A report that looks at the state of independent music makers’ … · 2019-07-09 · music makers that are suffering from mental illness. To investigate our thesis, we have asked

The 73 Percent Report 1Record Union

A report that looks at the state of independent music makers’ mental health and wellbeing.

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o: H

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Table of contentsA word from our CEONegative emotions and music creationSeeking treatment and self-medicationOpenness around mental healthMental health creates worryPrioritization of mental healthThe music industry and mental health

This report is based on a study comprising 1 489 independent music makers. Their answers were conducted by a web survey between the 21st of March and 2nd of April 2019.


Record Union has helped independent music makers to release their music to the world for more than ten years. By providing digital music distribution we are aiming at strengthening the independent music community and making the music industry more democratic, accessible and transparent for the many, not just the few.

To stay up to date on what is happening within the industry, we are continuously researching our field. Something that has been bothering us for a long time is what seems to be an increasing amount of music makers that are suffering from mental illness. To investigate our thesis, we have asked almost 1 500 independent music makers about their mental health and wellbeing and the results are disheartening.

More than seven out of ten (73%) independent music makers said that they have experienced negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to their music creation. Out of those, as many as one out of three (33%) said that they have experienced panic attacks.

Only one out of five (19%) said that they think the music industry is working to create a sustainable climate with healthy artists. The rest we asked: What do you think the music industry could do more of to create a sustainable music climate with healthy artists? We got almost a thousand open answers – some of them you can read throughout this report.

Other conclusions that could be drawn from the results are that there is still a taboo around mental illness within the music industry and that many independent music makers are suffering from loneliness and destructive behaviour.

Something needs to change and it is time to put the state of our artists’ mental health on the agenda, before streams and commercial success. We as an industry must wake up and ask ourselves: What is our responsibility in all this and what can we do to create a healthier music climate?

Johan SvanbergCEO of Record Union

A word from our CEO


- Independent music maker

Phot

o: A

lexe

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ban

”There needs to be a culture change, of art

before profit, of encouraging variety, of

benevolence, of selflessness. Feeding

cultural diversity is good for everyone,

but putting money first starves the industry

of flames, of diversity and sustainability.”


Negative emotions andChapter 1

music creation

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lavi

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aspe

riniF

ollo

w


73%

I don’t know I don’t want to say Yes No

5% 1% 73% 21%

Have you ever experienced any negative emotions such as stress,anxiety and/or depression in relation to your music creation?

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Many artists sufferfrom mental illnessMore than seven out of ten (73%) independent music makers said that they have experienced negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to their music creation.

Negative emotions and music creation


80%

20%14%No Yes

76%80% 28% 47% 21%69% 49% 73%

18–25 Years 26–35 Years 36–45 Years 46+ Years Total

No No No NoYes Yes Yes Yes

Have you ever experienced any negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to your music creation?

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Younger artists suffer moreThe number is even higher among younger artists. As many as four out of five (80%) among the respondents in the age of 18-25 said that they have experienced negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to their music creation.



73%

73% 54% 66% 69% 33%

Anxiety Negative pressure Negative stress Depression Panic attacks

Which of the following symptomshave you been experiencing?

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Ans

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Panic attacks are not unusualAnxiety and depression top the list of symptoms, but as many as one out of three (33%) respondents that said that they have experienced negative emotions in relation to their music creation, said that they have experienced panic attacks.



”Consider musicianship a jobthat is deserving of salarybenefits just like the people thatrun the industry. Would be coolif the people that fueled the industry

with their art were taken care of.”


Phot

o: W

es H

icks- Independent music maker


67%

Fear

of f

ailu

re

Fina

ncia

l ins

tabi

lity

Lone

lines

s

Bein

g ev

alua

ted

by o

ther

s

Pres

sure

to d

eliv

er

Pres

sure

to s

ucce

ed

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

67% 59% 58% 51% 44% 40% 6% 1%

Why do you think you haveexperienced those symptoms?

