The Help Musicians organization recently conducted a study of 500 professional musicians in the UK, which shows the worrying reality of music creators in numbers. In addition to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit, the current cost explosion in particular is having devastating consequences: nearly half of respondents said they feared leaving the industry.
Covering the basic costs becomes problematic
98 percent of participants said in the study they were concerned about their income over the next six months. They could not say for sure whether they would be able to cover the costs of food and lodging.
The majority therefore fears going into debt in the coming months, as the financial situation is already strained due to the effects of the corona pandemic and can no longer be managed due to rising energy prices.
The labor cost problem
According to James Ainscough, CEO of Help Musicians, the current situation is leading to a “labour cost crisis” in the industry: Rising costs are affecting musicians’ careers to such an extent that 91% of scholars say they are currently they could not afford the purchases necessary for their jobs, such as equipment.
Brexit is part of the problem as it has created logistical hurdles to tour planning and is causing bottlenecks in equipment, staff and venues. In addition, persistent inflation and the energy crisis have driven up heating and fuel bills, making rehearsal rooms and concert drives more expensive to heat.
mental health impairment
Worries about career failure, the possibility of getting into debt due to higher costs and the fear of not having enough money for food or losing one’s home leave no marks on a person’s psyche, as the Help study also shows Musicians indicates:
68% of respondents say their mental health is worse than before the pandemic. 90 percent of participants also agree that their poor mental state affects their work.
support in difficult times
Help Musicians announces a number of additional support measures in response to the study findings. The charity wants to invest £8m in so-called ‘core areas’ to help British musicians build sustainable careers in the current challenging environment.
The organization also raises funds to defray the costs of performing and touring, offers business advice and mentoring from experienced industry professionals, as well as advice on debt management and financial crises, as well as helping artists create and market new music . Building a sustainable career is essential to reducing the need for short-term finance in the future.
