Music Directors and Composers

AUTOMATION RISK
CALCULATED
9%
risk level
POLLING
38%
Based on 290 votes
LABOR DEMAND
GROWTH
4.9%
by 2031
WAGES
$62,940
or $30.26 hourly
VOLUME
11,690
as of 2022
SUMMARY
JOB SCORE
5.7/10

Automation risk

9% (Minimal Risk)

Minimal Risk (0-20%): Occupations in this category have a low probability of being automated, as they typically demand complex problem-solving, creativity, strong interpersonal skills, and a high degree of manual dexterity. These jobs often involve intricate hand movements and precise coordination, making it difficult for machines to replicate the required tasks.

More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.

Some very important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Fine Arts

Some quite important qualities of the job are difficult to automate:

  • Originality

  • Persuasion

  • Social Perceptiveness

  • Negotiation

User poll

38% chance of full automation within the next two decades

Our visitors have voted that there is a small chance this occupation will be replaced. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 9% chance of automation.

What do you think the risk of automation is?

What is the likelihood that this occupation will be replaced by robots or AI in the next 20 years?






Growth

Moderate growth relative to other professions

The number of 'Music Directors and Composers' job openings is expected to rise 4.9% by 2031

Total employment, and estimated job openings

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the period between 2021 and 2031.
Updated projections are due Sep 2023.

Wages

Moderately paid relative to other professions

In 2022, the median annual wage for 'Music Directors and Composers' was $62,940, or $30.26 per hour

'Music Directors and Composers' were paid 35.9% higher than the national median wage, which stood at $46,310

Wages over time

* Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Volume

Significantly lower range of job opportunities compared to other professions

As of 2022 there were 11,690 people employed as Music Directors and Composers within the United States.

This represents around 0.008% of the employed workforce across the country.

Put another way, around 1 in 12 thousand people are employed as Music Directors and Composers.

Job description

Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.

SOC Code: 27-2041.00

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Comments

Leave a comment

yo lads (Likely) says
i seen some robots making chunes and people saying they bussin beats
bye bye dutse, hesh and koot
Sep 16, 2021 at 06:14 AM
Zac (No chance) says
Even if they could it wouldn't be the same as a person composing and putting their input and ideas into the composition. The feeling and emotion has to come from within to create something astonishing in my opinion. Because of this, they wouldn't fully replace humans in music writing/composing.
Jun 16, 2021 at 04:48 AM
John (Highly likely) says
There are already many ai composers like AIVA, so I am pretty sure in the next 15-20 years ai composers will replace human music composers.
May 07, 2021 at 08:39 PM
DJ (No chance) says
Produce own style of music, create melody you like, there is just no way AI could replace it
Mar 20, 2021 at 05:00 PM
Gadgetsz says
The act of composing will not be replaced BUT it will definitely change and maybe become more easy and accessible for all people. Maybe one day, everyone is a composer because you don't even need to learn score writing, DAW, playing or singing. Maybe just by thinking, you can create masterworks.. We will see?
Mar 05, 2021 at 06:34 PM
EdwinBrophy says
Composing pop music is already nearly completely automated but serious music will continue to require human composers.
Jul 07, 2020 at 01:34 PM
EdwinBrophyIsAClown says
Composing pop music is not automated. Just because it is created on a computer doesn't mean it is automated, you still need human to create the ideas.
Dec 08, 2020 at 11:57 AM
nathanuppnext (No chance) says
I'm a trap producer and its true
Apr 11, 2021 at 07:12 PM
Joshua says
People who learn the same music theories write different songs, so do robots. Robots are rarely likely to replace human beings in the field of composition.
Jun 01, 2020 at 03:19 PM
Natalie (Small chance) says
Music would be awful of it was automated. Music requires feelings to be any good.
May 22, 2020 at 01:00 AM
Joel (No chance) says
Music, or the act of composing music, has no formula of equation to it. Music is the expression of one's emotions, often called the outburst of the soul. A robot or machine is literally incapable of having emotions or a soul, therefore a robot will never be able to replace a human composer.
Jun 26, 2019 at 03:40 AM
Jason (Highly likely) says
You are wrong. A big part of AI works by spotting patterns. Patterns is relatively simple given that there are only so many notes and scales in music. It can even come out with sounds that arent be able to be produced by normal instruments. AI can already write articles somewhat. They can already compose music (see link below). Playing music is trivial and doesnt even require AI. There are only 2 things that an AI may have trouble with.

1. Which is understanding which part of what they created did a human like and thus may have trouble using reinforced learning.

2. Lyrics have meaning behind the words. Its much more complex than just a melody. Its these lyrics and building melody in combination with lyrics which is going to be rather difficult but not impossible. Lyric writing is going to be one of the Last things AI will be able to do.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYb3Wimn01s
Sep 01, 2019 at 10:23 AM
Dylan Dukat says
I’ll raise you this. Music is a sphere of culture, and as such evolves with culture. Looking throughout music’s history, there are evident reasons why eras change, morph, and evolve. The role of composers is to create a unique voice that resonates with ever-shifting cultural trends. AI can easily analyze music and replicate its patterns, sure. But, that’s not really the foundation of music composition. I could, in writing a work, replicate the unique qualities of Shostakovich or Schoenberg. I could tell you all about how Shostakovich’s music was a rally against the USSR, and balanced nationalism with individualism and a rebellion against the machine. I could tell you how Shoenberg used serialism as a direct counter to Romanticism, and how he managed to create beautiful music mathematically. And I could produce similar work. But doing that without self-stylized inspiration… is it really writing music anymore? And could AI write music as a counter to a political movement while adhering to its demands? Or could it revolutionize an entire artistic culture? That’s the question that forms the crux of the counter.
Dec 03, 2019 at 06:49 PM
Anomius Maximus (No chance) says
No way a robot would have ever been able to create a song as great, innovative, inspiring and culture changing as the masterpiece that is known as 'All Star' by Smash Mouth.
Apr 29, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Matt says
:)
Apr 30, 2019 at 08:28 PM
Someone (Highly likely) says
Sad but very likely. Many projects (e.g. Jukedeck and Aiva) have already proven this by analyzing works made by humans and creating their own pieces.
Apr 26, 2019 at 06:54 PM
Nikola says
But just because a robot can "make" music or "write" a book, i.e. create a composite of what's already out there, it doesn't mean that these professions will be overtaken by AI. People gravitate towards works of art created by humans, because reading a good book or gives you insight into the mind of the person who created it, in addition to possibly being relatable to you on a personal level.

Art is deeply individual, both from the perspective of the artist and the consumer of art. I'd say it's very hard to imagine that any creative profession that's grounded in relaying the sensory, emotional, intellectual, and philosophical experiences of the world would ever cease to exist. People will always feel the need to tell stories and express themselves through art, and other people will always want to hear those stories and consume that art. It's because art gives more meaning to our lives. It elevates our experience of living to another level.

There's a difference between automating jobs like assembly line work or driving and automating creative work. The former can arguably be perfected through automation, while the latter becomes devoid of meaning through automation.

Only one way I can imagine this happening is if all humans cease to exist, and we're replaced by machines. But if that happens, I won't be around to care.
Jul 13, 2020 at 12:54 PM
Zaran Jathaul (No chance) says
You can't automate music. Unless it is dub step but even then people have to make that. After hundreds of years why has classical music always stayed popular? Because it is an advanced form of music that people understand once they get an advanced understanding of music and that is why people will always pay to see it live.
Apr 09, 2019 at 02:27 PM

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