When Chappell Roan won the Grammy for Best New Artist earlier this year, she made a bold appeal to the powers that be in the room.
“I told myself if I ever ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels in the industry — profiting millions of dollars off of artists — would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists,” she said.
Roan went on to tell her own story of being dropped by a record label and how she had a difficult time finding a job during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that she could not afford health insurance.
“It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system … so dehumanized to have to not have health,” she added. “Labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection. Labels: We got you, but do you got us?”
While individual record labels have not yet heeded her call to action, others have.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, major streaming platform Spotify has partnered with Backline, a nonprofit that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health resources.
Backline has also worked with Roan to develop a “WE GOT YOU!” initiative that raises funds to help pay for the mental health resources Backline offers touring musicians and industry professionals.
In this new partnership with Spotify, called Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators, Backline has expanded its resources and created a hub for mental health support. In a multilingual database, the nonprofit offers trusted music industry and mental health support resources from all around the world.
The investment has also allowed Backline to create a global concierge service. When users email global@backline.care, they can reach one-on-one support to help individuals navigate their local care options anywhere in the world.
In alignment with Roan’s larger vision, the partnership will also cover the cost of therapy for Spotify’s EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR ambassadors. Artists in these programs are part of initiatives to improve gender equality, LGBTQ+ equality, and opportunities for emerging artists and podcasters, respectively.
Their mental health care will be covered in the United States through the Music’s Mental Health Fund, a joint program from Backline and Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund.
“Backline is honored to serve as a steward of Spotify’s investment into the creative community,” Backline co-founder and executive director Hilary Gleason, said in a statement.
“Bringing our work to scale is a meaningful way to uplift the well-being of artists all around the world. This collaboration is taking these invaluable mental health and wellness resources beyond borders.”
The partnership will also work with Noah Kahan’s foundation, The Busyhead Project, which helps distribute vital mental health funding in rural areas and the music industry.
It includes grants to Kahan’s nonprofit, as well as organizations like MusiCares, Music Minds Matter, Music Health Alliance, and a donation to Roan’s WE GOT YOU! fundraiser.
The Busyhead Project will also be included in future programming, offering backstage support, on-site wellness activities, self-care kits, and guided workshops at major festivals, like All Things Go in New York City.
“Music knows no bounds, and now people who make music happen have access to care and a compassionate community,” Gleason continued. “Our work together will help ensure that artists have the resources, support, and stability they need to thrive both personally and professionally.”
Finally, the partnership will also center stories, resources, and content across Spotify’s platforms, as well as a robust digital guide called “Mind The Music: A Mental Health Guide for the Music Industry,” which offers tools and strategies to be used in tandem with therapeutic support.
“It’s clear that the mental health challenges artists face are real, and that the current support systems often fall short. It’s on all of us in the industry to respond with action,” Spotify’s head of artist and label partnerships, Monica Herrera Damashek, said in a statement.
“We know this is only one step but we look forward to building on this for a more supported, sustainable environment for the artists who shape culture every day.”
According to a 2019 study, 73% of independent musicians struggle with mental illness, and only 19% felt that the music industry was providing enough support.
Although it has taken time — and the unapologetic advocacy of artists themselves — things may finally be changing for good.
“Artists and songwriters face immense pressure, and their mental health can’t be an afterthought,” said Lauren Siegal Wurgaft, Spotify’s head of social impact.
“Supporting creators’ well-being is essential to sustaining a vibrant music ecosystem. By working closely with trusted partners like Backline, we’re not just offering resources, we’re helping drive lasting change in how the industry approaches mental health.”
Header images courtesy of Lucienne Nghiem, Spotify, and Pooneh Ghana
