The Working Conditions of Artist Managers: Mental Health and Career Sustainability in Today's Music Industry

The Working Conditions of Artist Managers: Mental Health and Career Sustainability in Today's Music Industry

Abstract

The music industry has changed significantly over the past two decades. Streaming, digital platforms, and social media have reshaped how artists and their teams build their careers. Growing attention to mental health in the music industry has so far focused mainly on artists. The artist managers who often hold these careers together get much less attention. This thesis explores how the working conditions of artist managers in today's music industry affect their mental health and the sustainability of their careers. The research combines a literature review with thirteen semi-structured interviews. Eleven were with artist managers and two with industry specialists. The findings show that the challenges artist managers face are largely structural. The thesis focuses on three connected factors. The first is the commission-based pay model, which has not changed while the role has grown. The second is the expansion of the role itself. The third is the emotional labor that comes with the work but is not reflected in pay, recognition, or professional support. The thesis argues that meaningful change will need to be structural too. It suggests several directions for change, including recognition of the role, education, dedicated mental health support, state-level financial support, and alternative financial models within the industry.

Publication Date

7-1-2026

Campus

Valencia (Spain) Campus

Keywords

Artist management; Mental health; Career Sustainability; Music Business

The Working Conditions of Artist Managers: Mental Health and Career Sustainability in Today's Music Industry

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