hobby: an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation
Recently, CD Baby head Tony Van Veen was forced to defend his artists from the slur that "a sizable percentage can be termed 'hobbyists'". I find this term annoying as someone who has tried to work as hard as I can to create good music within the time and energy constraints inherent in (so far) not being able to make a living at it.
One can argue that 'not being able to' amounts to 'not trying hard enough'. A life course, particularly one that involves the two words "music" and "business", can't be explained away that easily. Things can fall into place very easily for some who don't try very hard, and success can elude some of the most talented and hard-working artists. If greatness automatically equates to fame and fortune, why did Stephen Foster, the pioneer of modern songwriting, die penniless?
That's an extreme example, but I can cite many others that point to the corruption and ineptitude of music business executives as the prime reason for great art getting buried. A case in point: I think that Andy Partridge and XTC created some of the greatest rock/pop music ever made, yet the average music listener today has no idea who XTC is. Another: one of Partridge's musical idols, 70's songwriter Judee Sill, put out two albums of phenomenally creative and brilliant songs, only to be completely ignored and ultimately pass away virtually unknown.
I think unknown artists who keep plugging away at their music because they love it and think it's important enough to devote time to, despite the frustration of anonymity and lack of income, deserve a more noble term than "hobbyist".