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The inaugural Musicians’ Census revealed that nearly half of employed musicians in the UK earn less than £14,000 annually from their music. While some, like Ed Sheeran and Adele, may be fortunate enough to make millions, the majority have to supplement their income with a second job or side hustle. We interviewed three accomplished musicians to gain insight into the challenges and practicalities of juggling a music career with a “parallel life.”
“My followers are stunned to hear that I will be returning to the office tomorrow.”
Matt Baty, vocalist for the Newcastle-based stoner metal band Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs and manager of music publishing synchronization.
Following my graduation from university, I relocated to Manchester with the goal of creating a musical group. We were able to secure a contract with a record label, launch an album, and embark on tours, all while balancing other jobs during the day. It can be easy to question if we are on the right track, but then it becomes clear that this is the norm unless we have a major hit and gain widespread recognition.
During my job search, mentioning that I was part of a band often led to rejection. Employers assumed I would be absent frequently. In certain cases, requesting time off for tours resulted in termination. I came to understand that most jobs are not conducive to the demands of being in a successful band.
After returning to Newcastle and starting Pigs, I quickly realized that the only way for it to be successful was to work in the music industry with individuals who understood my circumstances. I now work for Wipe Out, a music publisher based in the north-east, where my role involves seeking out opportunities for artists to have their songs featured in TV, film, and games. Even while on tour, I bring a laptop with me and continue working in the van. The band’s achievements have also been beneficial; after performing in LA, I was able to connect with individuals in the US music industry whom I had previously been unable to reach.
Our main focus was never on earning a large sum of money and the other members of the band also have jobs. With four albums under our belt, we have reached a stage where our earnings from concerts are satisfactory, but the number of such opportunities is limited each year.
I now make an effort to temper the expectations of younger musicians when I talk to them. As a kid, I would read Kerrang! magazine and see all these bands and think, “I want to do that and get paid for it.” However, my reality turned out to be different. Despite this, every time we perform, it takes me back to my 18-year-old self and I can’t help but think, “If he could see me now, he’d be thrilled.”
One of my pupils saw me on Strictly with the band Simple Minds.
Catherine Anne Davies, known as the Anchoress, is a beloved artist on 6Music. She has performed at Glastonbury and joined Simple Minds on tour. In addition, she is a lecturer in both English literature and songwriting.
All the people I am acquainted with in the music industry have additional occupations. There is no need to feel embarrassed about it as it has become commonplace. Even during my time touring with Simple Minds from 2014 to 2018, the band members all had other sources of income because we were not on tour for the entire year. Hence, it was necessary to have another means of supporting ourselves.
Many of us long for the simpler times when artists were able to solely focus on their craft without the pressures of the current music industry. In a recent conversation, Nicky Wire of Manic Street Preachers mentioned that he has never held a job other than delivering newspapers. It makes me wonder if Simple Minds would have still created their hit song “New Gold Dream” if they had all been employed. Sadly, the industry today is mostly controlled by individuals from privileged financial backgrounds.
I have a job during the day, so I am not completely without money. However, if I did not have this job, I would not be able to pursue my passion for music. I come from a working-class family and attended a public school. Despite this, I received a scholarship to attend university and was also given funding to complete a master’s degree. I created my first EP while living in my university dorm, and I purchased my first keyboard from Argos using money from my student loan. In 2016, while working on my PhD and teaching English to foreign students, I also released my album Confessions of a Romance Novelist.
I am currently instructing one day per week on two separate master’s programs, focusing on literature and songwriting. While my contract does not guarantee a set number of hours, this arrangement allows for greater flexibility and availability. Fortunately, the program has been accommodating and recognizes the importance of my other commitments, such as performing at Glastonbury with Manic Street Preachers. I recall a specific incident where my makeup caused my inexpensive suit from Asos to stain. Nowadays, the majority of my teaching is conducted online, but it is important not to overextend myself as there is always a new and eager generation of individuals vying for my position, much like in the music industry.
I recently released my latest album, Versions, independently and have earned more from pre-orders than I did when I released two albums under record labels. However, now that I have a young child at home, there is an added financial strain. After performances, I make it a priority to go home so I can spend time with my child in the mornings. It can be challenging to transition from the high energy of performing to the responsibilities of parenting or work. I try to maintain some separation between the two, although one of my students once caught me on Strictly Come Dancing with Simple Minds. I jokingly told them, “Oh yes, that’s my other life.”
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“When I discovered that we were endorsing the Foo Fighters, I was working at the supermarket.”
Joe Williams, the vocalist and guitarist of the up-and-coming Welsh band Himalayas, recently collaborated with the lead singer of AC/DC… but he has not quit his job at the supermarket.
During our time in school together, our dream was to create a band and pursue it as a full-time career. However, once we turned 16, we all began working and have held different jobs throughout the past six years of our band’s existence. Personally, I have worked in the service industry and currently hold a job at a supermarket. My bandmate Louis [Heaps, bass] has likely worked at every coffee shop in Cardiff. When we first asked for time off to go on tour, there were always interesting conversations and questions about our band. Thankfully, we have been fortunate enough to receive support from those around us. Our jobs may not be secure, but my employer granted me unpaid leave to record our second album, which was amazing. While there may be some dread about returning to work on Monday after a four-week tour in Europe, having a job allows me to continue pursuing my passion.
Prior to signing a global record deal in 2022, Himalayas had accumulated over 40 million streams, now reaching 60 million. This translated to roughly £300-£400 each month for five years, allowing us to purchase a van and equipment, perform at South by Southwest in Texas, and advance to the next level. Our manager shared our album with Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC and a close friend. Brian had kind words to say about it and even provided us with lyrics that we turned into a song. As a result, our upcoming single VOV is co-written with the prominent AC/DC frontman. It’s a surreal experience, but we were only able to share the news with our families until it was officially announced.
While working at the supermarket, I learned that we will be opening for the Foo Fighters at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff next June, performing in front of 75,000 people. This will be our largest show yet. Although we all still have other jobs, we can see a potential future where music is our only profession. Our employers are aware that our ultimate goal has always been to pursue music, but our jobs have sustained the band until now. Finally, we are beginning to achieve some of the incredible things we once only imagined.
The latest albums by The Anchoress and Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, titled Versions and Land of Sleeper respectively, are now available. Additionally, Himalayas’ debut album From Hell to Here has also been released. In the upcoming year, Himalayas will release their single VOV.
Source: theguardian.com
