Mental health the music industry: An evolving intervention landscape

That professional musicians in the popular music industries have elevated levels of mental health difficulties relative to the general population is well known but poorly understood. From Janis Joplin to Avicii, high-profile deaths from suicide and drug misuse by musicians in the public eye are seared into our collective cultural history. Such losses have engendered growing concern, as well as academic and clinical interest, in the mental health of those who pursue music as a career. In response, the popular music industries – notably major record companies, but also the charitable sector and other stakeholders – have shown an increased interest in the welfare of musicians. Mental health initiatives have been launched in the UK and abroad, and a new and evolving ‘intervention landscape’ has emerged. This paper suggests that changes to this landscape are required if it is to meet the diverse needs of its target population, with a need for greater regulation, accountability and evidence-based expert care.