MusiCares Wellness Survey Yields Sobering Results—But There Is Hope

MusiCares has revealed the results from its annual Wellness in Music Survey (WIM), which measures how music professionals are doing financially, physically and mentally. Now in its fifth year, the survey gathered responses from more than 3,200 participants.

In an op-ed, MusiCares Executive Director Theresa Wolters paints a sobering picture of the economic hardships people are facing as a result of rising costs, shuttered businesses and unpredictable income, as well as the impact of the L.A. wildfires and Southeast hurricanes.

Per the WIM findings, roughly 11.4% of survey respondents reported suicide ideation in the last year, an increase of 8% from a year prior. To continue combating the issue, MusiCares has partnered with the Jed Foundation to provide curated training materials and resources on suicide awareness and prevention for music people.

Health care also presented a problem, with a 7-8% decrease reported in the number of music professionals who have insurance. MusiCares is working closely with Music Health Alliance to obtain comprehensive health care for their clients and help them reduce medical debt.

Over the past year, MusiCares provided more than $3m in assistance to help with the most basic and essential living needs among its community, including rent and utilities. Still, 78% percent of the survey respondents reported making less than $100,000 a year and are struggling to cover their expenses through music work alone.

Learn more about MusiCares efforts and apply for financial assistance and more here.