OBSERVER: Skills and Roles
At its inaugural Music Data and Insights Summit, the Victorian Music Development Office launched its new research commission, Skills and Roles – Support workers in Victorian music industries.
Following a long-term research partnership with RMIT University, these new insights provide the VMDO with a current evidence-based perspective and expands on the 2020 study, Career Path: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle..
This new research points out the nuances of learning and skills development within the complex and precarious career paths of Victorian music professionals and offers recommendations to build healthy thriving businesses.
The insights reveal that 54 per cent of music workers embrace a portfolio career or are protean workers where they hold multiple concurrent roles to make ends meet and only one in five have a single full-time role.
It is no surprise to music professionals that they frequently work irregular and sporadic hours. Almost 50 per cent work more than 40+ hours per week across all their roles, including over 10 per cent who work 50+ hours per week.
The survey data indicates that skills are wide-ranging across music work. The research surveyed 212 workers and conducted 21 extended interviews representing 324 different paid music roles across Victoria.
There is a passion to work in the music industry, but it is not always financially rewarding. The increasing expectation for music professionals to be ‘all-rounders’ may be leading to skill dilution, increased stress and the potential long-term loss of industry specialists and experts.
A Support Act survey recently found that 62 per cent of creative workers are affected by increased financial stress.
Across all roles in the music sector, 61 per cent use business, financial and legal skills. While many music workers are often ‘all-rounders’, the research found that these areas require further attention to develop these skills.
Soft skills like communication, interpersonal abilities and problem-solving emerged as the most critical skill sets used by over 80 per cent of music professionals.
VMDO General Manager Kirsty Rivers said music workers play a central role and this research responds to the challenges faced by the Victorian music industry to sustain and develop its workforce.
“By building evidence-based research, we can better understand the skills and the gaps that exist. It helps us to develop bespoke industry training and support opportunities that are needed to thrive in the complex global music industry,” said Ms Rivers.
RMIT University Associate Professor Catherine Strong said it is the first report to map the support roles and associated skills within the Victorian music industries.
“Skills shortages are often an industry concern and the research highlights areas requiring attention that could strengthen the workforce,” said Associate Professor Strong.
“The research shows that music workers often acquire skills on-the-job, which is valued by the industry. However, this means that professionals may not always acknowledge the skills or gaps they have. Finding ways to make formal training work better for this group is one way to counter these issues,” she explained.
Providing a more structured mentoring system could be an option to sustain music careers by developing the key skills and expertise required across the industry.
Interviewees with a mentor spoke highly of this experience and said they received valuable advice, training and guidance during their introduction to the music industry.
More than any other skill, the research highlighted that financial planning and management skills needed to be further developed by music workers.
Research interviewees also identified the other specific skills that required further attention and development related to finance, contracts and marketing.
The VMDO works closely with educational institutions, government and industry experts to develop music worker skills and experience by delivering programs that respond to the gaps revealed in this research.
Through its recent Leg Up program, the VMDO provided quick, easy and vital assistance. It supported 37 Victorian music professionals with access to grants for micro-investments, expert advice, professional development and capacity building.
Over the coming months, the VMDO will expand its popular Experts in Residence program and the long-term mentoring Fast Track Fellowships program will return to support music professionals build global networks, international experience and professional opportunities.
Cheryl Threadgold with Ben Starick