The Artist Who Always Plays the Victim

Not every struggling artist is a victim.

Some artists become experts at looking like victims while manipulating the people trying to help them.

At the beginning, these artists are usually very easy to work with.

They agree with everything.

They listen carefully.

They seem grateful.

They promise to work hard.

They tell managers, sponsors, and supporters exactly what they want to hear.

Because of this, people invest in them.

Someone pays for studio time. Someone pays for videos. Someone spends countless hours making calls and creating opportunities. Someone believes in their talent.

Everything looks positive.

Then the artist experiences a little success....

Maybe a song starts gaining attention.

Maybe some money arrives.

Maybe people begin recognizing them in public.

Suddenly, their attitude starts changing....

The same artist who once listened to advice now rejects it.

The same artist who once asked questions now believes they have all the answers.

The same artist who once appreciated support now behaves as if success happened by itself.

Any criticism becomes an attack.

Any disagreement becomes disrespect.

Any attempt to guide them becomes "control."

This is where manipulation often appears.

The artist begins rewriting history.

The people who invested money become selfish.

The people who gave advice become jealous.

The people who sacrificed time become enemies.

The artist starts telling a new story.

A story where they achieved everything alone.

A story where nobody really helped them.

A story where everyone is trying to hold them back.

This allows the artist to avoid an uncomfortable truth:

Success was not achieved alone.

Psychologists call this self-serving bias.

When things go well, a person takes all the credit.

When things go badly, they blame everyone else.

The artist becomes the hero of every success and the victim of every failure.

Nothing is ever their fault.

If a show fails, somebody sabotaged them.

If money disappears, somebody cheated them.

If relationships collapse, somebody betrayed them.

If opportunities are lost, somebody was jealous.

There is always an excuse.

There is always a villain.

There is never accountability.

Over time, people begin noticing the pattern.

Every former manager is called controlling.

Every former sponsor is called greedy.

Every former friend is called fake.

Every former advisor is called negative.

When everybody becomes the problem, it may be time to ask a difficult question:

Who is the common denominator?

One of the strongest warning signs is when an artist starts believing that nobody understands the industry except them.

They reject advice before hearing it.

They dismiss experience.

They confuse confidence with wisdom.

A little success convinces them they have mastered everything.

Yet the music industry is full of talented people whose careers ended because they stopped learning.

The artist may claim people are trying to control them. Sometimes this is true.

But sometimes the accusation itself becomes a tool of manipulation.

By accusing others of being controlling, the artist avoids responsibility.

By playing the victim, the artist gains sympathy.

By reversing the roles, they become the injured party while the people who helped them become the villains.

This is known as projection.

A person accuses others of the very behavior they refuse to see in themselves.

The tragedy is that this type of artist often pushes away the people who genuinely care.

The people willing to tell the truth leave first.

The people willing to challenge bad decisions disappear.

Only the people who say "yes" remain.

And that is usually when the real decline begins.

The strongest artists are not the ones who always feel right.

They are the ones willing to ask: "What if I am wrong?"

That question has saved more careers than talent ever will.

Psychology Insight

Some people develop a habit of protecting their ego by blaming others, rejecting criticism, and presenting themselves as victims. This allows them to avoid feelings of failure or insecurity. While everyone does this occasionally, it becomes destructive when it turns into a permanent pattern.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in this article are intended for educational and informational purposes only. They are based on psychological principles, professional observations, and experiences within the music industry.

This article does not diagnose any individual or suggest that all artists, managers, sponsors, or industry professionals behave in the ways described. Human behavior is complex, and every situation is unique.

The purpose of this series is to encourage reflection, awareness, healthier professional relationships, and a better understanding of the psychological dynamics that can influence success, failure, leadership, fame, and personal growth within the music industry.

© The Hidden Games of the Music Industry

By Asimina Kouloukouri Clinical Psychologist & Psychotherapist

CEO, Exelsior Records

References -

. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

- . Rethinking Narcissism.

- . Research on self-esteem and self-serving bias.

- . Research on cognitive biases and decision-making. - Studies on self-serving bias, projection, accountability, and narcissistic traits.