Musicians and Singers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

O*NET-SOC code: 27-2042.00

Play one or more musical instruments or sing. May perform on stage, for broadcasting, or for sound or video recording.

Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Moderate· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery high
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
Source dataset (XLSX download)
Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.000
0.000Range of values carried here0.745
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
Source dataset (CSV download)
Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.28
0.09Range of values carried here0.70
Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
Source dataset (PDF download)

What kind of figure this source publishes

The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.

Task-level exposure

Show 23 hidden tasks

30 rated tasks · 18 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (60.0%)

β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.

Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
4 rated tasks are not in the O*NET 31.0 task list; their scores are kept as published for O*NET 27.2.

Source: OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
Release: gh-main-0471612
License: MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI

Tasks of O*NET-SOC 2010 occupations 27-2042.01 Singers; 27-2042.02 Musicians, Instrumental, linked to this occupation by the O*NET-SOC 2010 to 2019 crosswalk

Task (O*NET 20.1)	Claude.aiRaw / share %	APIRaw / share %
Compose original music such as popular songs, symphonies, or sonatas. 27-2042.02	0.006852.0	0.006948.9
Compose songs or create vocal arrangements. 27-2042.01	0.002619.7	—0
Research particular roles to find out more about a character, or the time and place in which a piece is set. 27-2042.01	0.002015.0	—0
Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording. 27-2042.01	0.001813.4	—0
Perform before live audiences, or in television, radio, or movie productions.	—0	0.007251.1

Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.

Task (O*NET 27.2)	βE1 + 0.5 × E2
Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest. O*NET Task ID 22576	1.0
Memorize musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions. O*NET Task ID 22580	1.0
Play from memory or by following scores. O*NET Task ID 22583	1.0
Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording. O*NET Task ID 22589	1.0
Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes. O*NET Task ID 22595	1.0
Compose songs or create vocal arrangements. O*NET Task ID 22597	1.0
Arrange and edit music to fit style and purpose. O*NET Task ID 22598	1.0
Improvise music during performances. O*NET Task ID 22599	1.0
Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment. O*NET Task ID 22575	0.5
Teach music for specific instruments. O*NET Task ID 22586	0.5
Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets. O*NET Task ID 22587	0.5
Make or participate in recordings in music studios. O*NET Task ID 22590	0.5
Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities. O*NET Task ID 22591	0.5
Make or participate in recordings. O*NET Task ID 22592	0.5
Research particular roles to find out more about a character, or the time and place in which a piece is set. O*NET Task ID 22593	0.5
Collaborate with a manager or agent who handles administrative details, finds work, and negotiates contracts. O*NET Task ID 22600	0.5
Compose original music, such as popular songs, symphonies, or sonatas. O*NET Task ID 22601	0.5
Perform in television, radio, or movie productions. O*NET Task ID 22602	0.5
Show 8 more tasks ▾Show less ▴

β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.

Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page

All O*NET 31.0 task statements (26)

All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.

Task (O*NET 31.0)	Type
Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.	Core
Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.	Core
Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.	Core
Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.	Core
Play from memory or by following scores.	Core
Listen to recordings to master pieces or to maintain and improve skills.	Core
Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.	Core
Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording.	Core
Make or participate in recordings in music studios.	Core
Make or participate in recordings.	Core
Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.	Core
Sing a cappella or with musical accompaniment.	Supplemental
Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.	Supplemental
Sing as a soloist or as a member of a vocal group.	Supplemental
Observe choral leaders or prompters for cues or directions in vocal presentation.	Supplemental
Memorize musical selections and routines, or sing following printed text, musical notation, or customer instructions.	Supplemental
Practice singing exercises and study with vocal coaches to develop voice and skills and to rehearse for upcoming roles.	Supplemental
Teach music for specific instruments.	Supplemental
Audition for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.	Supplemental
Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.	Supplemental
Research particular roles to find out more about a character, or the time and place in which a piece is set.	Supplemental
Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes.	Supplemental
Arrange and edit music to fit style and purpose.	Supplemental
Improvise music during performances.	Supplemental
Collaborate with a manager or agent who handles administrative details, finds work, and negotiates contracts.	Supplemental
Perform in television, radio, or movie productions.	Supplemental

Anthropic, "What work can robots do?"2026-09

0.19/ 3· Robot exposure index

0 none3 unstructured settings

Scale, basis and source

Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time

Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks

Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.

