Independents under pressure
Social networking and streaming services have considerably increased the emotional and mental pressure on independent artists.
According to industry insiders, in recent years concert organizers and labels have been increasingly faced with short-term cancellations of concerts and production dates. The reasons for this appear to be psychological and psychosomatic illnesses. Independent musicians, in particular, are feeling much greater pressure to take on tasks such as marketing themselves, which used to be handled by labels and agencies. They are now expected to have a constant presence on social networks and to build up their own fan base. On the other hand, their former sources of income - audio sales and concert fees - have diminished considerably. And now, with the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the production of utility music, the suppression of other sources of income also threatens.
In a study carried out in 2016, before the coronavirus pandemic, the British musicians' union Musicians' Union (UM) had already found that over two-thirds of the self-employed suffered from anxiety and depression, three times more than the average population. In response, it has published a guide for the self-employed to help them consciously manage today's mental and emotional challenges.
The guide is available on the Internet by searching for "A-Young-Freelancers-Guide-to-Mental-Health-and-the-Music-Industry.pdf".
