Since October 16, Gen Z has been mourning the loss of Liam Payne, increasing tributes to the former member of the One Direction group, who died at just 31 years old. For the music industry, it’s also a slap in the face. Here she is who loses yet another musician who could not bear to have been propelled to the front of the stage from a very young age – which had a devastating impact on her mental health, particularly on her relationship with alcohol. and drugs.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case. Amy Winehouse, Mac Miller and Avicii, like so many others, have suffered the damage of such fame. Yet every time an artist succumbs to pressure, the music industry promises to change. This time, should it review its operation for good? Ban teenage popstars? Implement preventive measures? The BBC looked into the matter.
Young, energetic, creative, new talents are subject to a highly incentive-based capitalist system where many people have a lot (money) to gain from their emerging success. At first it’s charming, then comes disenchantment. These young people are placed in an adult world that they are not ready to face, mentally or physically, assures psychologist Adi Jaffe. “I have worked with artists who have a schedule of 200 performances per year, he explains. They are on board transport almost every day and do not have a stable family environment or social life.”
Liam Payne had already spoken about the loneliness which leads to alcohol dependence, declaring on the microphone of the podcast The Diary of a CEO: “Although we could do whatever we wanted, it seemed like we were still locked down. And what’s in the rooms? A mini-bar.” But childhood and adolescence are key periods for healthy brain development, meaning it is more vulnerable to the extreme pressures and workload of a pop star, says Adi Jaffe.
An industry littered with victims
According to a 2019 study, 80% of professional musicians aged 18 to 25 surveyed reported having mental health issues, with anxiety and depression being the most common. This figure is all the more understandable when we know that the slightest error (such as the use of drugs) is put in the spotlight, a phenomenon amplified by social networks. These young people, unlike others, do not have the opportunity to stumble, fall and learn.
What can we do to protect them? From a legal perspective, there is no legislation for teenagers in the music industry, and artists are poorly protected as independent entities. Singer Lily Allen – who first signed with a record label at age 17 – recently spoke out on the subject. “We should completely restructure the way the industry operates, so that artists become employees and record companies have more responsibilities,” she asked.
Basically, so many people – in shock – proclaim that the entertainment industry must help prevent future tragedies, “sooner or later we seem to return to the previous situation”, deplores Chris Herbert, former music manager.
So, should the industry simply ban minors from its ranks? The former manager is doubtful. According to him, “the solution should be to put adequate support in place around artists, including trained chaperones, counselors, dedicated social hours, and regular downtime.” It remains to be seen whether this time, the good will proclaimed will indeed be followed by effects.
Source: www.slate.fr
