On December 5, 2024, the Bulgarian Music Association (BMA), with the support of PROFON, presented shocking results of a two-year study entitled “Mapping the Music Sector in Bulgaria”.

The project is part of the BMA’s sectoral initiatives and reveals critical issues that confront professional musicians in the country with serious economic and social challenges. It also systematizes data on stage spaces, festivals and funding programs that can be useful for the professional development of musicians.

Among the most alarming conclusions of the research is the fact that the majority of Bulgarian musicians receive monthly salaries between 1,000 and 1,500 BGN, despite their extensive education and professional experience that exceeds 20 years. This highlights the serious socio-economic instability of the sector and the need for urgent legislative changes. Main results and conclusions:

• Low income of musicians: the majority of musicians in Bulgaria receive a monthly salary of between 1000 and 1500 BGN, with the majority of them being freelancers, developing their main concert activity.
• Insufficient educational and legal knowledge: Musicians experience serious deficits in understanding the tax and social security system and copyright, which limit their professional sustainability.
• Lack of international mobility: Many Bulgarian musicians do not have the means to participate in an international event, which hinders their global competitiveness.
• Educational deficits: Although 80% of active musicians have a professional music education, there is a serious need to update curricula and integrate business modules into them.
• A large part of the stage spaces in the country are located in community centers, and the material base and technical equipment are outdated and depreciated.

As part of the project, the Bulgarian Music Association has created the mobile application “Musical Guide to Stage Spaces in Bulgaria”, which will be available for free download from January. It contains information about all established music spaces in the country, including what the conditions for their use are. The application is very useful for musicians and event organizers, because it helps them easily find places for concerts and plan their events.

All spaces with live music stages can be included absolutely free of charge in the new mobile application, with an integrated event calendar, by filling out the following survey here.

This application is an important assistant for everyone working in the music field, and helps to fully utilize the available infrastructure in Bulgaria.

The study “Mapping the Music Sector in Bulgaria” highlights the need for a comprehensive strategy to support the music sector, including legislative changes to regulate the status of musicians, as well as the creation of stable and sustainable financial and social conditions. The Bulgarian Music Association insists on the creation of specialized financing instruments, improving infrastructure, and supporting the development of musicians in the country.

The BMA plans to continue its work on the study of the music sector. This includes studies on the technical condition and equipment of public sector stage spaces, as well as their staffing needs and marketing strategies, in partnership with the Union of Artists in Bulgaria. 

The Bulgarian Music Association calls on institutions and the cultural sector to join forces for the sustainable development of the music sector in Bulgaria. In this context, the project “Mapping the Music Sector in Bulgaria” and the new mobile application “Music Guide to Stage Spaces in Bulgaria” are important steps towards resolving these challenges.

You can read the full report and its conclusions here.