From NME · · 2m
Why veteran artists quit touring
Veteran musicians cite mental health and financial strain as reasons for abandoning touring.
In brief
Veteran musicians cite mental health and financial strain as reasons for abandoning touring. Frank Turner and Enter Shikari have ended touring after years of performing, highlighting industry pressures on artists' mental health and finances. Originally reported by NME.
Frank Turner ends touring
After 28 years on the road, 10 albums and well over 3,000 shows, Turner says it’s time for a change.
“After 28 years on the road, 10 albums and well over 3,000 shows, it’s time for a change”
Enter Shikari takes indefinite hiatus
The band plans to fall dormant as a recording and performing entity by the end of 2027.
“Enter Shikari then announced their own indefinite hiatus, with plans to "fall dormant as a recording and performing entity" at the end of 2027”
Rou Reynolds on mental health
Touring causes mental health strain, with Reynolds saying the industry’s pressures are "death by a thousand cuts".
“But we do this because we love it. And we are lucky enough to have built an audience who understand that the less-trodden path is sometimes the more interesting journey”
Frank Turner’s reasons
Turner cites harder touring economics, social media’s impact on the music industry, and health concerns.
“the economics of touring have gotten harder, the music industry has been swallowed by social media in a way that doesn’t really interest me, and as I get older my physical and mental health could do with some care”
Charli XCX on touring
Charli XCX says touring is emotionally and physically hard for her, leading to a reduced tour schedule.
“I am not looking for sympathy and I have a huge amount of respect for artists who can handle it at an intense, lengthy and high octane level, but I am just not one of those human beings and I never have been”
David Martin on artist needs
David Martin of the Featured Artists Coalition says artists need to balance business and personal elements.
“Artists need to be able to make art and deliver art. To do that, you need the right conditions. Not everybody wants to be Ed Sheeran”
Garbage’s touring model
Garbage plans to adopt a different touring model due to perplexing costs and record industry thievery.
“Garbage announced that they’d be adopting a "different model" of touring, sharing that recent European dates and stops in certain UK and North American cities could be the last time they play there”
Noahfinnce’s challenges
Noahfinnce, a YouTuber-turned-pop-punk artist, says touring is financially and emotionally unsustainable.
“Because I’m autistic, I get incredibly burnt out. Over the past few years, that’s what’s been happening”
FAC UKAT funding
The FAC’s UKAT funding helps artists who can’t afford to tour, with donations from major artists.
“Noahfinnce, real name Noah Finn Adams, is one of the lucky recipients of the FAC’s UKAT funding, a "seriously game-changing" pot of money via the Live Trust’s levy of ticket money from arena gigs”
Venue closures impact
Over 35 million people in the UK lack live music due to venue closures and the "complete collapse of touring".
“The latter has left around 35million people without live music in their area or community”
Noahfinnce on cost of living
Rising costs and unfair agreements make touring a luxury for many artists.
“I genuinely feel that a lot of people see going to shows as a luxury”
Rou Reynolds on support
Reynolds advocates for government funding to support grassroots music venues and artists.
“Often a lot of the money from a lot of these government funds just gets funnelled to the "high arts"”
Music Venue Trust’s role
The Music Venue Trust has distributed £500,000 to grassroots venues to keep them afloat.
“So far, MVT has distributed £500,000 to the grassroots to keep venues afloat and reverse the trend of closure”
Future of live music
Reynolds believes a return to communal creative spaces and physical music experiences is inevitable.
“I do see a backlash and a return where it’ll be local bands, artists, DJs, producers starting off in little scenes again, then it just becomes bigger and bigger”
Touring challenges for new artists
Over 1.5 million young people in the UK have given up on music careers due to financial pressures.
“Research showed that 1.5million young people across the country had given up on their ambitions of pursuing a career in music”
What matters most
Frank Turner and Enter Shikari have ended touring after years of performing, highlighting industry pressures on artists' mental health and finances.
