Survey reveals 23% of musicians can’t support themselves or their families
A new census published by Help Musicians in collaboration with the Musicians’ Union has revealed that 23% of working musicians are unable to support themselves or their families through their craft.
The union spoke with 5,897 musicians throughout the United Kingdom to gather information about their mental well-being, career, and general experience working in the music industry. In a statement, Naomi Pohl, general secretary of the Musicians’ Union, said: “The first Musicians’ Census highlights the challenges musicians face carving out and sustaining a career as a musician in 2023.”
Meanwhile, Sarah Woods, chief executive of Help Musicians, added: “The Musicians’ Census 2023 not only offers unique insight into the make-up of the musicians’ community across the UK but also paints a picture of the distinctive set of challenges musicians face to sustain a career in music.”
The survey of British musicians revealed the average income is £20,700, with 23% of participants claiming they don’t earn enough money to support themselves or their families. Additionally, 17% of musicians stated they are in debt, and for those with a mental health condition, this figure stands at 30%.
Only 40% of those surveyed make their full income from the music industry. The average annual income is around £30,000 for those in the 40%. However, this also highlights that the majority of those working as musicians need to look elsewhere to top up their wages, as 43% earn less than £14,000 a year from music.
The report also discovered the disparity in pay between genders. While musicians are paid equally up to £34,000, after that figure, men typically earn higher incomes than women and non-binary people. Only 3% of those surveyed earn more than £70,000 a year, with men making up 79% of this category.
One anonymous female artist, who is 30 and lives in London, said: “Music does not provide a stable income, and so progression is often slowed by needing to spend time on other work to make a living.”
Furthermore, 80% of those surveyed also reported facing at least one career-threatening barrier. 46% of musicians have struggled due to financial problems, which is largely due to the cost of equipment, transport and training. However, 36% also cited the lack of a clear route as an issue, and 25% claimed not knowing anybody in the industry has harmed their trajectory.
The full report can be viewed here.
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