A New Understanding of Classical Musicians as Knowledge Workers and Their Knowledge Work in Society

This study aims to justify and suggest a new concept that the labour of classical musicians can be considered as knowledge workers in society. In other words, the study premises that classical musicians, who get jobs, make income, and produce outcome with their artistic and professional knowledge, can be considered as knowledge workers. It implies that classical musicians should be understood as artists, but also as workers who create cultural outcomes with artistic knowledge and have diverse roles in society. Based on this idea, the study investigates diverse literature review about general concept of knowledge and knowledge work in society, and compares them with concept of labor of artists, especially that of classical musicians to justify the main argument of this study. It shows that patterns of artistic labor of classical musicians are very similar to those of general knowledge workers. In conclusion, it finds out that classical musicians who work with their professional artistic knowledge can be considered as knowledge workers in society and implies that it should be covered how their knowledge works are protected in competitive social environment.