i actually don’t think we’ve ever had a musical climate where artists could disappear at the beginning of their careers. look at the artists who became institutions over the last 20 years.
lady gaga released the fame in 2008 and spent the following year everywhere: opening for new kids on the block and the pussycat dolls, then doing her own fame ball tour before the fame monster came out in 2009.
beyoncé released dangerously in love in 2003, and between that and b’day in 2006 she was touring, performing constantly, doing films and appearing in major commercial campaigns. then came dreamgirls, cadillac records, obsessed and the i am… world tour.
rihanna released music of the sun in 2005, a girl like me in 2006 and good girl gone bad in 2007. she was touring almost continuously too, including her own 2006 tour and the worldwide good girl gone bad tour from 2007 to 2009.
nicki released pink friday in 2010 and was everywhere between that and pink friday: roman reloaded in 2012: features, award shows, television, promotional performances, album signings, then her first headlining tour.
these women never took a break in their early 20’s and 30’s.
I’m sorry but we’re in a musical climate where if you’re not an established artist you cannot take a long break fr because people will not care when you come back.