Source dataset

The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.

Tier of each physical task

Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)

E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site

Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.

Task (O*NET 29.3)	Robot environment tier
Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.	E0 none
Interpret or modify music, applying knowledge of harmony, melody, rhythm, and voice production to individualize presentations and maintain audience interest.	E0 none
Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.	E0 none
Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.	E0 none
Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.	E0 none
Play from memory or by following scores.	E0 none
Practice singing exercises and study with vocal coaches to develop voice and skills and to rehearse for upcoming roles.	E0 none
Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.	E0 none
Audition for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.	E0 none
Seek out and learn new music suitable for live performance or recording.	E0 none
Make or participate in recordings in music studios.	E0 none
Make or participate in recordings.	E0 none
Learn acting, dancing, and other skills required for dramatic singing roles.	E0 none
Improvise music during performances.	E2 structured facilities
Perform in television, radio, or movie productions.	E0 none
Practice performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.	E1 purpose-built robot settings

Employment outlook (BLS)

Employment, 2025: 170K
Projected employment, 2035: 171K
Change (2025–35): +0.3%
Median annual wage, 2025: not published
Typical education needed for entry: No formal educational credential

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 — Employment by detailed occupation, 2025 and projected 2035

Korea classification links (KSCO)

Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.

KSCO code	KSCO title	Relation	Status
29441	국악인	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29442	국악 연주가	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29453	연주가	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29461	가수	This occupation is broader	confirmed
29462	성악가	This occupation is broader	confirmed

Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)

ILO occupational description

AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.

ISCO-08 2652Musicians, Singers and Composers

The definition, tasks and examples below are the ILO's description of that unit group, not of this occupation.

Musicians, singers and composers write, arrange, conduct and perform musical compositions.

Tasks

(a) creating melodic, harmonic and rhythmic structures to express ideas and emotions in musical form;
(b) translating ideas and concepts into standard musical signs and symbols for reproduction and performance;
(c) adapting or arranging music for particular instrumental or vocal groups, instruments or occasions;
(d) conducting instrumental or vocal groups;
(e) selecting music for performances and assigning instrumental parts to musicians;
(f) playing one or more musical instruments as a soloist or as a member of an orchestra or a musical group;
(g) singing as soloists or members of vocal groups or other bands;
(h) practising and rehearsing to maintain a high standard of performance.

Example occupations

Band leader · Composer · Instrumentalist · Music conductor · Night club musician · Night club singer · Orchestrator · Singer · Street musician · Street singer

Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits

ESCO occupational vocabulary

Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.

variety artistESCO 2659.2.6This occupation is narrower
Variety artists are multi-disciplinary artists who master in at least two of the following disciplines: comedy, dance, singing, circus arts, object manipulation and illusionism. They perform solo or collectively, may appear in music variety shows, cabaret, musicals and other entertainment events. Their artistic performance is characterised by the blending of arts, styles and disciplines.
musicianESCO 2652.3This occupation is broader
Musicians perform a vocal or musical part that can be recorded or played for an audience. They have know-how and practice of one or many instruments or using their voice. The musician can also write and transcribe music.
singerESCO 2652.3.2This occupation is broader
Singers are professional musicians, skilled in the use of their voice as a musical instrument, with different vocal ranges. They perform for live audiences and for recordings in different musical genres.

Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)

License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)

View original

ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.

France classification links (ROME)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.

ROME code	ROME title (French)	Relation
L1202	Musicien / Musicienne	This occupation is broaderprovisional
L1212	Chanteur / Chanteuse	This occupation is broaderprovisional
L1205	Artiste-interprète	Related, not a matchprovisional

Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.

ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)

Spain classification links (CNO-11)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

CNO-11 code	CNO-11 title (Spanish)	Relation
2932	Compositores, músicos y cantantes	Same scopeprovisional

Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)

Germany classification links (KldB)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

KldB code	KldB title (German)	Relation
94114	Musiker/innen - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broader
94124	Sänger/innen - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broader
94184	Musik-, Gesangs- und Dirigententätigkeiten (sonstige spezifische Tätigkeitsangabe) - hoch komplexe Tätigkeiten	This occupation is broaderprovisional

Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)

Japan classification links (JSCO)

AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.

JSCO code	JSCO title (Japanese)	Relation
231	音楽家	Same scopeprovisional

Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.

(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)

Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources