Music education and the contemporary, multi-industry landscape

Trajectories for future music education and innovation require understanding of here-and-now musical conduits and a range of technologies. Our research is situated in the contemporary music industries and identifies new and emerging pathways within those industries. Historically, the music industry has been monopolised by major record labels. A notable consequence of this control has been that independent artists and musicians have typically not had access to the opportunities, distribution avenues and promotional exposure afforded by the major labels. New industrial practices, avenues for music distribution and the associated democratisation of technologies have decentralised major label domination. In doing so, new music industries have created a range of platforms and opportunities that challenge the conventional model of contemporary music practices. This has implications for music education and future innovation. Our research investigates career development in the contemporary, multi-industry landscape. It draws particularly on Australian artist and industry perspectives. The findings of the study identify the current and creative engagement of youth as performers, musicians and audience members. In the new digital music economy, notions of creativity are rapidly changing. Not only do artists have to be artistically creative, they have to be managerially and technologically creative as well. The significance of such changes should not be underestimated, as they are vital to musical possibilities and future trajectories of artists.