Hannah Kulis

MusiCares Unveils 2021 Wellness In Music Survey Results — And What Programs Are Already In Place To Act On Them

The initiative, which was implemented in 2020, helps MusiCares better understand the circumstances and well-being of individuals who earn their living by working in music. With the 2021 results now in, see how MusiCares plans to take action.

Body Text 1 - MusiCares Wellness Survey 2021 Results

Each year, MusiCares distributes its [Wellness in Music Survey](https://www.musicares.org/news/second-annual-health-wellness-survey-2021-announced-launched), a series of questions to music industry professionals around topics like mental health, financial pressure, health insurance, and more, in order to gauge the most pressing issues at hand for the music community. Launched in the wake of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the survey's second installment was launched in October 2021 and concluded in December.

The goal of the survey is to better inform MusiCares of the needs of its clients and to further understand and communicate the issues impacting the lives and careers of music professionals, in real time. The results help guide and define the programs and services MusiCares offers, so it can best support the humans behind the music — because music gives so much to the world.

This year's survey findings emphasize that the industry is more hopeful as pandemic restrictions have lessened, but there is still significant work to be done.

Here are the most pressing issues facing the music community based on the 2021 Wellness in Music Survey, along with MusiCares’ plan to address them.

**ISSUE: Although music professionals are more confident in being able to afford their basic needs, financial stress remains high.** 

When respondents were asked how confident they were in affording their basic living expenses — things like rent, food or utility bills — in 2020’s Wellness in Music survey, 51 percent indicated they felt low to very low levels of confidence. Fortunately, this year’s results are more hopeful. Only 19 percent of survey respondents indicated they had low to very low levels of confidence in affording their basic needs, a 32 percent decrease.

However, 46 percent of this year’s survey respondents indicated they felt moderately high to very high levels of financial stress every day. Though that is a 16-percent decrease compared to last year’s 62 percent, with nearly half of survey respondents feeling regular financial pressure, there’s still plenty of work to be done.

**SOLUTION: Continuing to provide emergency relief to those in financial crisis, and tailoring virtual programming efforts to prevent individuals from experiencing a financial crisis.**

The Human Services arm of MusiCares’ [Emergency Financial Assistance Program](https://www.musicares.org/get-help) provides monetary relief for those experiencing financial hardship in affording their day-to-day needs. Through the program, music professionals can apply for grants to help pay for things like rent, utility bills, car payments, and more.

Additionally, MusiCares will work on expanding access to this relief through marketing efforts, so all members of the music community know that this service is available to them.

MusiCares is also tailoring its virtual programming efforts in order to prevent music industry professionals from ever facing a financial crisis. This spring, the Human Services Team will begin a financial wellness workshop series, free virtual programs featuring personal finance experts discussing topics including money management and the psychology behind money.

The team has implemented programs around rent and affordable housing, too. Last summer, they started the “Renter’s Rights” series, partnering with legal services in different cities throughout the country to present virtual workshops on what to expect when the eviction moratorium ends, renters' rights during a natural disaster, and understanding eviction. (This month’s installments cater to residents of Washington State and Austin, Texas. [Click here](https://www.musicares.org/news/2021-achievements-support-music-community-donations-programs-surveys) for more information.)

What’s more, they’ve implemented an Affordable Housing series, another group of virtual workshops providing participants with affordable housing options.

**Read More: [Here’s What’s Happening At MusiCares This February](https://www.musicares.org/news/programs-virtual-events-february-2022)**

**ISSUE: The need for mental health services is more important now than ever — yet, those who need counseling often can’t afford it.** 

Last year, 26 percent of Wellness in Music survey respondents said they regularly experienced moderate to severe levels of depression. To put this into perspective, a [2019 National Health Interview Survey of U.S. adults](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm) found only 4.7 percent reported regular feelings of depression.

The 2021 Wellness in Music Survey saw a decline in respondents experiencing moderate to severe levels of depression, with only 20 percent reporting feeling this way. However, 56 percent of this year’s respondents reported feeling moderately high to very high levels of anxiety — and  though that is down almost 10 percent from last year’s numbers, it indicates the mental health of the music community is still strained.

While 50 percent of survey respondents did seek counseling for depression, anxiety and stress, 38 percent of those respondents said they were unable to get counseling because they could not afford it. What’s more, 59 percent of respondents without health insurance reported the reason they don’t have health insurance is also because they aren’t able to afford it.

**SOLUTION: Expand access to health services, both physical and mental, to music industry members who cannot afford them on their own.**

Through the [Emergency Financial Assistance Program](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/depression.htm), music people can receive funding for medical bills, health insurance premiums, dental procedures and more. MusiCares also offers a variety of free preventative health services including medical, dental, and hearing clinics, vocal health workshops, and assistance obtaining low-cost health insurance through its Healthy Essentials Program.

When it comes to mental health, MusiCares partners with providers around the country — therapists, psychologists, and more — to provide free mental health services to music industry professionals through the Emergency Financial Assistance Program. Through the program, music professionals can apply for funding for services such as therapy, counseling or psychiatric care.

MusiCares plans to expand and diversify the mental health providers it works with, in order to accommodate the increasing need for mental healthcare within the music industry. MusiCares will also sustain its [virtual emotional support and addiction recovery groups](https://www.musicares.org/get-help/addiction-recovery) (along with its [weekly free yoga sessions](https://musicaresfreeweeklyyoga012022.splashthat.com/)), providing music people with free mental healthcare on a regular basis.

**ISSUE: The impact of COVID-19 on the music community is still very prevalent.**  

The pandemic has taken a toll on the music industry in many respects. Nearly half (48 percent) of survey respondents reported that prior to COVID-19, their level of confidence in paying for their basic living expenses fell in the moderately high to high range. But now, 38 percent report their level of confidence in paying for their living expenses is somewhat low, low or very low.

