Turn Up the Mic, Tune Up the Future

A National Research Study of Roots Musicians in the U.S. conducted by Slover-Linett Audience Research

go to the study at Slover Linett audience research

Please write research@whippoorwillarts.org to ask for a PDF copy of the guidelines in your inbox.

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Our friends at Kudos Design helped us create a 5 minute visual summary of the 200-page research report. The original art is by Tracy Bigelow Grisman, of actual musicians; the quotes are all from working musicians who participated in the survey and focus groups. Hope you feel what we feel about this data and these stories: musicians have spoken, we are listening.

Read the full report below — use arrows to scroll through pages

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RESEARCH PARTNERS

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

(Click PLUS SIGN BELOW to read more)

The data was unveiled during a webinar on October 21, and confirms what Hilary Perkins (a working roots musician herself, performing under the name Nell Robinson) and the team at Whippoorwill Arts had witnessed for years: the roots and independent music community is in crisis. The restoration of opportunity, economic equity and professional protections across age, gender, race, and more has never been more critical.
Member Organizations that participated in the survey project include American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 1000, Americana Music Association, Folk Alliance International, GlobalFest, The Blues Foundation, and the International Bluegrass Music Association.
“Every person in the music industry has seen how tough things have gotten—and that was before the pandemic. This study brings to bear the reality of our new world, and gives us the awareness we need to take steps forward.”
—Jed Hilly, Executive Director of the Americana Music Association
The survey results were outlined during an hour-long, live webinar presented by Whippoorwill Arts, Thursday, October 21, which you can watch below.
The survey results reveals evidence of a significant income decline due to expectations of performing for free or reduced rates, streaming, an unstable compensation system, a mental and physical health crisis within this group, age, gender, race and disability discrimination, plus a high percentage of musicians concerned about returning safely to work after COVID-19.
This report explores three kinds of change that musicians cited as necessary in order to create a more sustainable, equitable, and thriving music ecosystem: economic equity, professional protections, and collective effort.
These three pillars of change are built on a foundation of passion for making music, which was witnessed at every stage of the research. For the musicians who participated, music is not merely a career but a calling—and a powerful force for social good. And that more equitable, thriving ecosystem, in which musicians play such a central role, in turn, makes possible greater social good—the personal and collective benefits of music in psychological, civic, and community terms.
Based on the analysis and findings from this study, the researchers and Whippoorwill Arts identified seven broad action areas that will be required to provide the change that working musicians need to survive and thrive.
• Determining what constitutes adequate compensation for working musicians.  
• Promoting pay equity standards, in part through guaranteed minimum pay for performances.  
• Working with streaming platforms toward a fair division of streaming profits.  
• Creating standards of conduct and policy for venues.  
• Expanding the range of funding mechanisms that roots musicians can access.  
• Strengthening musician solidarity with the help of membership organizations, unions, and other organizations that advocate for and connect musicians. 
• Bridging the digital divide. 
Whippoorwill Arts is also committed to shaping its own program priorities based on the needs of working roots musicians uncovered in this study. We are seeking Allies and Partners in the music ecosystem, lawmakers in Congress, and the public and private sector in an effort to Save Our Musicians. Our goal is to address the systemic issues and policies that are driving musicians out of work and exacerbating inequalities across the music ecosystem.

Enter your email address to receive the report in your inbox.

ROOTS MUSICIAN SURVEY WEBINAR

Recorded 10/21/2021

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Our Mission

Whippoorwill Arts is on a mission to provide opportunities for roots musicians and artists to thrive and nurture their creativity with a focus on collaboration, fair wages, equity, and social justice.

To learn more about Whippoorwill Arts, visit our About page below.

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About Slover Linett

What if there were a team of social researchers—people with serious chops, from disciplines like anthropology, psychology, and public policy—who also understood the arts, museums, science engagement, and the rest of the cultural sector? What if they were passionate about helping that sector not just succeed, but change?

To learn more about Slover Linett, visit their website below.

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