From TikTok burnout to the stresses of loss-making tours, discussion within the music industry about musicians’ wellbeing, and how to better support it, has been rumbling for a while. However, early 2025 feels like a moment when that debate is stepping up a notch, hopefully with tangible measures to accompany it.
Two stories on that front to tell you about today. First, Ariana Grande has added her latest views to the discussion during an interview on the ‘WTF With Marc Maron’ podcast in which she talked about the pressures on young artists and actors, and the need for therapy as support.
“It’s impossible to navigate, and that’s why whenever I have the chance to talk about it, I talk about how I think it’s so important that these record labels, these studios, these TV studios and whatever it is – these big production companies – make it [therapy] a part of the contract when you sign on to do something that’s going to change your life in that way, on that scale,” said Grande.
“You need a therapist to be seeing several times a week. Because if this hits the way we know it’s going to, because we’re the big studio… we know how your life is going to change. We see how it can change and affect people in a negative way. We should be responsible for protecting you from that… When they get that record deal, when they get that moment, that should be non-negotiable in the contract.”
Today’s second story comes from US non-profit Backline, which has launched its ‘We Got You!’ campaign with donations from Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan and Charli XCX, hot on the heels of Roan’s Grammys speech calling on labels to cover healthcare costs for artists.
Roan has donated $25k to the new fund, which will support artists’ mental health, with Backline opening up donations to fans, artists and music professionals alike.
