Artistic-professional strategies in music art scene in Barcelona. The case of modern music and jazz

The main objective pursued in this investigation, which is being developed as part of the doctoral studies in PhD program in Sociology (UB), is to analyse the creative and professional dynamic and the artistic-professional strategies and formulas undertaken by musicians of modern music and jazz living in Barcelona, as an exponent of the situation faced by musicians in developed societies, with working conditions often characterized by growing fragility and a digital transition that challenges the traditional creative practices. The study case is focused on musicians specialised in modern music and jazz that are professionals in the current art scene in Barcelona. Through this case, we will try to observe and discuss the existing professionalization processes and ways of transition between different stages of professionalism.

We would conceive strategies as those formulas of combined activities that will allow musicians to develop processes of managing creation and simultaneously managing processes related to more professional practice in the music sector. We are going to present different major areas in which musicians pass and develop them as professional strategies to sustain their career. For example, the role of teaching as a parallel activity to the music practice; all training and studies of technique that will determine the different valuation criteria established as a mean of recognition inside the group of professionals, and the multiactivity or multiple job, and therefore versatility and flexibility, considered as a form of optimization to reach the professionalism and stay active in it.