One year ago Chappell Roan used her time on stage after winning best new artist at the Grammy Awards to implore the music industry to provide artists with health insurance and a livable wage. Her speech sparked widespread conversation, mobilization by other musicians, organizations and companies, and now—a new mental health resource.
After last year’s awards, Roan launched a fund at nonprofit organization Backline to support of mental health for artists and other professionals working in the music business. This week Backline debuts B-LINE, a round-the-clock mental health and crisis support hotline the organization says is rooted in the movement Roan sparked at the podium.
Spotify is the primary sponsor of the initiative, which is also supported by music artist Noah Kahan and his organization The Busyhead Project, Live Nation, Adyen, AEG Presents, Red Light Management and the 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,” noted Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s global head of music, on launch day in the On The Record section of the company’s website. “Spotify is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to this critical support.”
Through a phone call (1-855-BLINE99) or text (254-639), B-LINE seeks to offer immediate, confidential support to music workers in need by counselors who are specifically trained to assist music professionals and their families.
“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,” said Hilery Gleason, Backline founder and executive director. Backline was founded in 2019.
“Support for the wellbeing of the incredibly hard working artists and people that make the music industry function has long been neglected,” Kahan said in a statement. “A dedicated 24 hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support.”
Roan’s comments at the 2025 Grammys served as a call to action for several artists. Her $25,000 donation to Backline start the “We Got You” fund with the organization was quickly matched by artists Kahan, Sabrina Carpenter and Charli XCX.
The launch of B-LINE comes as those who work in the music industry continue to overindex on challenges to their mental health and wellbeing.
In its 2025 Wellness In Music Survey, MusiCares, the nonprofit arm of the Recording Academy that serves as a safety net for the music community, reported that among respondents, 11.4 percent had suicidal thoughts during the last year, up from 8 percent the previous year and more than double the U.S. general population, and that 15.4 percent lost a music industry colleague to suicide in the last year. Additionally, 20 percent knew at least one colleague who had been sexually harassed and 35 percent live with chronic health issues affecting their ability to work.
