Will AI replace Music Directors and Composers?
Estimated risk score: 62 out of 100
Moderate replacement risk
Estimate from published task research, not reviewed by a person · how we estimate
Within about 19 points for 4 in 5 of the jobs we checked (43 to 81).
For the occupation as a whole, from ratings of its 30 O*NET tasks published in 2023 and calibrated to our hand scores. A specialty inside it can sit higher or lower.
O*NET-SOC 27-2041.00 · Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media
Tasks rated in 2023 as ones AI could do or speed up
Tasks a GPT-4-class model could do, or do in half the time or less: 17 of its 30 rated tasks; the first 6 are shown. In O*NET’s words.
- Apply elements of music theory to create musical and tonal structures, including harmonies and melodies.
- Arrange music composed by others, changing the music to achieve desired effects.
- Copy parts from scores for individual performers.
- Create original musical forms, or write within circumscribed musical forms such as sonatas, symphonies, or operas.
- Rewrite original musical scores in different musical styles by changing rhythms, harmonies, or tempos.
- Transcribe ideas for musical compositions into musical notation, using instruments, pen and paper, or computers.
Tasks rated in 2023 as not sped up by AI
Tasks such a model was rated as not speeding up or taking over: 3 of its 30 rated tasks. In O*NET’s words.
- Use gestures to shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects.
- Audition and select performers for musical presentations.
- Meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances.
What the job is
Conduct, direct, plan, and lead instrumental or vocal performances by musical artists or groups, such as orchestras, bands, choirs, and glee clubs; or create original works of music.
Also called: Choir Director, Music Composer, Music Director, Maestro, Conceptor, Band Leader, Band Master, Choirmaster.
Closest jobs we score by hand
In the same field (Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media). Different jobs, each scored by a person.
Source. This site includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. (O*NET, CC BY 4.0.) Task ratings: Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock (2023), “GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models”, data used under the MIT licence (licence texts). Our change: we averaged the ratings over this occupation’s tasks and calibrated them to our 0–100 scale. It is not a prediction about any one person and not career advice. Disagree? Write to hello@yourstopwashit.com. How we estimate