Survey of

musicians completed

It was pretty high on our wish list: to conduct research into what musicians really need right now. How are professional musicians faring these days? Do they need extra support, and in what areas? The Musical Instrument Fund wanted to gain a better understanding of musicians’ needs.

News

21 March 2022 by Manon Veenendaal

The Musical Instrument Fund was connected by the Impact Matters Foundation to the market research firm Motivaction, which conducted this study pro bono in the fall of 2021. The main question was what musicians’ needs are and to what extent the Musical Instrument Fund is able to tailor its services to meet those needs.

Positive

We are very pleased with the positive rating we received—an 8.7, which is a high score! This is a wonderful result, one we certainly didn’t expect. There is a lot of praise for the NMF and for what the fund does, from both current and former borrowers. It stands to reason that, alongside all that praise, there are of course also areas for improvement.

Sharp

The report provides a wealth of information that can make each of us feel personally affected. That keeps us on our toes. In response to the report, the Musical Instrument Fund doesn’t need to make any drastic policy changes, but we wouldn’t be the Musical Instrument Fund if we didn’t get to work on the areas for improvement!

General Recommendations

There is certainly room for improvement. That’s good, because it gives us a roadmap for the future. Improvements could be made in the following areas:

the loan fee that musicians must pay (which is perceived as too high);
our communication;
the opportunities offered by the Musical Instrument Fund for musicians to gain more visibility.

Satisfaction with Services

We are valued for the essence of what we do: providing top-quality instruments. The main reason people use our services is the quality of the instruments.

The main reason people don't use our services is that they're simply satisfied with their own instrument.

Expansion of Services

The study shows that musicians see opportunities for additional services. The Musical Instrument Fund is increasingly viewed as a platform where knowledge and networking come together. A “community” where musicians can connect with one another would align well with our role, our services, and the personal bond we share with our members. This need may be even more relevant today than ever before.

In addition, we’re seeing a demand for training, coaching, and consulting. This aligns with the growing need during the pandemic to develop oneself in a broader sense. People are more focused on self-development, continuing education, and deepening their knowledge, and this will certainly be important for musicians. For the Musical Instrument Fund, there are therefore opportunities in the areas of education and consulting, with a particular focus on personal development and non-musical aspects (such as ownership, leadership, marketing, photography, and entrepreneurship). The Musical Instrument Fund could play a valuable role in this, as we have a broad network and a wealth of knowledge.

One key recommendation is to organize more concerts, create performance opportunities, and help musicians gain exposure.

The pandemic

The pandemic has affected musicians’ work in both positive and negative ways. Other aspects of musicians’ lives have received a boost, such as personal development, but, unsurprisingly, visibility, income, and employment have suffered. According to the musicians, creativity has actually been positively affected.