Musicians worldwide face the highest suicide rates due to the numerous challenges associated with their profession, such as extensive touring, performance anxiety, and low income, according to recent research findings. One co-author of the study described the music industry as a “profoundly dangerous place.”
Dr. George Musgrave, a sociologist from Goldsmiths, University of London, stated that the alarming suicide statistics among musicians reveal a music industry that is demonstrably unsafe. He noted that no other industry would tolerate such a high rate of loss of life, and emphasized the need for the industry to take action and address these concerning mortality rates.
The research, published in Frontiers of Public Health, found that musicians in England ranked fourth in terms of suicide rate among occupational groups, behind construction workers, building finishing tradespeople, and agricultural workers. Musicians, including actors and entertainers, fell under the Occupational Group defined as culture, media, and sport occupations. Within this group, males experienced a 20% higher suicide rate than the national male average, while females faced a 69% higher rate.
Similar findings were observed in the United States. Between 2012 and 2021, the arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media category (which includes musicians) had the highest female suicide rate of any occupation group. Males in that category had the third highest suicide rate, measuring at almost 10 times higher than the national average.
Dr. Musgrave, who himself signed a record deal with Sony Music as a rapper, called for attention from those who care about music to pause and consider the implications of this data. He dismissed the idea that the high suicide rate could be solely attributed to the nature of artists being “troubled” or “mysterious.”
The study highlighted several risk factors for musicians, including anxiety, depression, economic stress, the relentless pursuit of perfection, creative inspiration, loneliness, and the stress associated with public performances and social media scrutiny.
In 2023, a joint survey by the Musicians’ Union and Help Musicians revealed that three out of ten UK musicians have experienced poor mental well-being. The Musicians’ Union general secretary, Naomi Pohl, acknowledged that there is a growing awareness of mental health issues within the industry but added that more support and promotion of well-being is needed. She acknowledged that freelance musicians, who make up 70% of the workforce, face particular challenges when it comes to accessing mental health support because they often lack sick pay and colleagues to confide in.
The charity Help Musicians has emphasized that the declining revenue streams, fewer performance opportunities, a struggling grassroots circuit, and reduced fan expenditures are all contributing to musicians’ financial struggles. This has severe consequences on their mental well-being.
In response to the growing need for well-being support, Help Musicians established Music Minds Matter, a helpline that provides 24/7 assistance to individuals in the music industry. Major labels such as Sony, Warner Music, and Universal Music have also responded by implementing more support mechanisms for artists. However, Dr. Musgrave and co-author Dr. Dorian Lamis urged the industry to do more, advocating for a “zero suicide framework” similar to those in use in other sectors.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/07/high-suicide-rates-show-music-industry-profoundly-dangerous-researchers-say
