Want to be really serious about music? Study it.
As a Music Academic, you'll have the chance to research music, develop theories and educate the world at large about the cultural and artistic importance of music.
In short - there's a good chance you'll get respect.
If that takes your fancy, why not sign up for a Doctor of Creative Arts (DCA), PhD or Master's Degree. All sub-major units and Musicology units are recommended as well as completing the Honours' strand in 4th year.
As a result, you could end up as a musicologist, traditional composer, multi-media composer, electronic musician, lecturer, performer or an authority on all of the above.