A new study conducted by researchers at Witten University in Germany has revealed that fame shortens the lifespan of musicians by an average of 4.6 years. Published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, the study is the first to show a direct link between fame and the risk of death by comparing data from famous musicians and lesser-known artists.
The study examined 648 singers; half of them were from the “2,000 most famous musicians” list, and the other half were lesser-known artists. Famous names included some of the most recognizable stars in music history, such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Bruce Springsteen. Academics matched each famous artist with a similar “lesser-known” musician in terms of characteristics such as gender, nationality, and musical genre. According to the results, the average life expectancy of famous singers was calculated as 75 years, while for lesser-known musicians it was 79 years. The study emphasizes that the risk of death due to fame poses a health threat as significant as occasional smoking. Researchers note that factors such as loss of privacy, intense public pressure, and high performance stress can increase this risk. The study also revealed that solo artists have a higher risk of death compared to group members, which may be due to the “emotional and practical support” in groups. Previous research has shown that drug and alcohol use, intense touring schedules, and a “live fast, die young” culture can negatively impact the lifespan of musicians. The “27 Club,” which has a wide presence in popular culture, continues to be one of the symbols of this debate. The study points out the gender imbalance, noting that 83.5% of the data consists of male artists. Nevertheless, researchers state that the findings show that fame generally has a serious and undeniable impact on health and lifespan. The study highlights the gender imbalance, noting that 83.5% of the data consists of male artists. Nevertheless, researchers state that the findings show that fame generally has a serious and undeniable impact on health and lifespan. The study also points out …
