You have the government subsidised orchestras, and there might be a handful of session musicians. But that is playing other people’s music.
As for original music, orchestral composers probably have to battle it out amongst each other for government grants like artists do. Pop/rock would probably need more than one hit song per year.
Even in Europe or USA I suspect it would be almost impossible to live off recorded music alone. At least there is the population density for a few musicians to make a living off touring feasible but I haven’t heard any of them in interviews speak well of that option.
Do you mean musicians being able to survive on making music generally?
Yes, solely on music. In Australia it is rare.
You have the government subsidised orchestras, and there might be a handful of session musicians. But that is playing other people’s music.
As for original music, orchestral composers probably have to battle it out amongst each other for government grants like artists do. Pop/rock would probably need more than one hit song per year.
Even in Europe or USA I suspect it would be almost impossible to live off recorded music alone. At least there is the population density for a few musicians to make a living off touring feasible but I haven’t heard any of them in interviews speak well of that option.