Pushed to the limit: How the music industry continues to fail its artists

On 27 September, British singer Lola Young was filmed collapsing on stage during her set at the All Things Go Festival in New York in front of 20,000 people. After taking to Instagram to reassure fans that she was okay, she later cancelled all of her upcoming shows, stating that she needed to “go away for a while” so she can “come back stronger”. One of the reasons for this could be exhaustion after the release of her third album, I’m Only F**king Myself, only one year on from her second album, This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, which features her hit single, ‘Messy’, which boosted her to international acclaim and, naturally, brought more pressure. 

Since the beginning of the entertainment industry, performers have been exploited by their managers in order to make a profit for themselves

This follows Lewis Capaldi’s surprise return to music after a two-year hiatus, which he announced after his set at Glastonbury 2023, where his Tourette’s symptoms became noticeably more pronounced, rendering him unable to sing. He later took a step back from music for both mental and physical health reasons following his Tourette’s Syndrome diagnosis. 

These cases are not isolated incidents. Since the beginning of the entertainment industry, performers have been exploited by their managers in order to make a profit for themselves, and simultaneously maintain the relevancy of the artist. 

Famously, Elvis Presley was financially abused by his manager, Tom Parker, whose gambling addiction and legal position in the US controlled Presley’s career. Parker refused to let Presley perform outside of the US out of fear that his immigration status would be exposed. This was combined with a constant need to make money to fuel his gambling addiction, meaning that Presley was forced to act in movies, as well as committing to an exhausting performance schedule. Many believe Parker’s pressure eventually led to Presley’s death in 1977, at just 42 years old. 

There are countless videos and photographs of Amy Winehouse on stage performing when she was clearly unwell

Similarly, there are countless videos and photographs of Amy Winehouse on stage performing when she was clearly unwell. Most notably, during her show in Belgrade in 2011 (the final performance before her death) she stumbled across the stage, forgot lyrics, clutched herself for comfort, and fought back tears. This distressing scene lasted 45 minutes, until she was eventually booed off stage by fans. 

In the years since her devastating death, accusations have been made against her father, Mitch Winehouse, accusing him of exploiting his daughter for her own personal gain. In the famous documentary, Amy, which won an Oscar in 2015, it is implied that Mitch and her management, including Raye Cosbert, allowed, or even pressured, her to continue performing despite clearly being unwell. The film also suggests that Winehouse delayed his daughter’s rehabilitation, telling her that she “didn’t need to go to rehab”, possibly enabling her destructive behaviour. 

While Winehouse has denied these accusations in the media, such as in the subsequent documentary Reclaiming Amy on the BBC, many fans remain unconvinced of his role in his daughter’s life. 

The music industry continues to prioritise profit and fame over the health of the artist

Even today, artists continue to speak out about exploitation at the hands of managers and others within the industry. With the rise of TikTok, many artists including Charli XCX, FKA Twigs, and Halsey have criticised the pressure of going viral on the app, revealing how marketing the songs is just as important as the music itself. In addition to this, artists have come forward to share their experiences of abuse from people within the industry. A recent example of this is RAYE’s heartbreaking song, ‘Ice Cream Man’, where she recounts her experience of being sexually assaulted by a producer, showing that exploitation of artists isn’t a thing of the past. 

From the untimely deaths of Elvis Presley and Amy Winehouse, to Lola Young collapsing on stage in front of thousands, there is a clear pattern and a hard truth that needs to be confronted: the music industry continues to prioritise profit and fame over the health of the artist. Whether its managers pushing for new music, an exhausting performing schedule, or relentless pressure to stay relevant on social media, musicians are often pushed to their limits. 

Real change will require more than awareness, it demands accountability and stronger protections for artists to ensure that their well-being is a bigger priority than profit in the industry. Until then, the cycle of destruction is destined to repeat itself, with more artists added to the endless list of those who have faced exploitation and abuse.