Spotify Launches 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line for Music Industry Amid Growing Concerns Over Artist Wellbeing
It's been a year since Chappell Roan's impassioned speech at the Grammy Awards, where she called out the music industry for its lack of support for artists' mental health and wellbeing. Her words sparked a wave of conversation and mobilization among musicians, organizations, and companies, leading to a new initiative that aims to provide vital resources to those in need.
Backline, a nonprofit organization founded by Hilery Gleason in 2019, has debuted B-LINE, a round-the-clock mental health and crisis support hotline specifically designed for music industry professionals. The launch is made possible through the primary sponsorship of Spotify, with additional support from artists like Noah Kahan and his organization The Busyhead Project, Live Nation, Adyen, AEG Presents, Red Light Management, and the Wasserman Foundation.
According to Charlie Hellman, Spotify's global head of music, "Artists are the lifeblood of culture, but too often they and their teams don't have the safety nets they need. That has to change." The company is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to critical support.
B-LINE offers immediate, confidential support through phone calls (1-855-BLINE99) or text messages (254-639), with counselors specifically trained to assist music professionals and their families. This long-overdue resource aims to address the pressing need for real-time mental health care in the industry.
Hillery Gleason, Backline's founder and executive director, notes that B-LINE "changes the game" by providing access to critical care for those working in the music business. The organization has previously supported thousands of music industry professionals through their wellness journeys but acknowledges that a dedicated 24-hour hotline was missing from the equation.
The launch of B-LINE comes as the music industry continues to grapple with issues of mental health and wellbeing. A recent survey by MusiCares, the nonprofit arm of the Recording Academy, found alarming rates of suicidal thoughts (11.4%) and colleague loss due to suicide (15.4%), as well as widespread experiences of chronic health issues and sexual harassment.
Noah Kahan, a vocal supporter of artist wellbeing, emphasized the importance of this new resource: "Support for the wellbeing of incredibly hardworking artists and people who make the music industry function has long been neglected. A dedicated 24-hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support."
It's been a year since Chappell Roan's impassioned speech at the Grammy Awards, where she called out the music industry for its lack of support for artists' mental health and wellbeing. Her words sparked a wave of conversation and mobilization among musicians, organizations, and companies, leading to a new initiative that aims to provide vital resources to those in need.
Backline, a nonprofit organization founded by Hilery Gleason in 2019, has debuted B-LINE, a round-the-clock mental health and crisis support hotline specifically designed for music industry professionals. The launch is made possible through the primary sponsorship of Spotify, with additional support from artists like Noah Kahan and his organization The Busyhead Project, Live Nation, Adyen, AEG Presents, Red Light Management, and the Wasserman Foundation.
According to Charlie Hellman, Spotify's global head of music, "Artists are the lifeblood of culture, but too often they and their teams don't have the safety nets they need. That has to change." The company is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to critical support.
B-LINE offers immediate, confidential support through phone calls (1-855-BLINE99) or text messages (254-639), with counselors specifically trained to assist music professionals and their families. This long-overdue resource aims to address the pressing need for real-time mental health care in the industry.
Hillery Gleason, Backline's founder and executive director, notes that B-LINE "changes the game" by providing access to critical care for those working in the music business. The organization has previously supported thousands of music industry professionals through their wellness journeys but acknowledges that a dedicated 24-hour hotline was missing from the equation.
The launch of B-LINE comes as the music industry continues to grapple with issues of mental health and wellbeing. A recent survey by MusiCares, the nonprofit arm of the Recording Academy, found alarming rates of suicidal thoughts (11.4%) and colleague loss due to suicide (15.4%), as well as widespread experiences of chronic health issues and sexual harassment.
Noah Kahan, a vocal supporter of artist wellbeing, emphasized the importance of this new resource: "Support for the wellbeing of incredibly hardworking artists and people who make the music industry function has long been neglected. A dedicated 24-hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support."
I was on a beach, and my cat was surfing 
it was so real I woke up feeling like I was still on that wave 
anyway, back to music... 24/7 crisis line is amazing, but you know what's even crazier? The prices of avocado toast in LA 
just went up again! Like, who pays $20 for a slice of bread?! 
I'm trying to cut back on my foodie adventures, but it's hard when you're as obsessed with guac as I am 
. It's crazy to think that it took Chappell Roan's impassioned speech at the Grammy Awards to spark this much-needed change. But now that we have B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health crisis line specifically designed for music industry professionals, I'm cautiously optimistic about the impact it will have 
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. But what's really exciting is that this initiative isn't just about providing resources - it's also about creating a culture of support and accountability within the industry 
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. Bring on the change! 
. I'm glad Spotify is stepping up and supporting Backline with this 24/7 mental health crisis line 
. It's about time we start prioritizing artist wellbeing over profits 
. I'm also loving that Noah Kahan is all about this 
, he's been talking about it for ages 
. It's great to see artists using their platforms to raise awareness and support for this cause 
!
finally someone's doing something about it 
gotta give props to noah kahan for speaking up about this stuff too 
. It's like they're saying "oh no, I have anxiety, let me just cry about it on social media" 
. Give me a break. The fact that Spotify is finally launching this 24/7 crisis line is long overdue 
. I mean, it's not like we didn't see Chappell Roan speak out about this last year 
. But still, it's better late than never 
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The ones with the most followers and clout? Because that's what Spotify is sponsoring here 
. It's like they're just trying to save face and look all selfless 
. But honestly, I'm glad it's happening. We need more of this kind of support in our industry 
#MentalHealthMatters! It's about time someone stepped up to address the elephant in the room – artist wellbeing 
. I'm all for Noah Kahan's efforts and Hilery Gleason's dedication to creating a safe space for artists 
#BLINE #MentalHealthCrisisLine
! The music industry can be a toxic place, especially when it comes to mental health. It's time we prioritize the wellbeing of artists and creatives over the pursuit of success or fame. I think this new hotline is a game-changer (pun intended) 
. We need more initiatives like this that recognize the importance of mental health support in creative fields.
. From Spotify to Noah Kahan, it's clear that there's a growing recognition of the need for change. But let's be real, this is just the beginning 
. We need to keep pushing for more resources and support systems in place.
! It's crazy that it's taken this long for the industry to acknowledge the importance of mental health, but I'm loving the fact that they're finally taking action 
seriously though, it's about time someone steps up to help these people. artists are already so burnt out and overworked, they can't even take care of themselves, let alone their mental health