School of Creative
Industries
BA(Hons) Arts Management
Digitalisation and its effects on the financial sustainability of emerging musicians in Singapore
The rise of digital technologies led by digitalisation has resulted in an emergence of a new ecology of musical consumption and platformisation. This has affected music distribution, which has since evolved from physical formats to digital ones.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated this phenomenon – prior to this, emerging musicians in Singapore were heavily reliant on live shows to keep them afloat. The shift to online avenues has disrupted the ecosystem of the music industry and how it operates, especially in terms of the revenue structures of the industry. This has resulted in musicians diversifying their activities online to be financially sustainable.
This research paper examines how digitalisation has affected musicians and the music business and aims to identify how emerging musicians in Singapore have adapted. This research employed the use of detailed interviews with emerging musicians in Singapore and thematic analysis to draw parallels between income generation via digital means and financial sustainability.
Keywords: digitalisation, platformisation, digital transformation, music industry
Subtopics: creative burnout, revenue streams for artists, transformation in music delivery
Nur Hasinah
Hasinah is a versatile producer and arts manager with over six years of experience in the creative industry. Tenacious and strategic by nature, she is able to face challenges head-on and has taken on a variety of roles in the fast-paced industries of marketing/PR, project and events management, as well as producing and artist management. Having led multiple large-scale international concerts in the roles of both marketing and event management, Hasinah‘s abilities to multitask and work under pressure are impeccable.
During her time at LASALLE College of the Arts, she has expanded her knowledge across several art forms and taken on the leadership role in the programming team for the inaugural virtual edition of ARTWALK Little India, working closely alongside artists to achieve their creative vision, while playing an integral role in the administrative and operational department.
Hasinah is highly passionate about the constantly evolving digital landscape and is determined to contribute towards the dynamic development and sustainability of artists in the digital age.