Creative Survival in Hard Times, penned by New Deal of the Mind for Arts Council England, suggests that although music and the creative industries are seen as key drivers to the UK economy "we treat those who are striving to work in the creative industries abominably with low pay, long internships and little help with professional training."

Many artists criticise the bureaucratic, inflexible attitude of some Jobcentre staff who fail to recognise self employment and freelancing as a valid choice. ...