Working Musicians: Labor and Creativity in Film and Television Production

Working Musicians by Timothy D. Taylor provides an inside look at the work of composers, music editors, orchestrators, recording engineers, and other music professionals who create music for films, television, and video games. Taylor explores how these cultural laborers have adapted to neoliberalism, with digital technologies accelerating production timelines and new pay schemes transforming composers from artists to managers and paymasters. As bureaucratization and commercialization affect all aspects of media, these workers face the same structural economic challenges as American society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

In his book, "Working Musicians," Timothy D. Taylor delves into the unseen world of the mostly unknown composers, music editors, orchestrators, recording engineers, and other professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to create music for films, television, and video games. Through dozens of in-depth interviews with music workers in Los Angeles, Taylor offers a captivating insight into the nature of their work and their understanding of their roles in the entertainment industry.

Taylor's exploration reveals how these cultural laborers have adapted to and navigated the challenging conditions of neoliberalism, as their working conditions have become increasingly precarious over the past decade. The advent of digital technologies has revolutionized the production process, accelerating timelines and altering the way content is delivered. At the same time, new pay schemes have emerged, transforming composers from artists into managers and paymasters.

Taylor's book demonstrates that as bureaucratization and commercialization permeate every aspect of media, the composers, musicians, music editors, engineers, and other individuals whose soundtracks captivate, inspire, and touch millions face the same structural economic challenges that have transformed American society. The concentration of wealth and power in fewer and fewer hands is a pressing concern, highlighting the need for greater equity and fairness in the music industry.

Through his compelling storytelling and insightful analysis, "Working Musicians" provides a valuable perspective on the labor of these creative professionals and sheds light on the importance of recognizing and valuing their contributions to the entertainment industry.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 156 x 232 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019879