Mental Health: Musicians On Tour
On July 27, 2022, global superstar Shawn Mendes posted a heartbreaking message to his fans on Instagram, stating that he had to cancel the remainder of his tour in order to prioritize his mental health. Indie artist Lizzy McAlpine also sent a message in May via Instagram, announcing that she was postponing her international tour dates in order to protect her “mental and physical well-being.” As Harry Styles was finishing his tour, rumors started circulating through the internet that he was going to take a five-year hiatus from touring. Cassandra Jenkins was finishing a particularly tough leg of her tour, and she realized she hadn’t been able to take a day off for two months. She stated, “Every day, I was asking: Am I burning out? Is this how burnout feels? When you’re asking that question, you’re already past that point.” Artists are hitting their breaking point, but why is this happening?
Tours are a magical experience for both the artist and the audience. The exciting concerts allow artists and fans to interact with each other, and the shows create a safe space where people can be themselves and come together. Tours also boost the local economies of the places they visit. For example, Taylor Swift’s “Eras” tour has fans traveling to different destinations to see her in concert. They are spending a lot of money on tickets, dining, hotels, shopping, and more. But what would happen if artists stopped touring? The aftermath could be extremely damaging to the local economies. Also, most artists are motivated by their passion for singing or performing. But how can music artists be expected to continue if they don’t have time or money to take care of themselves?
The cost of touring is astronomical. Artists don’t get paid enough just from streaming, and increasing living costs and other financial pressures motivate artists to tour. However, touring is very costly. Artists have to pay for gas, food, hotels, flights, gear, and more daily expenses. If an artist has a large crew for their show, that increases the cost by an enormous amount. The longer the artist has to support the crew financially, the more expensive it gets. This is one of the reasons music artists do so many shows back-to-back and take very few breaks.
According to Variety Magazine, touring is “an accumulative stress experience which can be a triple threat to one’s health.” Touring puts music creators in the spotlight again and again, and they are often faced with ridicule on social media and other sharing platforms. Artists receive mean comments, and often death threats. Shawn Mendes mentioned in his documentary, Wonder, that on the road, he struggles with homesickness, and being away from his family for months at a time can be really hard on him. He rarely gets the opportunity to take a break, recharge, and see the people he loves. Also, traveling constantly and having no foundation can make musicians feel off-balanced and ungrounded. After being surrounded by thousands of people on stage, normal life can feel lonely and unsettling upon returning home. All of these challenging conditions can lead to artists feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted. The fact that so many creators are canceling to protect themselves proves that there is something wrong with the music and touring industry. Something needs to change in the music industry to make it easier for artists to do what they love and continue uniting people all over the world.
By Ella Marks