In addition, before the pandemic disrupted the music industry as we know it, 20 percent of respondents reported making less than $35,000 annually from working in music. That percentage has now doubled, as 40 percent report their annual income working in music is below $35,000.

The pandemic is not over, and the aftershock of COVID-19 on the music industry will likely be felt for years to come. COVID has impacted the music community’s ability to make a living, with the percentage of survey respondents making less than $35,000 doubling since the start of the pandemic. As the music industry has changed forever, the need for the music community is greater than it has ever been before.

**SOLUTION: Two new revenue-generating departments.**

To adapt to this change, MusiCares changed, too. To accommodate the increase in financial need from the community, MusiCares implemented two new departments to generate revenue: Marketing &amp; Partnerships, and Development.

The addition of these departments has allowed MusiCares to raise even more funding to distribute to the community. During the Fiscal Year 2020/2021 (when the departments were launched), MusiCares distributed $10.2 million in need, which is almost double the $5.7 million distributed in Fiscal Year 2018/2019. (Fiscal Year 2019/2020 was a standout year due to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief Effort, which distributed $22.4 million.) 

MusiCares plans to improve and expand these departments in the coming years — one of the countless ways the organization continues to prioritize the needs of the music industry.

[10 Things MusiCares Did To Support The Music Community In 2021](https://musicaresfreeweeklyyoga012022.splashthat.com/)

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MusiCares’ 2021 Wellness In Music Survey Results

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Philip Merrill

MusiCares Dental Clinic In Philadelphia

On Oct. 24 MusiCares will sponsor a free dental clinic for Philadelphia-area music professionals from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Services provided will include a dental exam, teeth cleaning and X-rays, and will be provided to pre-screened, pre-registered attendees. The clinic will take place at The Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter office. For more information and to register, call toll-free at 877.303.6962.

![](https://i8.amplience.net/i/naras/find-your-anchor-musicares-Editorial_1644x925_v1)

On Oct. 24 MusiCares will sponsor a free dental clinic for Philadelphia-area music professionals from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Rachel Brodsky

Above & Beyond's Paavo Siljamäki Talks Burnout And Staying "Mentally Fit" At Miami Winter Music Conference

A musician's lifestyle certainly sounds romantic: constantly on the road, meeting new people every night, playing shows to sold-out crowds. But the touring life isn't all glitz and glam. Navigating music industry success can actually result in neglect of one's mental health. This is exactly the topic **[MusiCares](https://musicares.org)** and the Recording Academy explored in a panel called Survive the Madness: Music and Mental Health at Miami Winter Conference in late March of this year.

Featuring Paavo Siljamäki from GRAMMY-nominated British trance group **[Above &amp; Beyond](https://www.grammy.com/artists/above-beyond/19436)**, the panel explored the performer's journey, which he spoke about with MusiCares senior director Jennifer Leff.

"What is mental health to you," she asked?

"I made the wrong choice internalizing my stress," said Siljamäki. "About a year and a half ago, I was ready to leave music. I saw music as the source of all of my pain, so for me the solution was for me, to quit the band."

"Quite quickly I realized that that's not the way I could keep going," he continued. "The way for me to go forward is to look at what led to this point, how can I actually learn from this, how can I go on? And I ended up going to doing this thing called the Hoffman Process in the U.K. They actually helped me in a group therapy setting to find the reasons why I burned out. And I realized that a lot of other people burn out too. I'm not unique in any way... I've been able to really look at what causes me stress and I've refound my love for music."

Watch the entire interview with Siljamäki **[here](https://www.musicares.org/videos)**.

**[Fitz And The Tantrums And Kesha To Perform At 2019 MusiCares Concert For Recovery](https://www.musicares.org/news/fitz-and-tantrums-and-kesha-perform-2019-musicares-concert-recovery)**

The British trance figure opens up about staying on top of your mental health at a Miami Winter Conference panel called Survive the Madness: Music and Mental Health, presented by the Recording Academy and MusiCares.

Paavo Siljamäki On Staying "Mentally Fit" At MWC

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Above and Beyond

Renée Fabian

Protect Your Hearing: How Many Decibels Is Too Loud?

Rock concerts can achieve 115 decibels. Hearing Loss starts at 85 db. Protect your ears, and visit MusiCares' events to find an upcoming hearing clinic near you.

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Learn how loud if too loud and protect your ears

Hearing Protection: How Many Decibels Is Too Loud?

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THE GRAMMYs

Pearl Jam Partners With MusiCares To Promote Hearing Health On U.S. Tour

Pearl Jam, Ten Club and <a href="/musicares" target="_blank">MusiCares</a> are teaming up to spread the word on Hearing Health. Visit the Musicares table at each of Pearl Jam's U.S. shows on the 2016 Spring Tour to pick up your pair of limited edition PJ X Musicares Earplugs. And wear them!&nbsp; 
 
You love listening to music, right? You might as well protect those ears so you can do it for a long time. While you're there, find out about hearing health and MusiCares. A suggested donation will be requested to receive the limited edition case and pair of earplugs.&nbsp; 
 
Fans are encouraged to take photos with their plugs in their ears and post them on social media using the hashtag #pjcares and tag @pearljam and @musicares. 
 
&nbsp;“Don’t be careless and lazy at loud rock shows or cranking tunes through an old Walkman like I was thirty years ago (but boy did it all sound good). Wear hearing protection or you’ll end up with a 1.5k ring in both ears every night when you go to bed or worse when you are trying to enjoy the serene quiet of an empty desert or forest, again like me.”

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