Work satisfaction and job permanence in artistic careers: the case of musicians in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Working conditions of musicians are marked by several specific characteristics that differ the occupation from most others in the labor market. For instance, non-pecuniary aspects of the profession may have a greater influence on the individuals who pursue musical activities than in most other occupations. Moreover, musicians are more susceptible to uncertainties in the short run and regarding the duration of their careers. Besides, informality and underemployment rates tend to be higher in the music industry when compared to the rest of the labor market. This paper aims to better understand musician’s labor market participation using primary data. We conducted an online survey between February and December 2020, gathering data about working conditions, in particular job satisfaction and turnover, with all the musicians from Belo Horizonte who were registered and not were registered in musician’s association. Belo Horizonte is known as a unique city and a highly heterogeneous environment for the development of the music industry. Thus, using work satisfaction indicators and Kaplan–Meier survival model, controlled by personal and work-position variables, this study highlights that most musicians were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their work. However, satisfaction was positively correlated with the following characteristics: being protected by social security, having a music career as main occupation, and holding a degree in music. These traits were also important for musicians to remain in the occupation throughout 2020, an atypical period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.