.
What’s been the biggest pinch me moment of your career, thus far?
Another hard question to pick just one. I have had the honor of being included on multiple Billboard lists, but the most significant to me was “The 50 Most Powerful Women in Music.” There was a luncheon where all the women were honored which included performances by the celebrity honorees. Sitting in a room full of the leading women in the music industry was empowering. It was certainly a pinch-me moment!
What advice would you give to someone wanting to break into this industry?
I think in any industry, half the battle is being there and being ready to work. No job is too small to do with a smile. I will always go back to the intern or page that did a good job helping me with something to help me with the next bigger assignment.
If you could go see a concert with anyone, alive or not, what concert would it be and who would you go with and why?
Whitney Houston hands down. Her songs express feelings, make a great dance remix and her vocal range is incomparable. I would go with my fiancé…I really feel the lyrics, “I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me.” And yes, I would be singing all her songs at the top of my lungs.
What inspires you?
Within the music industry, it has to be the songwriters who have become artists, such as Bruno Mars or Meghan Trainor. Really, singer-songwriters in general. The way they’re able to record their life experiences and turn them into music is beyond inspiring to me.
Thanks, Brittany!