Backline, the nonprofit connecting music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources, has joined forces with Spotify to unveil Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators, a first-of-its-kind global initiative. At the core of this effort is the launch of the Global Mental Health Resource Hub—a multilingual platform designed to support the emotional and psychological well-being of music professionals worldwide.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in Backline’s mission as it expands its reach beyond the United States for the first time, offering critical mental health services to the global music community. With rising mental health challenges across all sectors of the music industry—from artists and producers to touring crews and managers—this initiative seeks to remove barriers to care and provide tangible tools for healing, connection, and sustainability.
“Backline is honored to serve as a steward of Spotify’s investment into the creative community,” said Hilary Gleason, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Backline. “This collaboration brings our work to scale, taking invaluable wellness resources beyond borders. Music knows no bounds, and now the people behind the music have access to care and community worldwide.”
Key Components of the Heart & Soul Initiative:
- Global Expansion of Resources: The Global Mental Health Resource Hub is a groundbreaking international and multilingual database offering mental health support, trusted contacts, and crisis lines from around the world, all tailored for the music industry.
- Concierge Support: Through a dedicated concierge email service at [email protected], music professionals can receive personalized help navigating local mental health care systems and options available in their region.
- Mind The Music Guide: A free digital toolkit offering real-time mental wellness strategies tailored for different roles across the industry—whether on the road, in the studio, or behind the scenes.
- Therapy Access for Ambassadors: Through Music’s Mental Health Fund, EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR ambassadors in the U.S. can access free therapy support, with plans expanding to the U.K. as part of the rollout.
- Songwriter Support Programs: Specialized spaces such as studio residencies, panels, and wellness dinners are being created to help songwriters engage with mental health resources in creative environments. Recent participants include The Altons, Sinseers, and Iman Jordan.
- On-Site Wellness at Festivals: In collaboration with Noah Kahan’s The Busyhead Project, Backline and Spotify will host wellness activations, workshops, and distribute self-care kits backstage at events like All Things Go NYC.
This initiative is an extension of Spotify’s Heart & Soul for Creators campaign and reflects the platform’s growing investment in social impact and artist well-being.
“Mental health challenges in the music industry are real, and current systems too often fall short,” said Monica Herrera Damashek, Spotify’s Head of Artist & Label Partnerships. “Expanding Backline’s Hub globally and offering therapy to ambassadors is just the beginning of building a more sustainable creative environment.”
“Heart & Soul is our commitment to the creators behind the music,” added Lauren Siegal Wurgaft, Spotify’s Head of Social Impact. “By supporting creators’ well-being, we’re not just offering resources—we’re helping shift how the industry values mental health.”
Together, Backline and Spotify are paving the way toward a healthier, more resilient future for the global music industry—where care, connection, and creativity thrive.
Explore the Global Mental Health Resource Hub: https://backline.care/global-resources/
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