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1 084

Ans

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s

Main drivers behindnegative emotionsFear of failure and financial instability were the two most common explanations of why independent music makers think that they have experienced symptoms such as anxiety, depression and panic attacks. Pressure to succeed, loneliness and being evaluated by others were also common.



Seeking treatmentand self-medication

Chapter 2

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o: A

my

Hum

phrie

s


60%

4% 2% 3% 1% 4%3% 1% 2% 0% 2%60% 50% 50% 52% 55%


I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

No No No No NoYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

33% 47% 46% 47% 39%

Have you been seeking treatment forany of those symptoms?

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1 084

Ans

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s

Younger artists least likelyto seek treatmentOnly two out of five (39%) independent music makers, that said that they have experienced negative emotions in relation to their music creation, said that they have been seeking treatment for their symptoms. The youngest respondents were those least likely to have been seeking treatment – only one out of three (33%) in the age of 18-25 claimed to have done so.

12Seeking treatment and self-medication


artists, they go into it alltoo deep and come out fucked.”

Seeking treatment and self-medication

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icha

el D

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nza


this big party lifestyle for new”Quit glamorizing drugs and


84%

Have you talked to a professionalabout your symptoms?

0,5% 0,2% 15,3% 84%

I don’t know I don’t want to say No Yes

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425

Answ

ers

Many have seena professionalOf those who have been seeking treatment, more than eight out of ten (84%) said that they have been talking to a professional about their symptoms.



51%

Have you ever self-medicated due to negative emotions such as stress, anxiety and/or depression in relation to your music creation?

5% 1% 42% 51%

I don’t know I don’t want to say No Yes

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1 084

Ans

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s

Self-medication usedas alternative treatmentAbout one out of two (51%) of the respondents, that said that they have experienced negative emotions in relation to their music creation, claimed to have self-medicated due to their symptoms.



”Stop entertaining tragic anddestructive lifestyle choices from artists and raise the standard of not ’how to make music’ but also

always replicate what they see.” ’how to be a musician’. People will


Phot

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he N

igm

atic



54%

In what way have you self-medicated?

54% 50% 32% 13% 6%

Alcohol Drugs Prescription drugs Other substances I don’t want to say

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555

Answ

ers

Alcohol and drugs mostly usedThose who said that they have self-medicated were most likely to have done so through the use of alcohol (54%) and drugs (50%).

17Seeking treatment and self-medication


Openness aroundChapter 3

mental health

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ntho

ny C

antin


74%


4% 2% 1% 4% 3%1% 1% 0% 0% 1%37%

24%

25%

22%

31%

58%

72%

74%

74%

65%

Do you talk to the people around you about mental health and wellbeing?

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

No No No No NoYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

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1 084

Ans

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s

Younger artists least likely totalk about their mental healthThose who said that they have experienced negative emotions in relation to their music creation were fairly likely to talk about mental health and wellbeing with the people around them, although it differed between ages. The numbers were the lowest among independent music makers in the age of 18-25 (58%) and highest among those older than 36 (74%).

19Openness around mental health

The 73 Percent Report 20Record Union Openness around mental health

to tackle them and how to best go about having a good healthy music career.”

Phot

o: C

had

Kirc

hoff


world on awareness concerning health,

”I think the best way the industry can

stress and other factors and ways

work at creating a sustainable healthy industry is by setting workshops with recognized record labels around the


90%

Who do you talk to?

90% 64% 31% 6% 6% 3% 2%

Clo

se fr

iend

s

Fam

ily m

embe

rs

Band

mem

bers

Man

ager

Mem

bers

in fo

rum

s

Reco

rd la

bel o

wne

r

A&R

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Answ

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Artists rather talk to privatethan professional contactsThose that were likely to talk about their mental health and wellbeing preferred to do this with private rather than professional contacts. Of the independent music makers who did talk to the people around them, nine out of ten (90%) claimed to talk to close friends and three out of five (64%) to family members, whereas only one out of three (31%) claimed to talk to band members and not even one out of ten (6%) to their manager.



