Mac Miller, Taylor Hawkins, Juice World, John Bonham, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all have two things in common. The first thing is that they were all top-selling musical artists; the second is that each one of them died while being excessively intoxicated. The list does not end here either; it would probably go on for ages if all of those in the music industry who struggled with addiction, of any form , were also accounted for. So what is the problem? Why does the music industry serve as such a substantial breeding ground for addiction and excessive drug use?
There is a surplus of money to be found in the music industry. As of 2021, the music industry was worth 26 billion dollars, according to The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). Excess amounts of money mean that hedonistic culture can thrive here. Not only are artists able to afford expensive alcohol and the ability to feed their drug habits, but their substances may even be encouraged by the record labels overlooking their addictions to allow the artists to uphold a certain image. This is especially prevalent in rock and hip hop genres. Along with their image that sells, the environments that artists inhabit on a daily basis are home to heavy consumption. Several studies have found that the environment plays a significant role in the likelihood of substance abuse. This explains why artists are more likely to develop substance abuse disorders when they are spending time at parties and concerts because they are surrounded by people getting intoxicated as a means of enhancing the music they are listening to and easing social anxiety. The same studies have also found that environment plays a role in the likelihood of relapse, meaning that artists who are interested in getting sober face a dilemma while maintaining their career and sobriety. The high addiction rates in the music industry may also be attributed to pressure on both up-and-coming and established artists to create new, unique music that sets them apart from others. Many artists claim that the use of psychoactive drugs allows them to be more creative when producing new work, although it is not scientifically proven that drugs enhance creativity according to the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Top-selling artist Harry Styles discussed in an interview with Apple Music’s Beats 1 his use of psilocybin mushrooms in the process of creating one of his more recent albums, Fine Line. In the interview, the singer gives credit to the mushrooms for allowing him to be “fun and creative.”
Messages like these that contribute success to substance abuse are extremely damaging.
While being a hotspot for addiction in artists, the music industry is also at fault for encouraging substance abuse among its listeners. Many musical artists boast about their excessive drug use either in lyrics, interviews, or on social media. Many of these artists also have huge fan bases who idolize them and truly internalize these messages about what it means to be cool or successful. Younger listeners are especially susceptible to believing these messages without recognizing the risks and pain associated with substance abuse.
The trend of substance abuse in musicians and the glamourization of drugs in music needs to be curbed. The ability to do this lies in the hands of the record labels that run the music industry. Instead of feeding off of their artist’s addictions or turning a blind eye, labels could provide resources to support their struggling artists. The issues of addiction and substance abuse will never be defeated entirely. They can, however, be decreased with the right actions.