Learn six tips to cope and thrive in the music industry, such as setting realistic goals, managing your time, taking care of yourself, seeking support, keeping learning, and having fun.

One of the best career development hacks is to take evening or weekend extension courses in subjects where you lack expertise. A marketing coordinator might benefit from a class in project management; a talent manager might better serve their client by taking courses in social media analytics; a lawyer can improve her skills by taking basic accounting. Those are just a few examples, but with so many online and in-person options – and so many ways to vet the instructors – there’s really no excuse to stagnate! Happy hunting.

How can you avoid burnout in the music industry?

The music industry can be an exciting and rewarding career path, but it can also be demanding and stressful. Whether you are a performer, producer, manager, or any other role, you may face long hours, tight deadlines, constant pressure, and high expectations. These factors can lead to burnout, which is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that affects your creativity, productivity, and well-being. How can you avoid burnout in the music industry? Here are some tips to help you cope and thrive.

1 Set realistic goals

One of the main causes of burnout is setting unrealistic or unachievable goals for yourself or your projects. You may feel like you have to work harder and faster than everyone else, or that you have to please everyone and meet every demand. This can lead to frustration, disappointment, and resentment. To avoid this, set realistic and specific goals that are aligned with your values, skills, and resources. Break down your goals into manageable steps and prioritize the most important ones. Celebrate your achievements and learn from your failures.

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Nancy Lipman

Self-mastery, manifestation and energetics for creative visionaries and talent | Rock the stage you were born for
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I believe goal setting is what makes us burnout eventually because if we don’t achieve it we become resentful and sometimes want to quit. The best way to avoid burnout is decide how you want to FEEL in the music industry. What’s important to you? How can you become more confident and relaxed knowing you are in alignment with your goals. Stay away from comparing yourself to other people and stay super focused on your lane, and master your energy. Meditation, self care and yoga is a great place to start!

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Tyler Budd

Senior Director, Digital
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In my experience, breaking goals down into manageable components is the best way to tackle tasks that may seem overwhelming at times. Goals can always be adjusted, as long as you are moving in a thoughtful and purposeful direction. The pathway isn't always linear, but enjoy the process and build with others who also share the same values. The cliche is true - it is really a marathon, not a sprint!

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2 Manage your time

Another cause of burnout is poor time management. You may have too many tasks, commitments, or distractions that prevent you from focusing on your core activities. You may also struggle to balance your work and personal life, leading to neglecting your health, relationships, or hobbies. To avoid this, manage your time effectively and efficiently. Use a calendar, planner, or app to organize your schedule and track your progress. Delegate or outsource tasks that are not essential or that you are not good at. Say no to requests or opportunities that are not aligned with your goals or values. Make time for yourself and your loved ones.

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Tyler Budd

Senior Director, Digital
(edited)
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"Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else." - Peter Drucker Early in my career, I found myself 'losing time' and working later than my colleagues because I was mismanaging it. Utilizing time blocking was a powerful exercise to start managing my time effectively. Luckily, its common place for even smaller organizations to have project management software so workload and tasks can be organized. Within this dynamic, it important to have open communication with your manager to ensure workload balance to prevent burnout.

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3 Take care of yourself

A third cause of burnout is poor self-care. You may neglect your physical, mental, or emotional needs because you are too busy or stressed. You may also adopt unhealthy habits such as skipping meals, sleeping poorly, or abusing substances. This can affect your mood, energy, and performance. To avoid this, take care of yourself and your well-being. Eat well, sleep well, and exercise regularly. Avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, or drugs. Seek professional help if you have any health issues or concerns. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, or breathing exercises. Express your feelings and thoughts to someone you trust or in a journal.

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4 Seek support

A fourth cause of burnout is isolation or lack of support. You may feel like you are alone or misunderstood in your challenges or struggles. You may also feel like you have to do everything by yourself or that you have no one to turn to. This can affect your confidence, motivation, and resilience. To avoid this, seek support from others who can help you cope and grow. Connect with your peers, mentors, or role models in the music industry who can offer you advice, feedback, or inspiration. Join a network, community, or group of like-minded professionals who can share your experiences, challenges, or opportunities. Reach out to your friends, family, or partner who can provide you with emotional, social, or practical support.

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5 Keep learning

A fifth cause of burnout is boredom or stagnation. You may feel like you are not learning, growing, or improving in your craft or career. You may also feel like you are stuck in a rut or that you have no passion or purpose. This can affect your creativity, innovation, and satisfaction. To avoid this, keep learning and developing your skills, knowledge, and abilities. Seek new challenges, opportunities, or projects that can stretch you and push you out of your comfort zone. Explore new genres, styles, or formats that can spark your interest and curiosity. Invest in your education, training, or coaching that can enhance your expertise and credentials.

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Charles W. Hamilton
(edited)
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One of the best career development hacks is to take evening or weekend extension courses in subjects where you lack expertise. A marketing coordinator might benefit from a class in project management; a talent manager might better serve their client by taking courses in social media analytics; a lawyer can improve her skills by taking basic accounting. Those are just a few examples, but with so many online and in-person options – and so many ways to vet the instructors – there’s really no excuse to stagnate! Happy hunting.

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Daniel McNamara

A&R / Digital Marketing Manager at Ostereo | Director at Mara Music Group
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Accept that not every release campaign is going to be a huge success. It sucks, I know! You've spent months curating the best track and promo/content strategy for your release, and your record gets no traction. It can be an incredibly disheartening process, for sure, but it's important to recognise what you gained from this experience and what you can improve on for your next release. Note that although records have a window of promotion, if your record doesn't hit initially, it doesn't mean that it won't eventually. So take a step back and don't be disheartened that you didn't get the outcome you wanted - sometimes releases can take some time to properly translate.

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Kemal Mermutlu, EMBA

Senior Creative Industry Professional | 15+ years' experience in broadcasting (BBC Radio) and streaming (Amazon Music) to millions of fans
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Learning new skills and having new experiences is a great way to avoid burnout. This can be done in a variety of ways. Why not explore mentorship (either being a mentor or a mentee can offer fresh insights and reinvigorate your passion for music), collaborative projects or signing up for courses to learn new aspects to your craft? YouTube is a great starting point if you're low on ideas!

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6 Have fun

A sixth cause of burnout is lack of fun or enjoyment. You may feel like you are not having fun or enjoying your work or life. You may also feel like you are losing sight of your vision, mission, or values. This can affect your happiness, fulfillment, and meaning. To avoid this, have fun and enjoy yourself and your work. Remember why you chose the music industry and what you love about it. Find joy and gratitude in the process, not just the outcome. Celebrate your wins and milestones, no matter how big or small. Reward yourself and treat yourself to something you like or want. Have fun and enjoy yourself and your work.

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Kemal Mermutlu, EMBA

Senior Creative Industry Professional | 15+ years' experience in broadcasting (BBC Radio) and streaming (Amazon Music) to millions of fans
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It sounds simple and can be more difficult to achieve than you think, but having fun and enjoying the work will make it not feel like work! Celebrate the wins and focus on the journey.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you avoid burnout in the music industry?

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1 Set realistic goals

2 Manage your time

3 Take care of yourself

4 Seek support

5 Keep learning

6 Have fun

7 Here’s what else to consider

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