41%

Why is that so?

41% 33% 29% 21% 19% 15% 6%

I don

’t w

ant t

o sh

are

my

thou

ghts

with

oth

ers

Emba

rras

smen

t

Stig

mat

izat

ion

I don

’t ha

ve a

nyon

e to

talk

to

I’m n

ot re

ady

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

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377

Answ

ers

Loneliness a reason whyartists do not talkThose who did not talk about their mental health and wellbeing did not do so mainly because they do not want to share their thoughts with other (41%). As many as one out of three (29%) said that they did not talk about their mental health and wellbeing because they do not have anyone to talk to.



Mental healthcreates worry

Chapter 4

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d C

isne

ros


61%

18–25 Years

Do you worry about yourmental health and wellbeing?

12%

8% 7% 3% 9%26%

31%

41%

53%

33%

1% 1% 1% 1% 1%61%

60%

52%

43%

57%

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

No No No No NoI don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

26–35 Years 36–45 Years 46+ Years Total

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Younger artists worry moreAlmost three out of five (57%) of the respondents said that they worry about their mental health and wellbeing. Younger artists in the age of 18-25 were even more likely to worry (61%).

24Mental health creates worry


”I think if we redefined what it meansto be successful and made it easierfor musicians to make moneydoing what they love we would seea mentally healthier world of creators.”

Mental health creates worry

Phot

o: Jo

ao S

ilas- Independent music maker


41%

16% 41% 17% 13% 10% 3%

Arou

nd o

nce

a da

y

Seve

ral t

imes

a d

ay

Seve

ral t

imes

a w

eek

Seve

ral t

imes

a m

onth

Less

than

mon

thly

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

How often do you worry?

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847

Answ

ers

Some artists worry everydayThere is no clear pattern in how often independent music makers worry, however two out of five (41%) claimed to worry several times per day.



67%

67% 60% 55% 42% 40% 38% 8% 7% 3%

Fear

of f

ailu

re

Fina

ncia

l ins

tabi

lity

Pres

sure

to s

ucce

ed

Pres

sure

to d

eliv

er

Bein

g ev

alua

ted

by o

ther

s

Lone

lines

s

Subs

tanc

e ab

use

Alco

hol a

buse

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

Which of the following aspects do you worry about in relation to your music creation?

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ecor

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847

Answ

ers

Failure and moneymain reasons to worryFear of failure and financial instability were the two major drivers behind the respondents’ worries.



Prioritization ofmental health

Chapter 5

Phot

o: Ia

n Sc

hnei

der


78%

18–25 Years

Do you prioritize your mental health and wellbeing?

18%

13%

12%

9% 15%

30%

24%

16%

12%

25%

1% 1% 1% 1% 1%51%

62%

72%

78%

59%

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

No No No No NoI don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

26–35 Years 36–45 Years 46+ Years Total

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More prioritizedamong older artistsOnly one out of two (51%) of the respondents in the age of 18-25 said that they prioritize their mental health and wellbeing, while more than three out of four (78%) in the age of 46 or higher said the same.

29Prioritization of mental health

The 73 Percent Report 30Record Union Prioritization of mental health

The negative content in music has an effect People are concerned with what sells, ratheron the life of the artist because they tend than what is good for artists and society,

”Lead people on a more positive and diseases, immortality, objectifying women,

to live out what they speak, such as drugs, and so they contribute to the degradation of

sustainable path. There is a demand and violence etc. But this is often what labels

adultery, fornication which can lead to youth and adult morality.”

a push for a negative lifestyle expression. and big shots want out because it sells.

Phot

o: A

ustin

Nei

ll- Independent music maker


63%

How do you do this?What would you like to invest more time into?

