Career Paths:
The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle —

Published 28 February, 2020

Career Path: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle study reveals workers with music business careers are passionate and nimble, but sector disruption can lead to career instability.

Victorian Music Development Office (VMDO) worked with RMIT University to interview 27 Victorian music business professionals with over ten years’ experience to understand the skills, strategies, challenges and opportunities people require to sustain a music business career.

Career Paths: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle acknowledged common themes, including the:

• multi-access points to establish and maintain a career in an ever-shifting and evolving music industry;

• nimble skills and strategies required to sustain a music business career;

• challenges and roadblocks within the music industry; and

• ongoing opportunities to support and development music business careers.

VMDO General Manager, Bonnie Dalton, explained that the music sector is grappling with shifting attrition rates, sometimes due to long hours, burn-out and high-pressure circumstances. 

“The report, Career Paths: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle provides compelling insights to understand how we can support the development of music business careers. The knowledge and experience demonstrated by our passionate Victorian music professionals and businesses are imperative – they solidify and bind so many possibilities for artists in the music sector,” said Dalton. 

Highlighting the nimble and resilient skillset to sustain a music business career, the report findings identified that many Victorian music business professionals acquire a substantial amount of work-know-how from real-life-job experiences. 

Doctor Catherine Strong from RMIT University’s School of Media and Communication said, “There is extensive research on the careers of musicians, however our understanding of the business elements in the music sector is limited.”

“All our study participants find their jobs rewarding, but they are also exposed to burn-out and sometimes grapple with their financial security in a fluctuating industry. The report highlights the importance of reducing risk and improving wellbeing for music business practitioners, which will ensure the ongoing health and success of the Victorian music sector,” explained Strong.

While focussed on the experiences of music business professionals, many of the report recommendations are also transferable and relevant across many sectors – creative, corporate and non-for-profit. 

Career Paths: The Victorian Music Business Career Life Cycle is evidence that the Victorian government can maintain their commitment to a thriving music sector that creates significant economic value and cultural impact in Victoria.

Through its programs, resources and initiatives, VMDO can continue to support the next generation of Victorian music professionals and ensure they are well-supported to develop their careers as well as with the musicians they represent through:

• CLOCK Your Skills – a ground-breaking higher education alternative that transforms experience into formal qualifications. It will assist Victorian music professionals to progress their careers by validating their real-life work-based experience. 

• Connections across music and other sectors – facilitating opportunities across Australia and globally where businesses can capitalise on music business expertise. This may be through Music Ally, Business Victoria, Council of Small Business Australia and Victorian Chamber of Industry and Commerce as well as many other organisations.

• Mentoring, knowledge sharing and skills development – a key priority for VMDO, including periodical networking breakfasts, masterclasses, Fast Track Fellowship, Experts In Residence and Blak Sound. VMDO also provide ongoing support and knowledge into many music issues and trends, including business coaching, financial planning, legal obligations, managing health and wellbeing.