The death of Liam Payne, former One Direction member, shook the internet to its core. Fans raced to social media to express their sorrow, amid complex feelings around his surrounding controversies. Fueled by emotion, fans as well as the music industry itself, often hold musicians to unfair, sometimes impossible standards, creating immense pressure. The music industry, in light of these struggles, has a duty to protect these artists and should be regulated to do so.
The music industry should adopt new policies, such as more breaks and regular mental health checkups. These preventative measures would provide artists with resources as they battle addiction and other mental health issues. Fans and social media are not the only important contributors to these issues; the music industry has long been associated with a history of exploitation.
Young artists are often the most exploited by companies for money. In recent years, there has been increased attention on child stars who faced the hardships of fame at a young age like Liam Payne and Justin Bieber. According to Variety, Liam Payne’s fellow contestant said his death “serves as a painful reminder of the systemic neglect that persists in the music industry.” The focus of the company is to serve its own interests, not the artist’s. Artists are often forced to do things that are unhealthy or uncomfortable, such as extensive touring, for their label’s profit. This has especially profound and lasting effects on young artists. Even after taking a step back from the industry, many artists struggle to cope with the aftermath of their careers as they grow up, especially in terms of mental health.
Artists are often forced to cope with harassment in unhealthy ways. Drug and alcohol addictions are prominent in the industry, leading to disastrous lifestyles. The music industry has normalized this as just another aspect of being a famous artist. According to Variety, “Drugs and alcohol can be excused in the studio as tools to “heighten creativity,” substances are consumed at all hours, and late nights and late mornings enable a multitude of excess.” Companies not only shouldn’t promote this behavior, they should actively try to prevent it. Without proper policy from the companies, music artists are not cared for properly, causing them to turn to substance abuse. Fame creates a cycle of highs and lows; where the next scandal seems to always be on the verge. Artists seek alcohol and other drugs in order to cope with this unbearable pressure.
Even though artists’ conflicts are highlighted by the media, it’s difficult for the general public to relate to them. At the end of the day, these are people who live in huge mansions, own a designer closet, and are loved by millions of people. It’s a privilege that many would kill for. Therefore, it’s easy to dismiss the pressure of the industry as a worthy tradeoff of fame. While it’s true some artists let their egos get too big leading to bad decision-making, young artists specifically are highly impressionable. Their decisions are largely made by their family and by the company, sometimes with little consideration for the artist’s well-being. Young artists cannot be blamed for their suffering; it is the industry that has a duty to care for them.
It’s a story you’ve seen in the news so many times. Your favorite music artist is getting hate online, dealing with addiction, or worse dead. In light of the recent situations, it’s important to criticize the factors that cause artists to go astray. The pattern of mistreatment and negligence from the music industry must stop to make sure we protect artists.
