Quiet Quitting: A Missed Opportunity in Messaging

The new hot button message currently bandied about in the latest media push is two-tiered: the first tier is the concern over the country’s education scores, and the second-tier is the work force “phoning it in” or “quiet quitting.”

The media is very good at creating catchphrases. They have wasted no time in coining the phrase “Quiet Quitting,” to bring a sense of urgency to the public’s attention. To give credit where credit is due, no one drives sales like the media once they have a new catchphrase.

There is an oft-repeated saying or an “old saw” amongst musicians: “Repetition is the mother of skill.” In the case of the media, when they latch onto something that they feel will keep their audience “glued to the tube” or the radio, they are like a junkyard dog with a pant-leg in its mouth. They are relentless! And when they decide on a new unified catchphrase to drive ratings, watch out! You will hear it all day, every day, until a new crisis is created.

For the most part, they are right, but instead of using the opportunity to focus on positive messaging and solution-based thinking, as usual the spin is negative. What they drastically overlook is the why. The media is glad to yell “fire,” but instead of thinking like the fire marshal and focusing on prevention, they focus on the event and not the cause. We are glad to point fingers at the “what” but are unwilling to investigate the “why.” Owning the “why” takes integrity, and, apparently, that is too inconvenient.

The music industry could really jump on this messaging opportunity, but we are slower to take advantage of messaging and much less unified than the news media. This is a chance for the music media to say, “Hey, what have we been telling you for the last two decades? If you want better test scores, incorporate creativity, and support the arts!” The problem is that we, as an industry, have left the messaging on the table.

Kudos to NAMM for their work on Capitol Hill for the last 15-plus years, with a wonderful team of volunteers and a well-crafted message regarding the benefits of learning to play music. But to truly impact the big picture of creative education, it will take an even bigger voice. It takes all horses pulling in the same direction at the same time. We need unity in messaging as an industry! We just need to think more like John Lennon: “You may call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.” It’s not impossible!

The other opportunity missed by the media is labeling. What is happening is not quiet quitting – it’s self-reflection, and the desire for reinvention. Look at how many people took early retirement during COVID and how many people are simply not willing to come back to the workforce. The reason is simple: there is very little opportunity for creativity or sustained gratification garnered from their jobs.

This is a golden opportunity for the music education industry to expand its audience. We need to be shouting from the rooftops: “Come join us!” This is a fresh chance to prove that the arts bring families their best chance for introducing creativity into a child’s learning. It’s also a chance to welcome adults back into the tent.

As an industry, sending a united message that motivates recently retired adults, or socially stifled teens, is essential. It is a message of possibilities. It is also a chance to send a family message. “Quiet Quitting” or “Rekindling Your Creative Passion” – which message motivates you?

Every once in a while there is an opportunity to act as an industry on a unified message. Don’t believe me? Watch how much the national media runs with the poor education-scores story. Between that, and the new branding of “quiet 1uitting,” the media will have a field-day when talking about discontent. But they won’t focus on creative solutions, so, as an industry, we should!

This is a chance to reconnect music with adults who crave a rekindling with creative opportunities. It’s the adults who are not creatively fulfilled who are “quietly quitting.” What we should be talking about is the creative satisfaction garnered from self-exploration, and the benefits of engaging imagination through playing music.

Maybe a better name for the syndrome they call “quiet quitting” should be “The Great Awakening!”

It has a much better ring to it.