Week 7: Music Economics

Careers in music are typically thought of as being either a musician or someone who controls musicians. Most people do not even think about researching the field or even creating more opportunities to find music via technology. Some music experts are looking into pulling data from music sheets and entering into a computer database in order to archive and preserve physical music sheets. Taking it one step further, there are even ways to then search for these music sheets in a larger database. This type of research then allows for more job creations in developing better access to music technology and different types of musicians. Today music and musicians are breaking stereotypical roles.

For example, on the Berklee College of Music in Boston website a plethora of jobs from being a band's sound technician to a composer offer many different branches for the musically inclined (whether that be with their hands of simply their brains) are available for all music students. Music Therapy is also an interesting field that many may not think about. According to the Berklee website music therapists can work anywhere from Hospice to drug/alcohol programs. The world of music can vary from making profits to helping people.

The Berklee music department knows what its talking about in regards to varying degrees of music careers and being successful. Andrea Fuller's article "From Berklee to 'American Idol,' and Beyond" highlights the success of four graduates from the Berklee College of Music who have gone onto great adventures in music. Four graduates were able to make American Idol auditions after being music business students. It just goes to show that if you are interested in music and decide to study music business you may have a chance of hitting it big or in this case at least getting an audition. The face of music and the jobs that come with it are changing from the stereotypical musician with an instrument. The new musician must also sing, dance, and live through auditions in order to earn their keep. Oh yes, and it doesn't hurt to have a degree in music business.

According to Howe (2009) women are ever present in music education. Apparently women have been music educators for years, in fact they have been involved since 1907. Howe indicates that women were often regarded as invisible in the music field. Times are changing and women are getting more recognized and breaking down the stereotype that only men can teach and learn music.

So the face of music and everything that falls under the umbrella is evolving. The economics of music are changing the way people are educated about the business, technology, and the way it is headed.

Fuller, A. (2010). From Berklee to 'American Idol,' and Beyond. Chronicle of Higher Education, 56, 21, pA6-A6. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier

Howe, S. W. (Fall 2009). A historical view of women in music education careers. Philosophy of Music Education Review, 17, 2. p.162(22). Retrieved July 06, 2010, from Academic OneFile via Gale:
http://find.galegroup.com/gps/start.do?prodId=IPS&userGroupName=405_mcls