Safa Heraghi - Under Pressure? - Creative entrepreneurialism and its impact on Dutch metal musicians

Sep 13, 2026

Creative entrepreneurship’s precariousness can be underestimated when only established professional musicians receive visibility, while many others pursue equal success. The study shows that music-industry outcomes depend on multiple non-musical factors beyond technical mastery. Fluid “hands-on” labour ideology blurs industry rules and weakens prospects for stable livelihoods, especially in the Netherlands’ non-mainstream metal scene. Through ten interviews, it identifies how musical practices build social bonds, while occupational instability endangers mental health and self-confidence. The findings also highlight industry gatekeeping, fan-driven consumerism, and the complex role of entrepreneurialism in viable metal careers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages58

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Theoretical Framework

Methods and analysis

Results

Under Pressure? Creative entrepreneurialism and its impact on Dutch metal musicians Safa Heraghi 528102 Research Master’s Thesis June 2021 Master Arts, Culture, and Society School of History, Culture, and Communication Erasmus University Rotterdam Supervisor: dr Julian Schaap Coordinator: dr Michaël J. Berghman Abstract With only established professional musicians being in the spotlight while many others are striving for equal professional music success, creative entrepreneurship’s precariousness can be underestimated. Ambitious musicians often assume that mastering their skills is sufficient to create professional opportunities and a stable command over their music career. However, music industry practices demonstrate that various additional non-musical factors are essential for success, making most performing artists struggle to attain or sustain career success as professional musicians. As fluid“hands-on” labour is a widely spread ideology that blurs music industry rules, chances for a steady livelihood decrease. In the Netherlands, this is especially true for metal music as non-mainstream community music. This paper investigates how (Dutch) professional metal musicians navigate their careers between intrinsic artistic expression and pressure-inducing entrepreneurialism in a field where creative entrepreneurship has become the norm. Qualitative data from ten in-depth interviews with Dutch metal musicians was used to find that (a) musicking forms intrapersonal social bonds and encourages self-actualisation,(b) occupational instability threatens mental health and confidence in one’s self and music,(c) music industry practices facilitate music production for a few musicians and exploit the majority, (d) metal fans equally motivate musicians’ career enthusiasm and disqualify musicians’ musical endeavours through convenient consumerism. In this sense, the paper argues that creative entrepreneurialism has become an essential aspect of viable metal music careers, withstanding negative consequences for many musicians in regards to 1) precariousness and 2)(mental) health outcomes. Keywords: Creative entrepreneurship, entrepreneurialism, musicpreneurship, intellectual property, identity work, occupational instability, precariousness, metal music, music therapy, the netherlands Table of contents Abstract....................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Table of contents ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................................................................. 5 1. Creative work and entrepreneurship .......................................................................................................... 5 a. The creative entrepreneur ................................................................................................................ 6 b. The success variables ........................................................................................................................ 9 2. Precariousness in metal entrepreneurship ............................................................................................... 10 a. Organisational structure ................................................................................................................. 12 b. Industry structure and market ........................................................................................................ 14 c. Occupational careers........................................

FAQs

What does the thesis argue about creative entrepreneurship in metal music careers?

It argues that creative entrepreneurialism has become essential for viable metal music careers, but it produces negative consequences for many musicians, especially around precariousness and mental health outcomes.

Which non-musical factors affect professional success according to the paper?

Beyond mastering musical skills, the paper highlights additional non-musical factors shaped by music industry practices, organizational and industry structures, and broader market and legal conditions.

How does occupational instability influence musicians’ well-being?

Occupational instability threatens mental health and confidence in one’s self and music, undermining performers’ ability to attain or sustain professional career success.

Sep 13, 2026

Uploaded by Chumphorn