Tell us a little about yourself and your experience.

I’m Tina Roumeliotis and I’m the founding editor of The Daily Listening. I also write for BUZZNET, which is where I got my start four years ago. I now work freelance for them. I’ve also contributed to Infectious Magazine, A Thousand Guitars, and Natural High. 

What drove you to choose your career path?

I’ve always been a music geek ever since I got my hands on my first cassette tape as a kid. From there, I discovered MTV, which in the 90’s, was at its peak so I grew up around a thriving music scene. As for being a writer, that’s all luck. When I joined BUZZNET in 2012, I just wanted a way to share my writing but I never expected for any of it to take off and do so well. Ever since I was a teen, I knew I did not want a boring job that sucked the life and soul out of me so I think I’m doing okay!

How did you go about getting your job? What kind of education and experience did you need?

Honestly, in this field, if you live and breathe music, that’s the only education you’ll need. As for experience, the only way you’ll ever get any is to work your butt off! Luckily in this day and age, music journalists have the ability to start their own sites if the big leagues aren’t interested. I was lucky in the fact that at the time I joined BUZZNET, we were a user-generated site so anyone could have signed up and posted whatever they wanted. That really helped me cultivate my own voice and what ultimately landed me the freelance position once they moved from LA to NYC.

What do you actually spend the majority of your time doing?

I spend the majority of my day planning out TDL’s editorial while coming up with new content pitches for BUZZNET. I also spend about 85% of my day listening to new music that gets sent my way so I really can’t complain at all! :pI’m always thinking about both sites and how we can improve.

What misconceptions do people often have about your job?

I think the biggest misconception is that we’re all in this for a party. I can only speak for myself here, but I can promise you that is not what it’s like. I take my job very seriously and getting on a guest list doesn’t impress me.

What are your average work hours?

Being that I work from home (introvert’s dream!) I tried to set my own work hours but that didn’t go over so well. I tend to work more than I should. But that’s how you know when you love what you do because it really doesn’t feel like work…most of the time. ;)

What personal tips and shortcuts have made your job easier? 

Having a staff of wonderful, competent writers who care about TDL as much as I do makes everything I do easier. I got so lucky with my team and I love them so much. As for shortcuts – c’mon…there are no shortcuts to success. :p

What do you do differently from your coworkers or peers in the same profession?

Well for one, I’m all about keeping it kind in our content. With TDL, we tend to do our own thing and it seems to be resonating. Everyone is so obsessed with being seen and we really don’t care about that at all. We have our own little cheesy slogan thing that goes, “It’s not about the scene, but about what is heard.” We’d rather be in our bedrooms with a good album than out and about. Plus, I tend to make album reviews very personal if it hits me right. 

Do you have any advice for people who need to enlist your services?

Well if you want to submit your music, don’t just throw it at us. I get so many submissions that are so impersonal and it’s kind of a buzzkill.

What's the worst part of the job and how do you deal with it?

The worst part of the job is how thankless it can all be. You get some incredible and personable publicists/managers/bands that are just so gracious for everything then you get some doozies who act as if we owe them coverage of some sort. What really gets to me is when you have to repeat yourself numerous times because people just don’t care. I’ll leave it at that.

What's the most enjoyable part of the job?

The excitement on an album release day. Seeing artists rise to the top after you covered them when they were just starting out. The support from people you consider idols. Honestly, I love everything about this job.

What kind of money can one expect to make at your job?

Hahah that depends on how lucky you get. I don’t think I’m there yet. But I’m content. 

How do you move up in your field? 

Keep writing. Cultivate your own unique voice and don’t be afraid to go after what you want. Show them how good you are!

What advice would you give to those aspiring to join your profession?

You absolutely have to be in it for the right reasons. If you’re not, people will see right through you. Plus everything I said above. J