49%

45%

12%

36%

13%

9% 60%

39%

54%

51%

47%

63%

19%

43%

23%

14%

31%

12%

4% 34%

24%

32%

30%

23%

19%

13%

Wor

king

out

Taki

ng w

alks

Prac

ticin

g yo

ga

Med

itatin

g

Keep

ing

a di

ary

Usin

g he

alth

tech

Surr

ound

ing

mys

elf w

ith p

ositi

ve p

eopl

e

Taki

ng p

ause

s fr

om s

ocia

l med

ia

Hav

ing

enou

gh s

leep

Eatin

g w

ell

Refl e

ctin

g on

my

wor

k

Bein

g aw

are

of m

y fe

elin

gs a

nd m

enta

l sta

te

Seei

ng a

psy

chol

ogis

t or t

hera

pist

How do you do this What would you like to invest more time into?

48%

22%

Tryi

ng to

fi nd

bal

ance

bet

wee

n pr

ofes

sion

al a

nd p

rivat

e lif

e

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881 A

nsw

ers

Awareness of feelingsand positive peopleOf those who claimed to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing, more than three out of five (63%) said that they do so by being aware of their feelings and mental state. Three out of five (60%) said that they do so by surrounding themselves with positive people.



74%

21% 9% 27% 21% 19%2% 1% 0% 6% 2%12% 15% 23% 18% 16%


I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

No No No No NoYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

65% 74% 50% 55% 63%

Would you like to prioritize your mental health and wellbeing more than you are doing today?

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Answ

ers

Many want to prioritizemental health moreOut of those who claimed not to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing, more than three out of five (63%) said that they would like to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing more.


The 73 Percent Report 33Record Union Prioritization of mental health

Phot

o: F

inn

gros

s M

aure

r


”Don’t stress everyone to be artists.

Many musicians just want to play and don’t

want to be in the middle of attention.”


63%

What would you like to focus more on?

55% 61% 15%63%17% 35% 34%29% 39%41% 59%8% 53%

Wor

king

out

Taki

ng w

alks

Prac

ticin

g yo

ga

Med

itatin

g

Keep

ing

a di

ary

Usin

g he

alth

tech

Surr

ound

ing

mys

elf w

ith p

ositi

ve p

eopl

e

Taki

ng p

ause

s fr

om s

ocia

l med

ia

Hav

ing

enou

gh s

leep

Eatin

g w

ell

Refl e

ctin

g on

my

wor

k

Bein

g aw

are

of m

y fe

elin

gs a

nd m

enta

l sta

te

Seei

ng a

psy

chol

ogis

t or t

hera

pist

43%

Tryi

ng to

fi nd

bal

ance

bet

wee

n pr

ofes

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al a

nd p

rivat

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e

Sour

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383

Answ

ers

The need for basic thingsThose who said that they would like to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing more, would preferably do so by working out, having enough sleep, eating well and surrounding themselves with positive people.



The music industry andmental health

Chapter 6

Phot

o: A

na G

rave


57%

31% 26% 34% 32% 30%1% 1% 2% 1% 1%46% 57% 52% 54% 50%


I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t kn

ow

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

I don

’t w

ant t

o sa

y

No No No No NoYes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

22% 16% 12% 13% 19%

Do you think the music industry is working to create a sustainable music climate with healthy artists?

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The industry could do moreOnly one out of five (19%) said that the music industry is working to create a sustainable music climate with healthy artists.

36The music industry and mental health


people who are quick to noticeany of the aforementioned symptoms.”

The music industry and mental health

they were human beings withfeelings. Regular check-ups and

”Stop treating artists as products100% of the time and talk to them like

Phot

o: H

anny

Nai

baho


The 73 Percent ReportRecord Union Record Union

Liberating music since 2008www.recordunion.com

Contact

Helena AruPR & Communications [email protected]+46 709 18 95 01

Documents

A report that looks at the state of independent music makers’ … · 2019-07-09 · music makers that are suffering from mental illness. To investigate our thesis, we have asked