So you want to be a Rock ‘n’ Roll star? Career success of pop musicians in the Netherlands

Can Music Make You Sick? Measuring the Price of Musical Ambition

“…However, as suggested, musicians do not simply make music for economic reasons (Letts, 2013). Numerical barometers -whether financial or otherwise (see Zwaan et al, 2009 for an interesting approach seeking to quantitatively conceptualise musical success outside of fiscal parameters) -have only limited applicability in a subjective universe. Therefore, although what is of relevance here is not how others define the success of musicians but how the subjects define their own success, it is difficult to see how such entangled elements could be clearly understood.…”

Evaluation and Credentialing in Digital Music Communities

“…The evaluation of music has long been part of the cultural and media discourse, including reviews in newspapers, magazines, press coverage, ratings, the Billboard charts, and online commentaries. Often a key cultural intermediary, such as an artist and repertoire (A&R) agent, makes a decision based on a particular work's potential mass appeal (Zwaan, ter Bogt, and Raaijmakers 2009). Upon public release of an album, the press plays a significant role that can "make or break" musicians' careers (Brennan 2006).…”

The emotional bond between neuroticism and music.

“…For instance, Kawase (2016) found that neuroticism was unrelated to music students’ self-evaluation of their performance in solo or ensemble contexts. Similarly, Zwaan, ter Bogt, and Raaijmakers (2009) found neuroticism to be unrelated to objectively assessed career success in young pop musicians. Therefore, although neuroticism may not always be a risk factor for music performance, perhaps many music students engage in initiatives that counter or compensate the negative effect of neuroticism on their musical careers.…”