Original Coverage & Source Attribution: vergemagazine.co.uk
Backline is celebrating its seventh birthday with a look at the people, programmes and partnerships helping to make mental health support more accessible across the music industry.
Working in music can look glamorous from the outside, but life behind the scenes can come with long hours, constant travel, financial uncertainty and intense pressure. For the professionals working on and off the stage, finding mental health support that understands the realities of the industry isn’t always easy.
That’s where Backline comes in.
On 7 October, the national non-profit organisation celebrates seven years of supporting the mental health and wellbeing of music industry professionals and their families. To mark the occasion, Backline has highlighted seven reasons to celebrate the progress it has made since launching in 2019.
1. More Than 4,000 People Have Received One-on-One Support
Since its launch, Backline has connected thousands of people working in music with confidential, individualised mental health support.
Across its Case Management and B-LINE programmes, 4,151 music industry professionals and family members have received free, confidential one-on-one care.
For 3,331 people, that has meant working directly with a Backline Case Manager to create a personalised Care Plan based around their individual circumstances and needs.
The organisation’s approach is designed to help music professionals find appropriate support without having to navigate the process alone.
You can find out more about Backline’s work through its official website.
2. Mental Health Support Is Available 24/7
One of Backline’s biggest developments has been the launch of B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health and crisis support service created specifically for the music industry.
Unlike traditional services that may only be available during standard working hours, B-LINE allows music industry professionals and their families to access support whenever they need it.
In its first eight months, 757 people accessed B-LINE, demonstrating the demand for around-the-clock support within the industry.
Music professionals and their families in the US can access B-LINE by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639.
3. More Than $700,000 Has Gone Towards Mental Health Care
Financial barriers can make accessing therapy and other forms of mental health support difficult, particularly for people working in an industry where employment and income can be unpredictable.
Through its Music’s Mental Health Fund, created in partnership with the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Backline has helped fund more than $700,000 in mental health care.
The support has covered individuals as well as entire touring bands and crews.
Backline’s work has also extended through partnerships and programmes involving organisations including the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, SONA Foundation, Be Good to Yourselves x SIMS Foundation and Red Dirt Relief Fund.
4. Thousands of Clinicians Are Learning About Life in Music
Finding a therapist is one thing. Finding a therapist who genuinely understands the pressures of working in the music industry can be another.
Backline’s Harmony in Practice Clinical Training Workshop aims to bridge that gap by helping mental health professionals understand the unique challenges faced by people working in music.
So far, 1,810 mental health providers have been supported through the programme, helping to grow a network of clinicians who are better equipped to provide ethical and informed care to music professionals.
For someone already dealing with the pressures of touring, unpredictable schedules or life on the road, having access to a provider who understands that environment can make seeking help feel considerably less daunting.
5. Mental Health Has Become Part of the Conversation
Over the past several years, conversations around mental health in music have increasingly moved from behind the scenes into the spotlight.
Artists have played an important role in that shift, using their platforms to encourage more open conversations and support organisations working to improve access to care.
Singer-songwriter Noah Kahan launched the Busyhead Project in 2023, an initiative focused on providing mental health resources and helping tackle stigma.
Following his 2024 Stick Season tour, Kahan collaborated with Backline to bring free mental health care and services to artists and music industry professionals.
Pop star Chappell Roan also made headlines after calling for better mental health awareness and practices within the music industry at the Grammys, subsequently donating $25,000 to Backline’s “We Got You!” fund.
The following Monday, Charli xcx and Noah Kahan matched the donation, becoming major supporters of Backline’s work.
Backline co-founder and Executive Director Hilary Gleason has also received recognition from across the industry, including being featured in Billboard’s 40 Under 40.
6. Support Happens Where the Music Happens
Mental health support doesn’t always need to happen in an office.
Backline has connected 4,587 people in person backstage at venues and festivals, providing services including massage, yoga, IV drips and wellness kits.
The organisation also provides online resources, workbooks and guides designed to support music professionals throughout different stages of their careers.
That focus on meeting people where they are has also extended to major tours.
In June, Backline joined Ariana Grande’s Brighter Days Ahead Foundation, receiving grants designed to improve access to financial assistance and help connect people with therapists, counsellors and wellness professionals.
During Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour performances at Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, Backline also delivered 200 hand-packed wellness bags to crew members working behind the scenes.
Each bag included wellness products intended to support self-care and help reduce stress for the professionals spending long periods on the road.
7. The Music Keeps the Conversation Going
Backline has also worked with artists to put mental health directly in front of audiences.
Every World Mental Health Day, musicians have joined the organisation to raise awareness and encourage conversations around mental wellbeing.
Previous events have featured artists and performers including MisterWives, Joan, Wynonna Judd, Derek Wells, Brittney Spencer, Charles Wesley Godwin, Drake Milligan, Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Madeline Edwards, Maggie Rose, Sierra Hull, Vince Herman and Wyatt Flores.
The Beaches also participated during ACL in 2024, while Backline’s B-LINE launch event brought together DJ Questlove, Steve Earle, Joy Oladokun, Cautious Clay and MELT.
The message is simple: talking about mental health doesn’t have to happen away from music. It can be part of the industry itself.
$6.4 Million Invested in Music Industry Mental Health
Since launching in 2019, Backline says it has invested more than $6.4 million into mental health and wellness within the music industry.
That includes more than $700,000 in direct financial assistance for therapy, while thousands of professionals have received individual support through its Case Management and B-LINE programmes.
For an industry built around creativity, performance and constant movement, Backline’s work aims to ensure that the people making the music have somewhere to turn when they need support themselves.
How to Access Backline Support
Backline is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources.
Its programmes include Case Management, 24/7 B-LINE support, therapy grants, tour support and wellness services.
To learn more about Backline and its available resources, visit the Backline website.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, seeking professional support can be an important first step. For music professionals and their families in the US, B-LINE is available 24/7 by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639.
