Most musicians don’t quit — they fade

This is how musicians disappear

Author

Josh Schroeder
January 07, 2026

Happy New Year, everyone!

As the new year starts, I’ve been thinking about something I don’t hear talked about enough.

Most musicians don’t quit music.

They just stop reaching for it.

Not because they stopped caring —
but because life got heavier, time got tighter, and somewhere along the way music stopped feeling like a refuge and started feeling like pressure.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking:

  • I used to be creative. What happened?

  • Why does music feel heavy now?

  • Did I miss my window?

I want you to know — you’re not alone, and you’re not broken.

I just released a new video called
“Why Most Musicians Quietly Quit (And Don’t Realize It’s Happening)”

It’s not productivity advice.
It’s a conversation about identity, grief, and how to reconnect with creativity in a life that’s already full.

You can watch it here:
👉 [Watch the video]

This is the first in a new series about the quiet reasons musicians disappear from their own creative lives — and how to come back without guilt or burnout.

If it resonates, I’d love to hear what changed for you when music started to feel harder.

You’re not behind.
You’re not done.

– Josh
Thousand Echoes

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