Dominika Uhrakova

Tell us about your current role

In my current role, I act as the point of contact between PRS and Sony Music Publishing. They contact me about anything and everything they may need. I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical day - it sounds a little clichéd, but it’s true. I deal with anything from simple copyright and policy questions to more complicated issues such as missing royalties.

The best thing about this role is also its biggest challenge - you can never know everything. I’ve talked to people who have worked at PRS for over 40 years and they still come across questions they don’t know how to answer. I love learning something new every day, but it can also get really stressful and you can get lost in the amount of information you have to take in. Another great thing is building relationships with publishers. Everyone I’ve come across is genuinely so lovely and it’s been great working with them.

What was the best thing about your course at Solent?

I didn’t know what part of the industry I would go into when I graduated, but knowing about the various paths I could take certainly opened a lot of doors for me and I felt encouraged to apply for positions I wouldn’t otherwise consider. When I started at PRS, I felt like I had a bit of a head start compared to my other colleagues without the same university experience. Since I was already familiar with the company’s work, I was able to build on that knowledge fairly quickly.

What advice would you give to other students?

Looking for a music industry job after graduating can be very daunting. Sometimes, the job descriptions are so specific that you don’t understand half of it and you start to think it’s not even worth applying. That’s not true - companies generally value hard work and dedication over years of experience or even knowledge. They can teach you skills, but they can’t teach you how to be passionate about your work. So take on any opportunities that you can during university, even if it’s just helping a musician friend organise a few gigs because these are the things that show your passion and will help you move forward.