They don't care at all about music! - Anonymous employee Music & Arts Employee Review

1.0
Aug 6, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- Networking with other musicians (if you're lucky to work with other musicians). - Perhaps a good starting out job for kids that are interested in sales, sales, sales and don't mind minimum wage.

Cons

- They offer minimum wage for retail positions, regardless of background. I have a music degree, and years of retail experience. There is nothing more insulting as an adult with a degree than being offered minimum wage. - Don't think the minimum wage thing is just in one particular state. I've talked to many others. It's the norm for them. - The attitude of the employees reflect the low pay. They are snarky to customers and act as though every customer is a major annoyance. For around $7.25 an hour, I understand. The managers are not happy either, and have a very sour outlook. - Their instruments are not of the best quality anyway. I wouldn't recommend them to my students, so it is hard to sell them to other people. As for commission, some stores are sleepy, and it would be a miracle if it were even possible to meet the goals they give you. - Owned by Bain, which should tell you everything. Horrible values. - They don't care at all about music, so it is an extremely hard place to work for someone who has dedicated their life to the pursuit. This is just retail, not your friendly neighborhood music store.

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5.0
May 18, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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Pros

Perks and hours were balanced

Cons

Commission structure could be better

2.0
May 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Teachers and sales employees who actually work in retail locations tend to be passionate & knowledgeable about music. Stores open later in day (11am-8pm weekdays) which is nice if you're a night owl or hate waking up early. Good employee discounts on products.

Cons

Inflexible corporate policies & attempts to standardize procedures across stores in wildly different markets makes it impossible for store-level management & employees to deliver well on expectations of upper management & customers. Store managers who work in store full time have no real authority, influence, or decision-making power, whereas district managers (who visit each location once a month at best) have to pass on orders from even higher level management that may have never even stepped foot in the store. They will start you at as close to legal minimum wage as they can get by location, and even the hourly pay for store managers is absolutely criminal compared to the amount of work & complexity of operations required. Commission structure is also highly flawed.

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