Nickelback once said: “We all just wanna be big rock stars / And live in hilltop houses, driving 15 cars.” But, the reality of stardom is very different. There are many things musicians and artists need to overcome to become famous or “relevant.” The truth is that to make it in music, you need to be prepared for the pitfalls.
— March 9th, 2021
Last week “Sound Advice” – a new handbook for aspiring musicians by journalist Rhian Jones and Ph.D. researcher Lucy Heyman was published. It talks about the pitfalls of working in music, with insights on mental health, substance abuse, body image, and social media.
But, don’t get it wrong, the book isn’t trying to dissuade musicians from following their dreams. It’s more about helping them recognize problems before they arise – and work out the best strategies for survival.
Heyman conceived the idea while studying artists’ health and well-being as part of her doctoral research at the Royal College of Music.
AndJones, who has written for Billboard, Music Week, and The Guardian, felt the conversation about musicians’ mental health gave something to talk about, especially after the release of the Amy Winehouse documentary in 2015.
Clear-headed guidance like this seems particularly crucial today when the pressures on musicians have increased exponentially.
To read more about the book or secure a copy, visit https://sound-advice-book.myshopify.com/
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This article is a re-post, with small modifications, of “To make it in music, be prepared for the pitfalls” an article published on bbc.com by Mark Savage.
