{"id":9393,"date":"2023-05-09T17:50:42","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T17:50:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/"},"modified":"2023-05-09T17:50:42","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T17:50:42","slug":"why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Musicians Quit (and How to Avoid It) Music Marketing Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#5_reasons_why_artists_stop_making_music\" >5 reasons why artists stop making music:<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#1_Perceived_lack_of_success\" >1. Perceived lack of success<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#What_can_you_do_about_it\" >What can you do about it?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#2_Financial_Struggles\" >2. Financial Struggles<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#What_can_you_do_about_it-2\" >What can you do about it?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#3_Burnout_and_Mental_Health_Struggles\" >3. Burnout and Mental Health Struggles<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#What_can_you_do_about_it-3\" >What can you do about it?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#4_Lack_of_Support\" >4. Lack of Support<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#What_can_you_do_about_it-4\" >What can you do about it?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#5_Trying_to_Keep_Up_with_Changing_Trends\" >5. Trying to Keep Up with Changing Trends<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2023\/05\/09\/why-musicians-quit-and-how-to-avoid-it-music-marketing-blog-2\/#What_can_you_do_about_it-5\" >What can you do about it?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_reasons_why_artists_stop_making_music\"><\/span>5 reasons why artists stop making music:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p>Pursuing a music career can be incredibly challenging. As an independent musician, it\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated, or embittered. The journey is full of ups and downs, and the road ahead looks like endless work.<\/p>\n<p>You might also have to deal with the opinions of well-meaning friends, family, industry insiders, or even other artists who plant the seeds of doubt in your mind: <em>Can you really make it? Is it too late? Are you wasting your time?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p>But why do musicians really quit? What are the pain-points that cause so many talented musicians to throw in the towel? And most importantly, how can you overcome these challenges and thrive in your music pursuits?<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at some common reasons why musicians quit, and offer encouraging solutions to help you keep moving forward!<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Perceived_lack_of_success\"><\/span>1. Perceived lack of success<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Perhaps the most common reason why musicians quit is a lack of \u201csuccess.\u201d The artist hasn\u2019t headlined a festival, gotten streamed millions of times, or become a critical darling.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard to keep going when you pour all your time and energy into music, yet you don\u2019t see the results you want. And sadly, many musicians define success by outdated or unrealistic metrics that aren\u2019t even necessary to establish a profitable music career.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_about_it\"><\/span>What can you do about it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If you find yourself discouraged, it\u2019s important to first remember that success is subjective; it\u2019s not just about megasales, magazine covers, or sold-out shows today.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s about long-term growth. So change the short-term metrics you use to evaluate your career trajectory.<\/p>\n<p>In that early part of your musical journey, success can be measured in the relationships you build, the fans you connect with, and the impact your music has on people\u2019s lives. Are you getting better at performing, writing, producing, and promoting? If so, those steady gains can lead to big wins over time.<\/p>\n<p>Even if you are shooting for the stars, most megastars didn\u2019t get there overnight. Finding success at any level can take countless steps. So focus on the progress you\u2019ve made, and celebrate the small victories along the way.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Financial_Struggles\"><\/span>2. Financial Struggles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another major pain-point for independent musicians is\u2026 money. Or lack of it!<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s tough to make a living as a musician, especially when you\u2019re just beginning.There are a lot of startup costs you won\u2019t quickly recoup, whether it\u2019s studio time, hiring a mixing engineer for your home recordings, or marketing and advertising expenses.<\/p>\n<p>In music, like with most businesses, it\u2019s takes money to make money. Profitability could be months or even years away, and that can be a long time to wait if money is a stresser right now.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, the sad truth is that even some \u201csuccessful\u201d artists aren\u2019t making a ton of money from music. <em>(Have you ever been served coffee by the guitarist in one of your favorite bands? True story).\u00a0 <\/em>This seems to be the case for a lot of artists who gained notoriety and then got dropped by the label system.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_about_it-2\"><\/span>What can you do about it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This advice might fly in the face of your dreams, but: Have a day job!<\/p>\n<p>Having a day job while you\u2019re building your music career can relieve some of the financial pressure on your music. Keep in mind, the startup phase of your career is when you\u2019ll need to be reinvesting everything you DO make back into the music, so you can achieve profitability down the road and then scale it. So you probably shouldn\u2019t bank on your early music earnings paying the bills anyways.<\/p>\n<p>The key to that profitability is owning your fan relationships, of course. And then making effective offers to that audience.<\/p>\n<p>It takes investment, whether the costs are in merch manufacturing, advertising, tour support, video production, or all of the above. Having a day job may give you some discretionary income to invest in your music.