I used to do full-time work as a music journalist for a music magazine, reviewing local gigs, as well as new releases and upcoming talent. Working from a small office based in Leeds, my role was creating a regular magazine and maintaining the website.

Leeds is a fantastic place in which to work and I enjoyed every day working there as a music journalist; however it can be very expensive to live in Leeds city centre, with soaring rents and a stark lack of available properties, making it a bit difficult for a young professional.

Shown below are my top recommendations to ensure success within the music industry, regardless of when the band started, previous gig success and prominence in the scene.

5. Become a regular reader of magazines and online blogs Whilst NME and Kerrang are generally considered THE music magazines for the average consumer, there are an array of others to choose from that can yield similar (and sometimes better) stories from which you can derive news and gather information. It will also help to view online blogs as these generally have immediately available news before any magazines can; you must make sure that the blog writer is reliable and using reputable sources. This will give you insider information that you can use to further your band's progress.

4. Promote your band on Last.fm: Last.fm is much more than a website that collates information about who you have been listening to - it gives you the opportunity to build a band page, add any songs to the page and stream them for listeners, as well as linking to download purchase. Facebook has begun to make its mark by providing band pages, but using Last.fm presents the easiest and most industry-acclaimed way of effectively publicising your band.

3. Blog about it: It may appear that writing a blog only serves as a distraction to making more music, but it is an ideal way to boost SEO rating and consequently publicise yourself. Search engines play a vital part of improving band presence and a carefully considered strategy for SEO can be highly beneficial - however, try and write your blogs on music news or activity, as opposed to a personal account, as this will be more interesting to readers.

2. Attend festivals and sign up to small bands and newsletters: Even though they do not hold the same power as larger bands, small groups are an ideal way to gain popularity through osmosis and vastly improve your popularity. The partnership can also make agreeing a support act much easier. It is very helpful to build a localised fanbase in your own region before breaking out. My time in an office in Leeds has given me a lot of access to local bands, such as Pigeon Detectives and shown me the best way to explore a future in music.

1. Make yourself known in the industry: Much like working in a small business, a great deal of success is defined by who you know and your relationships. It is a good idea to attend networking events for the music industry and speak to music experts. Even something as simple as taking a phone number or e-mail address can be an effective way of breaking into the music industry.

Whilst some of your success will depend on how critically-acclaimed your music is and the innovation you are showing (unless you are spotted by a talent scout), these factors can improve the potential of your bad.