John Pippen’s research examines how race and class shape labor dynamics within Chicago’s new music ensembles. Building on prior fieldwork and existing studies of the profession, he anticipated that most musicians and employees in these innovative ensembles would come from predominantly white, middle- to upper-class backgrounds. His project challenges merit-based narratives often found in arts entrepreneurship and instead highlights how structural inequalities influence access and success in the field. By conducting a detailed survey with around sixty participants, Pippen collected data on race, income, education, and familial background to better understand “portfolio careers” in the creative sector. Collaborating with the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRISS) at Colorado State University, he designed a mixed-methods study to analyze patterns of identity and labor. His work contributes a more nuanced perspective on how social markers affect professional experiences in new music and connects these findings to broader trends in cultural labor and the global economy.