The music industry is one of the largest and most productive employment markets in the world, offering paid work to a vast array of practitioners. Much of the rapid development of the music industry has occurred in the last 25 years and is the result of the explosion of digital technology. In addition, many of the professional areas within music are traditional including teaching, conducting, music leadership and performing as a soloist, in a small group, orchestra or band. Church music is also a growing area and offers careers to many musicians.
Current careers for musicians can include studio music teacher, school music teacher, orchestral player, chamber musician, community musician, opera singer, music technologist, composer, arranger, song-writer, media producer, arts administrator, event manager, academic researcher, music librarian/archivist, sound engineer, sound artist, music journalist, session musician and more.