An international perspective on managing a career as a woman composer

Women composers are an under-studied population within the creative workforce. This study reports on 225 surveys with women composers internationally. Using a human capital lens, we aim to shed more light on the nature of women composers' careers and their career trajectories, focusing more specifically on the way they work, how they enter the industry, how they build a reputation, and how they support and sustain their careers. The survey consisted of mostly open-ended questions alongside selected closed questions; data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings highlight the composers' relationships with performers, the importance of networks and social capital, the role of social media and online presence, family support and external funding, and the prevalence of multiple roles due to changing career aspirations. Implications of these findings indicate a need to better prepare women for a career in music composition, the need for more grant and funding options, the need for composers to effectively use the online space to enhance visibility and find support and the need for a collaborative effort to reduce gender inequity in the industry.