Report finds classical music industry at risk of losing talent and decreasing diversity
'Bittersweet Symphony' reveals how employers are failing their parents and carer workforce.
New research into parents and carers in the Classical Music sector by charity Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA) and Birkbeck's Department of Organizational Psychology, supported by Help Musicians and Musicians' Union, has found that the Classical Music industry is at risk of losing talent and decreasing in diversity. This signposts an urgent need to improve employment practices to be more inclusive of its parents and carers, and in particular women.
The first report of its kind, 'Bittersweet Symphony' reveals that parents and carers pay a significant penalty in terms of well-being, work opportunities and remuneration to maintain a career in classical music. They struggle given outdated working practices in the industry.
The findings highlight:
- Self-employed women, over 85% of whom have caring responsibilities, reported a pay penalty of £8,000, earning the least, at £12,000, compared to £20,000 for freelance men.
- Outdated work and caregiving structures in Classic Music that are highly gendered, with women twice as likely to turn down work due to caring responsibilities.
- 50% of respondents are unsatisfied with their work-life balance and 82% reported managing work and family commitments as moderately to extremely stressful.
- 40% of respondents are thinking of leaving their careers in music.
Additional findings reiterate the urgent need for positive change in employment culture in the sector. The report found that:
- Only 4% of respondents referenced a supportive employer, with the vast majority relying on a network of support from family, partners or friends to help them manage work and family.
- 65% of respondents revealed that income from music never or rarely covers unexpected costs, while almost half (48%) said that income from music never or rarely covers basic needs.
- Nine out of ten musicians, composers, opera singers and conductors reported turning down work due to caring responsibilities, indicating a significant risk to the longevity of the Classical Music workforce. Based on the results, there is a high risk of losing talent, especially freelancers.