<\/p>\n<p>One other benefit of a day job? It gives you complete artistic freedom! If you want to sing make Celtic harp Death Metal covers sung backwards with a pirate accent,\u2026 cool. You don\u2019t need to achieve mass market viability to cover your living expenses.<\/p>\n<p>One other solution is to find alternative funding opportunities, such as government grants (lucky Canadians!)<\/p>\n<p>A last word of encouragement on this topic: There\u2019s one benefit to working on a tiny budget. You have to be scrappy, innovate, and learn new skills. Sure, it can be painful to climb yet another learning curve, but I\u2019m pretty sure the education will serve your music moving forward.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Burnout_and_Mental_Health_Struggles\"><\/span>3. Burnout and Mental Health Struggles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Creative burnout is another common reason why musicians quit. It\u2019s easy to get stuck in the constant grind, especially when you\u2019re under pressure to create new music \u2014 and new content \u2014 all the time. We also fear that if we take a break, some other artist will somehow muscle in on what we\u2019ve earned.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_about_it-3\"><\/span>What can you do about it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To combat creative burnout, try to mix things up.<\/p>\n<p>If you continue to pursue music full-force, collaborate with other artists or experiment with different genres. But remember it\u2019s also okay to take a break from music altogether to recharge your batteries. You can spend that time on other responsibilities, other hobbies and passions, or just\u2026 resting.<\/p>\n<p>Remember that creativity is not a finite resource, and sometimes the best thing you can do for your music career is to step back and take care of yourself. When you return to music, you\u2019ll have renewed inspiration and a fresh perspective to lend to your songs and performances.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Lack_of_Support\"><\/span>4. Lack of Support<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many musicians quit because they feel like they don\u2019t have the support they need to succeed. This can be especially tough when you\u2019re just starting out and don\u2019t have a strong network of industry connections or fans. You can\u2019t do it ALL by yourself, right?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_about_it-4\"><\/span>What can you do about it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To build a support system, start by networking with other musicians and industry professionals. Attend local music events, go to concerts, join online communities, and connect with people on social. You can also seek out mentorship or coaching from experienced musicians who can help guide you.<\/p>\n<p>Another thing we forget: Our audience doesn\u2019t always KNOW what to do to help us. So it\u2019s good to clearly instruct them on how to help: \u201cSave this song to your own playlists,\u201d \u201cBring a friend to my next show,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Trying_to_Keep_Up_with_Changing_Trends\"><\/span>5. Trying to Keep Up with Changing Trends<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Music, cultural, and tech trends are constantly evolving. So are the musical tastes and social preferences of audiences. It\u2019s daunting to keep up! And through that constant change, artists stress about staying relevant, especially as they age or loses mass-market appeal.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_you_do_about_it-5\"><\/span>What can you do about it?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s important to remember that there will always be an audience for any niche. With billions of people online, even a \u201csmall\u201d audience can number in the millions. So if the style of music you make is no longer the hippest, shiny new thing, you can still have a loyal audience. Additionally, incorporating new sounds and styles into your music can keep it fresh and evolving. The key is not to sacrifice your own artistic vision in pursuit of fleeting trends, but to use them as inspiration and tools for exploration.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, there are many reasons why musicians quit, but it\u2019s important to remember that these challenges are not insurmountable.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re struggling with financial issues, creative burnout, or lack of support, there are always solutions you can turn to.<\/p>\n<p>Keep your focus on your goals, celebrate your progress, and don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. By developing self-sufficient skills, prioritizing your mental health and well-being, and embracing new influences, you can continue to grow and evolve as an artist.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, you\u2019re not alone in your struggles, and with perseverance and a willingness to adapt, you can achieve your dreams. Don\u2019t stop. Keep going!<\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/music-career\/why-musicians-quit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why Musicians Quit (and How to Avoid It)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/diymusician.cdbaby.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DIY Musician<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>5 reasons why artists stop making music: Pursuing a music career can be incredibly challenging. As an independent musician, it\u2019s easy to get overwhelmed, frustrated, or embittered. The journey is full of ups and downs, and the road ahead looks like endless work. You might also have to deal with the opinions of well-meaning friends, family, industry insiders, or even other artists who plant the seeds of doubt in your mind: Can you really make it? Is it too late? Are you wasting your time?\u00a0 But [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9393","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-marketing-blogs"],"featured_image_src":null,"featured_image_src_square":null,"author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9393","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9393"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9393\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9393"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9393"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9393"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}