Not a 9 to 5: The Benefits and Drawbacks of Pursuing a Career as a Musician

Mental health is a major problem within the music industry. Professional musicians report higher rates of mental illness (e.g., mood disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, increased suicidality) than the general population. While this is not caused by pursuing music as a career, numerous stressors that musicians experience exacerbate this relationship. Musicians experience great financial insecurity, relational sacrifices, difficulties feeling in control, difficulties being objectified, touring stressors, and pressures to use substances. However, musicians also report positive mental health and flourishing; notably, they report eudaimonic indicators of wellbeing such as feelings of personal growth, and high purpose in life. In order to find a balance between the benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a career in music, 5 suggestions are proposed: supporting the Living Wage for Musicians Act, setting personal limits and boundaries with work, becoming a 'portfolio musician', making the right norms while on tour, and seeking professional help when it's needed.