Designed to map the total population of musicians and form a picture of their careers and lives, the Musicians’ Census will gather data on demography, diversity, health and wellbeing, and working patterns and income.
Key findings will be shared with partner charities and music industry bodies, helping organisations plan how best to support musicians and teachers in future years. The Musicians’ Census – repeated every three to five years – will help organisations monitor and respond to the cost-of-living crisis and ongoing impact of the pandemic and Brexit, among other factors.
MU general secretary, Naomi Pohl, comments: ‘The world has changed significantly in recent years. But without quality data and representative insights, it’s difficult to understand what today’s musicians really need and how we can help.’
Deputy chief executive at Help Musicians, Sara Woods, explains: ‘To date, there has never been a comprehensive picture of the total population of musicians, and without this insight we are unable to ensure our support is as impactful as it can be.’
Other leading industry figures and musicians from Black Lives in Music, the LSO and UK Music are encouraging musicians across the country to get involved and complete the Census. ‘Never has there been a more crucial time to truly help all musicians working in the music industry’, says Charisse Beaumont, chief executive of BLiM.
The Musicians’ Census is open to anyone considering themselves to be a musician in the UK who earns an income from music or plans to earn an income from music in future. It seeks to include the widest group possible, drawn from, among others, teachers, performers, studio engineers and composers.
The Census launched on Monday 16th January. To find out more and take part, visit musicianscensus.com
