Unit 5: Show Me the Money

Lesson 1: The Bottom Line

Page 107

Learn more about careers in music throughout history.

Throughout most of human history, music has not been a job that people could choose to do to make a living. In fact, it probably wasn’t until there were towns and cities that a person could choose to be a full-time musician. Before this, people were all basically doing the same sorts of thing—farming, hunting, or gathering things to eat. When people started living together in towns, there started to be specialized jobs, like storeowners, tailors, and carpenters—and even artists and musicians.

In Europe, there were folk musicians who traveled from town to town to put on shows. There were also professional musicians who worked in churches. They led choirs and wrote music for church services. Later, full-time composers and musician began to work for royalty or other wealthy people. These wealthy patrons paid the salaries of musicians.

In other parts of the world, there have also been professional musicians for centuries. In Japan, China, the Middle East, India, West Africa, and many other places, certain people trained since childhood to become professional musicians for royal courts or other patrons. In some places, this system still exists.

Beginning in the 1800s in Europe, the general public started to go to classical music concerts. Concert halls charged admission so they could afford to pay musicians and composers. These musicians no longer had to work only for wealthy people. The public became patrons.

This system is basically how it still works today. Musicians, whether they play rock, jazz, or classical music, rely on ticket and album sales by the public to make money. Even careers like studio engineers, music promoters, and record executives rely on this money-making process. Now, whether you live in South Africa or New York City, you have to sell music to make a living!