Precarity en double: The Effect of COVID-19 on Musicians. The case of Greece

This research reveals the struggles musicians faced during the pandemic and how COVID-19 impacted them on various levels of their livelihood. To achieve this, the research employs an interdisciplinary approach to show how those levels interrelate. By exploring how the cancellation of their activities, the loss of connection with their colleagues but also their audience impacted their professional development and made them re interpret their working identity, the focus is on the way they managed to adapt and cope, to sustain themselves economically. The psychological impact played an important role as well as their coping mechanisms as to better understand which habits and practices propelled them forwards despite all difficulties. Thus, the research question is “How has COVID-19 impacted musicians’ professional, economical and psychological wellbeing and how do they cope with the experienced difficulties?” Eleven semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted digitally with musicians from diverse backgrounds, ages and at different stages of their career. This data was fully transcribed and later analyzed with thematic content analysis that revealed five categories with fifteen subcategories. The main categories were formulated in a way to cover the different parts of the research question, meaning the economical, the professional, psychological impact and the coping mechanisms. Surprisingly, another category came up, which concerned the positive impact that the virus had on them. The overall aim of this study was to gain a glimpse as to how COVID-19 impacted the sector of Arts and Culture by focusing on one specific segment of performing artists, musicians. This study contributes to better understanding how the music industry was affected by the virus while having a more human centered approach. It offers an in depth understanding on the way the struggles posed by COVID-19 affected musicians on various levels as it shaped not only their present but also possibly their future. The difficulties which they encountered during this period concerning their economic sustenance and their professional development impacted them also on psychological level indicating how for artists personal and professional identity are interconnected. It also indicates how this experience altered them and made them re interpret their working identity and how it taught them to cope with all kinds of adversities. Through their solidarity during these times of crisis, their spirit of entrepreneurialism but also their love for what they do, they once again showed the dedication to their art and their faith towards music’s contribution to the world. By reviewing musicians working conditions before the apparition of the virus and exploring the difficulties they currently undergo this research indicates how musicians experience a double sense of precarity. By pointing out these difficulties this study paints the landscape as to how the people who are professionally engaged in the field of Arts and Culture are in need of more practical support and additional policies not only as to recuperate for their losses but also in order to secure their sustenance and their blooming in the future.