Sustainable and Unsustainable Semi-professionalism: Grassroots Music Careers in Folk and Metal

Sociological research often treats small-time music-making as a step toward a professional music career. However, some music scenes facilitate long-term small-time music careers. I compare career trajectories in two local music scenes: the folk and heavy metal scenes in Toronto. While small-time metal musicians generally cease public performance by their early 30s, many local folk musicians remain active into retirement without professionalizing. Based on 63 qualitative interviews and 70 instances of participant-observation, I highlight two features of these music scenes that make small-time careers more sustainable in folk than in heavy metal: stylistic conventions and the organization of music-making spaces.