PATHWAYS INTO MUSIC RESEARCH

Our Research Work

Mapping music education, music careers and the music industry

The Pathways Into Music research programme is mapping music education, music careers, the music industry and music-maker community with a view to identifying the knowledge and information early-career music-makers need access to, and the people and organisations able to provide it.

MAPPING MUSIC CAREERS | READ
The Pathways Into Music Foundation has been mapping music careers, to help those who aspire to work in music – and the educators and organisations that support them – to better understand the different pathways and how they work.

MAPPING THE MUSIC-MAKER COMMUNITY | READ
There are obviously various ways you can map and organise the music-maker community – including by distinguishing between music composition, production and performance; or based on the specific role any one music-maker plays; or even by genre of music. However, we have primarily mapped the music-maker community based around purpose – why is the music-maker making music? That creates eight segments.

INTRODUCING THE ARTIST CIRCLE | READ
Frontline artists looking to progress through the DIY Phase have four main areas of focus: creative, fanbase, release and business. We have organised these four areas of focus and activity into the artist circle. Although many of these activities happen concurrently, there will often be different priorities at different times – with those priorities often working their way around the circle: creative, fanbase, release and business.

DISSECTING THE NATIONAL PLAN FOR MUSIC EDUCATION | READ
The UK government published a new National Plan For Music Education in June 2022. At the Music Education Conference 2023 – presented by CMU and Pathways Into Music at The Great Escape – we considered the elements of the Plan that are most relevant to our ongoing work connecting music industry and music education. Below is the overview we presented at the start of the conference to inform that day of discussions.