Can Work Passion Enhance Work Engagement? Evidence from Gen-Z Pre-Production Workers in Large-Scale Concerts within the Indonesian Music Industry

This study examines the relationship between hustle culture and work engagement, with work–leisure conflict as a mediating variable and work passion as a moderating variable, among pre-production workers involved in large-scale concert projects in the Indonesian music industry. A quantitative approach was employed using a cross-sectional survey design, with data collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The sample was predominantly composed of Generation Z workers (63.6%), allowing the findings to primarily reflect Gen Z work experiences in this industry. The results indicate that none of the proposed hypotheses were statistically supported. Hustle culture did not have a significant effect on work engagement, either directly or indirectly through work–leisure conflict, and work passion did not moderate the tested relationships. Despite these findings, the results suggest that work engagement among pre-production concert workers remains high and is largely sustained by intrinsic motivation and a passion for the work and the music industry. These findings highlight the importance of work passion as an internal psychological resource for maintaining engagement among Generation Z workers in highly demanding, dynamic work environments. In practice, this study suggests that organizations in the creative and music industries should prioritize nurturing meaningful, passion-driven work experiences rather than relying on hustle-oriented work norms to sustain employee engagement.