Why supporting musicians matters more than ever
From financial struggles to mental health challenges, Help Musicians CEO Sarah Woods explains how the BRITs highlighted the urgent need to support musicians and protect the future of music.
It was a privilege to see so much talent celebrated at this weekend’s BRIT Awards. The BRITs are our annual moment to revel in one of the UK’s greatest exports: our incredible, lively, passionate musical landscape, rich in diversity, vibrancy and utter joy. But amongst all the celebrations this year, we also heard an undertone plea to support its artists and its infrastructure.
Charli XCX, who deservedly walked away with her five awards, knows this all too well.
Signed at an early age, she spent years working to make the music she believed in. Now, with her sixth studio album BRAT at aged 32, she stands as proof that building a sustainable career in music takes time, persistence, and support.
Are we building careers, or just chasing moments? Because moments fade, and careers take time.
With diluted revenue streams, fewer opportunities to perform, a struggling grassroots circuit and less money available for fans to spend, hitting financial equilibrium in a musician’s career is an increasing challenge. A constant threat that could not only see musicians leave the industry, but one that also presents a real risk to mental health in the profession.
The Musicians’ Census, by Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union, found that nearly half of musicians in the UK earn less than £14,000 a year from their craft – this isn’t a sustainable future.
Picking up their Best New Artist award this weekend, The Last Dinner Party highlighted the challenges facing independent venues. A testament to the brilliant work being done by Music Venues Trust and a reminder of the symbiotic relationship between our music spaces and the amazing musical legacy in the UK.
Without these grassroots spaces, countless artists would never get their start, and without tomorrow’s musicians seeing music as an attractive career, who will play the ones that remain?
Beyond financial struggles, musicians also face mental pressure. On the BRITs red carpet, The Last Dinner Party emphasised the importance of prioritising mental health after cancelling shows last year from burnout, a conversation that must continue.
Music enriches lives, builds communities, and gives people hope. Supporting musicians means more than just streaming their songs.
It means helping them develop sustainable careers through building connections, supporting their wellbeing, investing in their future creativity and career and offering a lifeline in times of difficulty – a much-needed backstop with over 70% being freelance with no structural support system.
This effort takes a community approach, and it was wonderful to hear The Ezra Collective shout out the support which they’d received from youth clubs, Tomorrow’s Warriors and others.
So, let’s celebrate the power of that community and work together to ensure the people behind the music keep thriving.
At Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter we know that we can do more together, working in partnership to make a bigger difference. If you’d like to support us or find more about our work, see the links below.