Survey reveals 64% musicians considering leaving the music profession
In Short:
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64% musicians are thinking about leaving the music profession
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On average musicians have lost £11,300 from cancellations since March 2020
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87% fewer gigs booked for Aug – Dec 2020 than same period in 2019
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Young female musicians have 52% fewer gigs booked for 2020 than men
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Encore surveys 560 musicians
A survey conducted by the online musician booking platform, Encore Musicians, has revealed that the UK music industry is in a state of crisis as a result of the pandemic.
The results show that due to widespread event cancellations musicians have lost on average 87% of their live bookings and with them their main source of income.
While some have been able to secure financial assistance from the government (like universal credit and SEISS) and grants from music organisations, many are falling through the gaps and are struggling to make ends meet.
The concerning result is that the majority of musicians are now considering leaving the profession and are applying for jobs elsewhere.
This would lead to a significant contraction of the UK music industry, which contributes £5.2 billion annually to the UK economy and employs nearly 200,000 people. [Source]
On the results, Encore CEO and Co-founder James McAulay says:
“We’re acutely aware of the damage the pandemic has done to our musicians’ livelihoods, but I was still shocked to see just how few bookings most musicians have left in the diary for 2020. This problem is being felt across the industry – from signed veterans to young musicians at the beginning of their careers. The government must act now to make sure our musicians aren’t left behind.”
Case Studies
Rising star trumpeter career dashed
“Before lockdown, my career was taking off hugely, having been awarded my first trial with a major UK orchestra and starting to freelance more and more regularly with major UK orchestras. I then had every single gig cancelled.
The SEIS government support was barely any help, since I’m a recent graduate and my first income tax amount was very low compared to what it would have been this year, where the amount of work I had been booked for increased greatly. I have no clue as to when I’ll start working again, or what I can expect to make money from without losing the skills and playing standard I’ve built up until now.”
Violinist with 30 year-stint at top London orchestra has no work until vaccine found
“Prior to March 16th, I worked 6-7 days a week, mainly symphonic orchestral work. I was previously in a major London orchestra for 30 years and left to freelance three years ago, staying very busy as I was much in demand as an experienced orchestral player.
My last gig was March 16th. I have not had any work since and cannot envisage being offered work until a vaccine is found, as the sort of symphonic work I did will not be financially viable until concert halls can be filled to min 80% capacity.
I am considering other fields of work to bring in some money, but at 59 with no previous experience of working – except in music – I don’t imagine I will be top of most employers lists!
I have to face the fact that it is possible that I will never be able to work in an orchestra again.”
Summary of Results
Livelihood lost overnight
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On average musicians have lost £11,300 in cancelled bookings as a result of the pandemic
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41% have no bookings in the diary for the remainder of 2020 (average for same period last year was 27 bookings)
Exodus of musical talent
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64% say they are thinking about leaving the music profession
- 40% have applied for a non-music job since March
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20% said they thought it was unlikely they would still be a professional musician 12 months from now
The government is not giving enough support
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41% respondents hadn’t received any government support
- 42% had received some kind of non-Governmental support, mainly from the Musicians Union or the charity Help Musicians UK
Young women worst affected
- Predicted earnings in Aug – Dec 2020 vs the same period last year are down by 90% for musicians aged 25-34 (compared to 73% for those aged 65+)
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Men have 52% more gigs booked for the rest of 2020 than women (an average of 3.8 gigs for men and 2.5 for women)
Farewell Symphony: Classical musicians have the fewest bookings
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With an average of 2 bookings, classical musicians have the lowest number of gigs booked for the remainder of 2020 compared to other genres. Pop musicians are likely to have the fullest diaries with an average of 5 gigs booked in for the remainder of 2020.
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Pop musicians have lost the most money
On average, pop musicians have lost £19,900 in earnings as a result of cancellations since March 2020 (compared to the average of £11,300 across all genres)
About Encore: Encore Musicians is the UK’s largest online platform for booking musicians for events with 5,000+ active members across all genres of music. Formed in 2016, Encore last year generated over £1 million in revenue for musicians who were booked across 2,000 events ranging from weddings and birthday parties to corporate parties and festivals.
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