Behind WEMUSIC, the umbrella organisation founded in 2025, are three established institutions in the Swiss music industry: Helvetiarockt, PETZI and the Academy of Contemporary Music Switzerland. WEMUSIC strives to serve as a home base “for organisations and individuals committed to promoting talent and amateur musicians in contemporary music.”
A brief historical overview
Work on the “Apprenticeship & Music” project has been underway for three years now, but its origins go back further.
In 2012, the federal government launched the “Jugend+Musik” funding programme, a counterpart to the better-known “Jugend+Sport”. Helvetiarockt was asked to design and oversee training modules for this programme.
However, Helvetiarockt realised that this was far removed from the organisation’s core mission, which advocates gender equality in the music industry. Consequently, plans to establish WEMUSIC were formalised.
Quickly put the Federal Certificate of Competence to rest
A gap was identified in the support and training for aspiring musicians aged 15 to 18. Whilst there are specific degree programmes at higher education institutions, such as universities, vocational apprenticeships leave little time to invest more intensively in musical development alongside vocational and educational training.
But as project manager Claudia Gfeller-Vonlanthen explained at m4music, the original idea of a Federal Certificate of Competence—in other words, a specific music apprenticeship—had to be shelved quickly. Discussions with various institutions revealed that the development would take more than six years and cost several hundred thousand Swiss Francs. Furthermore, vocational training is a matter for the cantons; in other words, a new vocational course must be accepted by all cantons.
At the same time, the realities of the music business clashed with the practicalities of vocational training: there are simply too few financial and time capacities available to offer training in cultural institutions, such as an alternative music club. Added to this are restrictions under employment law, particularly regarding working hours, which are strictly regulated for minors.
Inspired by Sports
However, to bridge this gap, attention once again turned to sports funding, particularly the “Sport-KV” scheme. This involves training as a commercial clerk; although the education lasts a year longer, it allows sufficient time to pursue a professional sporting career.
The same concept should now be applied to music. An official apprenticeship leading to a Federal Certificate of Competence, combined with practical basic training in music tailored to the needs of the sector. Upon completion, the latter leads to the “Music Industry Certificate”.
WEMUSIC outlined the key figures for “Apprenticeship & Music” as follows:
- 4 years of education
- 20 hours per week in an apprenticeship workplace
- 10 hours per week at a part-time school
- 10 hours of music per week
The music-specific education will also entail internships at music institutions. However, according to André Rossier of the Academy of Contemporary Music Switzerland, one challenge is integrating the students. Whilst well-established sports clubs have adequate infrastructure and organisational support, providing support for students in the music sector remains more difficult to organise.
A holistic approach to Music Industry Certificate
At the information session, WEMUSIC also provided a brief overview of the music-specific training programme. To meet the demands and needs of the music industry, three areas of competence will be covered:
- “Me as a musician” covers everything related to the craft of music, from creation to performance.
- “Me as an entrepreneur” teaches organisational, planning and marketing skills, which are just as essential for a career in music.
- “Me as a service provider” aims to teach the management of cultural and music projects.
The third area of competence, in particular, is designed to address the needs of the industry whilst also acknowledging the reality that very few musicians can make a living solely from music. Nevertheless, this focus on service skills is intended to open the door to employment in the music industry or the wider cultural sector.
Moving forward at a rapid pace
With this information event, WEMUSIC is now really entering the project’s critical phase. The search for funding organisations, companies offering the apprenticeship and sponsors is already underway. By April, the curriculum is set to include a qualification profile and key competencies. And by May, there should be 10–15 apprenticeship companies and 20–30 internship companies in place.
According to Claudia Gfeller-Vonlanthen, this is an ambitious target. The plan is for the concept to enter a pilot phase with apprentices in the Espace Mittelland as early as August 2027. To this end, an information event will take place on 22 April at the Education Centre for Business and Services in Bern.
