Examining the health and well-being experiences of singers in popular music

Heyman, L. and Perkins, R. and Araújo, L. (2019) Examining the health and well-being experiences of singers in popular music. Journal of Popular Music Education, 3 (2) pp. 173-201. ISSN 2397-6721 (print) 2397-673X (online)

Abstract

This study investigated the health and well-being experiences of professional singers in popular music. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of semi-structured interviews with five professional singers identified three main themes: (1) mental and physical experiences of health and support, (2) positive musical experiences and (3) barriers to health and well-being. Participants perceived health as important to their careers and viewed it as both physical and mental in nature. The singers relied on family and industry peers for support, whilst experiencing mental health challenges and physical health problems in the context of an emotionally intense landscape. Positive musical experiences involved the self-expression of songwriting, live music performance and relationships with fans, and barriers to health and well-being included touring, commercial challenges and a perceived lack of support. The findings suggest a need for increased awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by singers in popular music.

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