High Hopes, High Pressure - Artist De­ve­lo­p­ment meets psy­chi­sche Ge­sund­heit

Today, a music career can gain momentum very quickly. Public visibility, high expectations, criticism, and the pressure to succeed often coincide with a stage of life in which personal development and professional demands unfold at the same time. But who prepares young artists for this side of the profession?

In the panel “Being an Artist – What Does No One Really Prepare You For?”, artist JAS, psychologist Anne Löhr, and Nilgün Öz, Senior Director Corporate Social Responsibility & Event Services at Universal Music Germany, discuss the unique challenges artists face at the beginning of their careers. JAS has been an established part of the music industry for around three years and brings the perspective of a young artist who has experienced these early stages of a career firsthand. He shares the expectations, changes, and challenges that come with them.

What kind of guidance and support do they need? How can personal resources, resilience, and self-management skills be strengthened? And what conditions can the music industry create to support sustainable, long-term artist careers?

The discussion is based on BRIDGES, Universal Music Germany’s artist development program. BRIDGES combines psychological expertise, individual support, and practical methods with the day-to-day realities of young artists’ professional lives.