On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Spotify and Backline’s Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators is a Global Mental Health Resource Hub with comprehensive support programs to empower music industry professionals worldwide with accessible mental health care and wellness resources.
Heart & Soul
In an unprecedented collaboration, Spotify has partnered with Backline, a nonprofit dedicated to providing mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals and their families, to unveil Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators. This pioneering global initiative addresses the pressing mental health challenges faced by artists, songwriters, touring crew, and other music industry professionals by delivering accessible, tailored support on an international scale. With mental health concerns continuing to impact the music community, this partnership marks a significant step toward fostering a healthier, more sustainable industry.
At the core of the Heart & Soul initiative is the GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE HUB, a first-of-its-kind platform designed specifically for music industry professionals worldwide. This multilingual database provides access to trusted mental health resources, crisis lines, and support services, ensuring that creators and crew members can find help regardless of their location. By expanding its services beyond the United States for the first time, Backline aims to remove barriers to care and meet the global music community where they are, addressing the unique challenges faced by those in the industry.
The Heart & Soul initiative encompasses a range of programs tailored to the diverse needs of music professionals, offering both immediate and long-term support. These programs include:
Global Resource Expansion
The Global Mental Health Resource Hub serves as a centralized destination, offering a comprehensive collection of vetted mental health resources and crisis lines tailored to music professionals worldwide. This platform ensures that individuals can access reliable support in their native languages, making mental health care more inclusive and accessible.
Personalized Concierge Support
To provide individualized pathways to care, Backline has launched a dedicated email service, global@backline.care. This concierge service offers one-on-one support, helping music professionals navigate local mental health systems and find appropriate care options in their countries, ensuring personalized assistance for those in need.
Mind The Music: A Practical Guide
Mind The Music: A Mental Health Guide for the Music Industry: A free digital guide designed for every role in the music industry. Complete with tools to stay grounded on the road, this guide offers strategies that can be used in real time along with practical resources to help music industry professionals feel their best.
Therapy Access for Ambassadors
Spotify’s EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR ambassadors in the U.S. can access free therapy through Music’s Mental Health Fund, a collaborative program with Sweet Relief Musicians’ Fund that provides grants to cover therapy costs. In the UK, similar support is available through Music Minds Matter, ensuring that emerging artists receive critical mental health care.
Support for Songwriters
Recognizing the unique pressures faced by songwriters, the initiative creates dedicated spaces for them to discuss mental health and access support. These include studio residencies, dinners, panels, and other events. A notable example is the May 2025 Spotify Songwriting Studio residency, which featured artists such as The Altons, Sinseers, and Iman Jordan, fostering community and well-being among songwriters.
Wellness Events at Major Festivals
In partnership with Noah Kahan’s The Busyhead Project, Backline and Spotify will bring wellness activations to major festivals like All Things Go NYC. These include on-site self-care kits, guided workshops, and other activities designed to promote mental health and resilience among festival attendees and performers.
Spotify’s Commitment to Mental Health and Social Impact
For Spotify, the Heart & Soul initiative underscores a long-standing dedication to mental health and social impact within the music industry. By addressing the real and often underserved mental health challenges faced by creators, Spotify aims to create a more supportive environment for those who shape global culture through music. The initiative includes additional programming to amplify its impact:
- Direct Funding for Nonprofits: Grants to organizations like MusiCares, Music Minds Matter, Mental Health Alliance, and Noah Kahan’s The Busyhead Project to expand artist-centered care and resources.
- Editorial and Social Support: Through platforms like Spotify for Artists and Spotify Songwriting, mental health stories, resources, and tools from the creative community will be shared to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
- Tools for Everyday Care: Curated playlists, podcasts, audiobooks, and self-care tips will be available on Spotify’s platform and online, offering accessible resources for daily mental health maintenance.
- Support for Artist-Led Initiatives: Contributions to programs like WE GOT YOU!, a Backline initiative spearheaded by Chappell Roan, further demonstrate Spotify’s commitment to creator-led mental health efforts.
Backline’s Legacy and Global Expansion
Backline, a national 501(c)(3) organization, has been a vital resource for music industry professionals since its inception. To date, it has provided custom mental health care plans to over 2,200 individuals, supported more than 5,200 people through weekly community meetings, offered over 3,100 discounts on wellness apps and products, vetted more than 1,300 mental health providers, and distributed over $236,000 in therapy grants through Music’s Mental Health Fund. With the Heart & Soul initiative, Backline’s mission now extends globally, amplifying its impact and ensuring that music professionals worldwide have access to the care and community they need to thrive.
A Vision for a Healthier Music Industry
The Heart & Soul: Mental Health for Creators initiative represents a bold commitment from Spotify and Backline to build a healthier, more sustainable music ecosystem. By combining innovative resources, personalized support, and global outreach, this partnership sets a new standard for mental health care in the music industry. It not only addresses immediate needs but also works to drive lasting change by challenging cultural norms and prioritizing creator well-being.
Find more now:
For more information on Backline, please visit:
Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter
We strive to keep The Table Read free for both our readers and our contributors. If you have enjoyed our work, please consider donating to help keep The Table Read going!
This post gave me a new perspective I hadn’t considered.
This was a very informative post. I appreciate the time you took to write it.