|
Today, Backline launches B-LINE, a 24/7 mental health and crisis support line created exclusively for the music industry. B-LINE connects music professionals and their families with trained counselors who understand the unique pressures of working in and around music—anytime, day or night. Support is available by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639. This first-of-its-kind service fulfills a vision Backline has held since day one. The support line is now open.
Last year at the Grammy’s, Chappell Roan used her Best New Artist acceptance speech to ask the music industry a hard question: who is caring for the artists, if the industry isn’t? That following week, Roan took the first step to do something about it, launching a fundraising campaign for Backline called We Got You, with many artists and entities joining in to match her generosity. This increased visibility helped set the stage for B-LINE, which will offer 24/7 industry-specific care for the first time.
Backline co-founder and Executive Director, Hilary Gleason, says, “This has always been the dream. We’ve supported thousands of music industry professionals in their mental health and wellness journeys, but one critical piece was missing: real-time access to care. B-LINE changes that.”
Determined to make this dream a reality, Backline began rallying support for their new initiative, tapping lead sponsor Spotify, as well as Noah Kahan and Live Nation. Gleason shared, “These are close partners that have been key in advancing our mission over the past six years. When we started to bring up B-LINE with them, it became more and more clear that this was the initiative that could change the industry for good.”
Additional support for B-LINE comes from Adyen, AEG Presents, The Busyhead Project, Red Light Management, and Wasserman Foundation.
“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,” said Spotify’s Global Head of Music, Charlie Hellman. “Spotify is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to this critical support.”
Noah Kahan, who has been deeply invested in the path to the hotline, shared, “I started working with Backline to provide mental health services for my touring band and crew in 2023. Support for the wellbeing of the incredibly hard working artists and people that make the music industry function has long been neglected. A dedicated 24 hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support. The Busyhead Project and I are proud to work with Backline to create a pathway toward a healthier future and an entry point for accessing resources.”
“Live Nation was among the first to feature Backline resources in our venues, and it has become an essential lifeline for the people who make our industry run. B-LINE gives them something we’ve long needed: immediate help, anytime. Live Nation is proud to support this 24/7 resource and ensure it’s prominently featured across all our venues,” said Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment President & CEO.
B-LINE ensures that anyone working in music—artists, crew, staff, executives and also family members within the music community—can access immediate, confidential support 24/7, with a seamless transition into long-term care. Launching this initiative now means getting ahead of future crises with a solution that meets the industry where it works: on the road, outside of 9-to-5 hours, and in moments of acute need. Backline is working with experts who know this work, such as Vibrant Emotional Health, a national leader in mental health which delivers life-saving support to millions each year through numerous lifelines, innovative programs, and system advocacy.
Since 2019, Backline has invested $3.5 million into mental health and wellness in the music industry and served 84,000 people. Every day, the Backline team has fielded urgent calls and cases where waiting to act isn’t an option. Mental health challenges within the music industry are at crisis levels. Suicide rates of musicians are nearly 10x the national average for males, and 73% of independent musicians report symptoms of mental illness. The latest 2025 poll, shows 8.3% of respondents suffered with suicidal thoughts in 2025.
Building a healthier, more sustainable music industry for everyone, Backline’s 24/7 crisis hotline is just a call or text away. Backline’s trusted help hub will also still be available online: backline.care.
|
