FAC Insights: Five Important Takeaways from the Musicians’ Census by Help Musicians
FAC Insights is a forum for us to showcase and share long form pieces looking at various parts of the music industry and the society that shapes it. Pieces take the form of videos, interviews, discussions, articles and more.
We’re back with another FAC Insights, and this month we are thrilled to hear from Help Musicians.
Five Important Takeaways from the Musicians’ Census
Being a musician is a hugely rewarding career, but it has never been an easy one. In Help Musicians’ 103-year history, it’s seen musicians adapt to the world around them, prevailing through world wars, technological advancements and fluctuating financial constraints. Despite adversity, the importance of the connection and happiness that musicians bring has never been replaced. But now, following the total shutdown of live music during the pandemic and coming back to work in a squeezed economy, what challenges are they facing and what can we do to help musicians thrive in their careers?
The Musicians’ Census, a joint project from Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union, gathered responses from nearly 6,000 musicians to understand more. We uncovered detailed insight into the demographic makeup of UK musicians, the barriers to career progression and economic challenges.
Each of the five Musicians’ Census reports published so far has focused on a different aspect of the UK’s musical ecosystem, offering unique insight into each area. The different reports focus on financial insight, mental wellbeing, musicians from the Global Majority, women musicians and those from LGBTQ+ communities.
Creating financial sustainability remains incredibly challenging
The Census demonstrated the scale of financial precarity affecting musicians across the UK. A musician’s average annual income from music is just £20,700 and 23% of musicians told us that they cannot support themselves or their families from being a musician alone. The Census highlighted the need for today’s musicians to have diverse, portfolio careers given that under half (40%) earn all of their income from music.
Low mental wellbeing may result in people leaving the profession
Insights from the mental wellbeing report were concerning on two counts – the high percentage of musicians experiencing negative wellbeing, and the consequent likelihood of them leaving the industry. Almost a third (30%) of all musicians reported experiencing negative mental wellbeing and this group were twice as likely to say they are unlikely to be working in music in one to five years.
We also learnt that musicians in particular roles and genres experience higher rates of low mental wellbeing. Studio/mastering engineers and live sound engineers (38%), producers (37%), and musicians working in dance music (35%) have the highest rates of negative wellbeing.
Musicians from the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ and women musicians face the biggest barriers
Whilst women musicians, musicians from the Global Majority and LGBTQ+ musicians each encounter specific challenges in their music careers, the three communities do share some experiences. All three experience high levels of discrimination, are paid less than the average musician and suffer more greatly from financial barriers to building a sustainable career in music.
A gulf in representation remains between men and women in certain music roles
A notable insight from the women musicians’ report was the gulf in representation between women and men in certain roles. Whilst 79% of women are performing musicians compared to 80% of musicians overall, only 11% of women reported being a producer, 3% reported being a DJ and only 2% of women reported being studio/mastering engineers or live sound engineers.
LGBTQ+ musicians report far higher levels of poor mental and physical wellbeing
The LGBTQ+ community of musicians reported higher than average levels of poor mental and physical wellbeing. 43% of LGBTQ+ musicians reported poor mental wellbeing and 30% reported poor physical wellbeing, both significantly higher than the overall census sample.
A high proportion of musicians from the Global Majority experience racism but it’s often unreported
The Census highlighted that musicians from the Global Majority experience high levels of racism, cited by almost half (45%) of respondents from this group. However, there is a lack of reporting of racism. Even though 81% of people who experience racism said it had a significant impact on their career progression, less than a third reported it to someone.
What are we doing and what can be done?
The Musicians’ Census shows us the quantitative reality of the challenges musicians are facing. There is no overnight fix for many of the issues uncovered, they will require long term, collaborative work across the industry to create significant change.
At Help Musicians, we’ve used Census insights, in part, to guide the development of our support and processes, ensuring they’re as relevant and impactful as possible. This is ongoing work and we will continue to learn and adapt.
Amongst our evolution is the implementation of Inclusive Selection, our process for making sure that musicians from under-served communities are adequately represented in the musicians we support. Inclusive Selection allows us to better support musicians who face greater barriers to career progression in music due to challenges created around them, it provides additional support to musicians from the Global Majority, women, LGBTQ+ and disabled musicians.
In response to the findings concerning electronic musicians’ mental wellbeing, we have designed a new, dedicated Electronic Music Award tailored to the needs of these musicians. We’ve seen from the Census that electronic musicians are significantly more likely to suffer from poor mental wellbeing, so this 12-month programme includes a range of support alongside financial investment, including a health check-in to ensure individuals are taking the best care of themselves.
After listening to feedback about a lack of career progression being a severe issue, our new Next Level support and the Electronic Music Award not only provide business advice sessions but now also include networking opportunities. Along with financial support, musicians receive six hours of tailored one-to-one business advice from industry experts and online/in-person meet-ups with other awardees and industry guests to help them build those crucial networks.
We believe that by providing musicians with these essential business skills and opportunities to develop their own peer networks, they will be equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in their careers.
Our new Fast Track award helps musicians to overcome some of the cost-related barriers to building a sustainable career as highlighted in the Census. Musicians are often presented with opportunities that have the potential to have a lasting, positive impact on their career, but which require short-term financial investment. Fast Track’s quick turnaround (musicians are notified within six weeks of their application submission) will allow them to grasp these openings, helping them to grow their income from music.
Co-Pilot, our mentoring scheme, will continue to support musicians who require guidance navigating the complex creative, logistical and emotional pressures that come with being a musician. Launched in 2021, Co-Pilot helps to tackle the often-confusing nature of a career in music which can leave musicians feeling as if they don’t know where to start or which aspect to focus on first. Co-Pilot eases some of that pressure by matching them with an experienced music professional, who can share their expertise to understand where the next steps should be and help talented creators grow.
Finally, our mental health focused sister charity Music Minds Matter continues to provide life-changing support for people working in the music industry struggling with their mental wellbeing.
You can read more from the reports here: