Want to be a Composer? Better have a Rich Uncle
Monday, February 23, 2009
The American Music Center has just released "Taking Note," a comprehensive survey of the American composer population. They look at incomes (median: $45,000), what percentage earn money from their music, ethnic and gender make-up (85% white and 79% male), and how many use new technologies, among other areas. AMC CEO Joanne Hubbard Cossa joins us to explain the results. Also with us is David Moore, a young composer and pianist who runs the ensemble Bing and Ruth.
Comments [2]
FYI:
The median income of 45,000 for a composer is the same as the male adult median income in the USA and $10,000 dollars more than the median adult female income in the USA.
People obviously aren't living the composers life for the riches, but sounds like they are not starving--and probably happier than a lot of people on Wall Street!
One reason why 85% composers are reported to be white is that outside the concert hall, musicians who composer music wouldn't call themselves composers. I work closely with a lot of Guinean and Malian musicians, and they would call themselves performers or musicians, even though they also compose.
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