A story came out earlier this year that has seemed to haunt news outlets and music fans alike: Lola Young cancelled all foreseeable tour dates to prioritise her health. The news comes after a widespread video which depicts the British star fainting onstage in the midst of a performance. The incident was shocking to watch, and yet was filmed and posted from every angle across social media. But more importantly, the inciting incident has sparked back up a long-held debate in the fringes of the global music industry – one centered around artist health, and the mounting pressure to perform.
In the aftermath of the incident, Lola was apologetic, framing the situation around fan expectations. “I’m going away for a while. It pains me to say I have to cancel everything for the foreseeable future,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “Thank you for all the love and support. I’m so sorry to let anyone down who has bought a ticket to see me, it hurts me more than you know. Obviously you will be entitled to a full refund.”
—
—
It’s no secret that conversations around pressures of artists’ health have improved immensely since the start of the decade. Now, topics such as addiction and income are talking points at even the most prestigious of award shows. Yet, alongside the rise in these conversations, we’ve also seen an increasing pressure for artists to overwork themselves. Thanks to a multitude of factors, ranging from parasocial relationships, an overcorrection from the no-gigs COVID days, and of course – the business of music itself, it seems that artists schedules are busier than ever – to the point of being overworked.
If we really want to see how intense it’s got, we can turn to the icon herself, Stevie Nicks. Speaking recently to Rolling Stone, Nicks commented on the tour schedule of a newly-famous Chappell Roan: “Me and a friend of mine went and looked at her schedule, and it was outrageous. What she’s already done and then what she’s going into. It’s as bad as any schedule we ever did, and she’s new, and she’s young.”
—
—
It was Chappell Roan’s aforementioned touring schedule that came to a halt last summer, when she pulled out of a headlining slot at All Things Go festival, stating that she had to put her physical and mental health first. But instead of the outpour of compassion Young received, Roan instead received a wave of backlash from fans. It’s a reaction that many artists who have done the same as Roan have faced. Sam Fender, Fontaines D.C. and Bru-C are just some of many artists who have felt the wrath of fans when prioritising their health over touring. The question then becomes – what makes Lola Young’s decision so different? Was it the fact that her collapse was seen by the world? In other words: do we have to watch artists face a point of exhaustion for us to listen?
It seems that while the topic of mental health is one that continuously grows throughout music, it’s one that seems drowned out by the amounting demand for artists to be readily accessible. Without wellbeing measures being put into place, anyone would struggle in giving so much of themselves to their work on a daily basis. But when the work includes a readily increasing tour schedule, and millions of faces watching your every move, the aftermath can be incredibly harmful. Artists have a duty to their fans to be as honest as possible. But it seems increasingly forgotten that fans have a duty, too – to listen.
Related: The Music Industry’s Growing Mental Health Crisis
—
Words: Lily Blakeney-Edwards
—