Backline Launches Music Industry-Specific 24/7 Crisis Hotline

Nonprofit Backline is expanding its services with today’s launch of B-LINE, a mental health and crisis support line created exclusively for the music industry that will provide confidential support from trained counselors 24/7. Music professionals and their families can access care by calling 855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639, with the support line now open.

“This has really been the dream since we started Backline six years ago. One of our goals has always been to meet people where they are and we’ve recognized that our services, like many others, close on Friday afternoons when business closes – and that’s when our community needs us most,” Backline co-founder and Executive Director Hilary Gleason told Pollstar.

Backline, which was launched in 2019, connects musicians, touring professionals, venue staff, crew and their families with critical mental health resources and wellness care. The nonprofit has invested $3.5 million into mental health and wellness in the music industry and served 84,000 people.

Gleason explained that the idea for the crisis support line really started to gain momentum last year following “the big moment that we had with Chappell Roan in February, the We Got You campaign.” The campaign, which has raised over $475,000 to support artists’ mental health, kicked off following Roan’s Grammy speech advocating that labels provide artists with health care.

Backline started to work with Spotify in a more massive way than ever before including providing “resources to the entire user base on Spotify for artists” – and then the streaming company gave Backline the initial seed funding to make the crisis support line possible.

Singer/songwriter Noah Kahan has long been known as an advocate for mental health, including launching his non-profit mental health foundation Busyhead, and he was one of the first major artists to work with Backline by making sure his band and crew could access financial grants for therapy at any point.

“[Kahan] was my second call after we spoke with Spotify and they wanted to get this process started – connecting with him and his team at Busyhead to really plot out how we were going to make all of this happen and the realities of building out a brand new resource that’s never existed for the industry,” Gleason said. “So, we’ve worked really closely with Noah and his team to make this possible and help bring on other sponsors and really get it going. I’m so excited it’s finally here.”

Along with support from Spotify and Kahan, additional support for B-LINE comes from Live Nation, Adyen, AEG Presents, 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,” Spotify’s Global Head of Music, Charlie Hellman, said in a statement. “Spotify is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to this critical support.”

Kahan added: “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.”

Backline is working with a partner called Vibrant Emotional Health to staff and operate the crisis line. Gleason points out that the company has a lot of experience and infrastructure as to how to build this kind of care, having built out other crisis and support lines like the New York State HOPEline for gambling and addiction as well as the NFL hotline.

“It’s really built on the existing model of 988. So that infrastructure will allow us to contact local medics if somebody is in need of that,” Gleason said. ‘All of the operators are trained on crises and support hotline via Vibrant – Backline then provides additional training on top of that that speaks to the music industry. So that the operators are really connecting with people in the same way that our audience has always connected with Backline … there will always be someone on call to connect with them and they’ll be asked questions like are you currently on tour? Is your tour manager awake? Have you spoken to a loved one? The kinds of industry- specific questions that can really build a better understanding of why that person is reaching out to B-LINE and how we can support them.”

To celebrate B-LINE, a launch event is scheduled on Tuesday evening at Irving Plaza in New York, featuring performances from artists including Mimi Naja, Joy Oladokun, Steve Earle, Cautious Clay, Melt and Questlove. Gleason notes that Live Nation generously gave Backline the chance to use the space for the launch.

Guests will also be able to pick up B-LINE merch to help spread the message. Gleason points out that there will be interactive photo opportunities and the opportunity to learn more about the line, download digital tool kits and really walk out of the event as torchbearers for B-LINE.

An additional event will be held on Thursday at Live Nation’s offices in Los Angeles, with plans for Backline to host activations throughout Grammys week.

“We hope that artists and the industry at large will embrace this and look to highlight this throughout the next year while we are really looking to lay the groundwork for people to trust and use the line,” Gleason said.

She added, “The text feature I’m really excited about. I think that will work incredibly well for a lot of our community, including touring people. You can think about sitting in a bus and not being able to make a phone call, but you might be able to send a text and get some support in that way while you need it. All calls to B-LINE will have the opportunity to opt in for connecting with Backline for our core existing programs like case management, which help people find longer-term resources like therapy, rehab, financial aid, etc. So, this is really additive to the Backline universe, but will give people the opportunity to connect with us in real time. … We’ll still be offering referrals, online support groups, access to wellness practices, all of that – but now with round the clock opportunity to tap in.”

Visit https://backline.care/ for more information.