Call for applications: Field researchers at the Music In Africa Foundation

The MIAF is a pan-African, non-profit organisation based in Rosebank, Johannesburg, with satellite offices in East, West and Central Africa. The MIAF’s mission is to support the African music sector through promoting knowledge exchange and creating opportunities and capacity for music professionals. We do this in two ways: digitally via the Music In Africa website (www.musicinafrica.net) and offline through training programmes, artist mobility programmes, workshops, concerts, lobbying, conferences and other related initiatives.

The MIAF recently launched the Revenue Streams for African Musicians (RSFAM) project, a multifaceted initiative with an objective to help African music professionals earn more income from their works. The African music sector continues to be affected by a lack of reliable statistics and data that inform strategies and policies. As a result, many music practitioners on the continent are not able to fully monetise their works.

The pilot phase has been launched in South Africa. Over an 18-month period, the RSFAM project will collect and analyse big data on the earning trends of music professionals with a key goal to reduce the findings into definitive revenue models (based on their historical and current performance in different locations), provide industry reports, train musicians, disseminate educational content, and offer digital tools for identifying new revenue models. RSFAM will also advocate for the development of relevant legislation to support the music industry.

The objective of the field research is to gather and evaluate data related to revenue streams for musicians, i.e. income-generating activities pertaining to the South African music industry. The research will entail in-person interviews with musicians residing and/or operating at a local level in their geographical region.

Field researchers will be remunerated for their services and the MIAF will cover all relevant expenses such as travel and the necessary tools and equipment.

Every researcher will be expected to read and gain a full understanding of the key requirements of the project and their responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Conducting field research through online and in-person questionnaires, surveys, polls and interviews to gather data.
• Attending all required briefing and training sessions.
• Supporting the uploading of acquired data into an online database.
• Travel and work within allocated geographical zones (i.e. where the field researcher is based or within the designated research area).
• Recording findings onto the appropriate software.
• Submitting progress reports to management.
• Providing ongoing feedback to management with a view to improve field research methodology.
• Adhering to research deadlines.
• Strictly and respectfully following all COVID-19 prevention measures.

Skills and requirements

• Experience in research and data collection.
• Based in South Africa.
• Flexibility and ability to manage timetable and deadlines.
• Ability to travel by car or public transport.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the music industry.
• On-the-ground insights of the music industry within your geographical area.
• Good understanding of the music industry value chain.
• University enrolment or degree is advantageous, but understanding of local music industry is key.
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking similar assignments in the past.
• Proficiency in MS Office and technological aptitude in data-capturing devices (mobile, tablet and other recording media). Proficiency in video and sound recording is advantageous.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• Excellent written, verbal and telephonic communication skills.
• Proficiency in English.
• Ability to interpret target groups’ languages (according to regions) and transcribe findings in English. Bilingualism or multilingualism is therefore an advantage.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Self-disciplined with a strong sense of initiative.
• Ability to work independently.
• Honesty is key.

How to apply

This call is open to individuals and companies.

The deadline for all applications is 1 March 2021.

Individuals 

Prospective applicants are requested to submit the following to Jannike Bergh at jannike@musicinafrica.net:

• A detailed curriculum vitae.
• A cover letter (motivation) with an indication of the province(s) the applicant is able to cover.

Tertiary students with the required experience are also welcome to apply.

Companies

Companies are welcome to apply for a chance to run a part of the research or the whole research.

Companies must send the following in their application to Jannike Bergh at jannike@musicinafrica.net:

• Proposal (not more than five pages). Your proposal should articulate how you would implement the research, and the province(s) the company can cover while demonstrating the capacities in the company, expertise and other key aspects.
• Proof of previous research projects implemented successfully in the past five years.
• Company profile.
• Registration documents.

Visit the RSFAM website for more information.

The Music In Africa Revenue Streams for African Musicians project is supported by UNESCO’s International Fund for Cultural Diversity in the framework of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the Siemens Cents4Sense programme, Goethe-Institut, the National Arts Council of South Africa and Kaya FM. 

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