News - Music Support

Music Support partners with MHFA England on first of its kind collaboration to produce tailor-made training materials for the music industry

We are proud to partner with MHFA England to launch a series of training films tailored to a UK music industry audience. This is the first time that a music...

Music Support hires Kimberley Goddard and Laila Khan in key roles

Khan most recently was the Artist and Relationship Manager at Nordoff and Robbins, while Goddard is a former ELAM Director. Music Support has hired experienced executives Kimberley Goddard and Laila Khan...

Music Support returns to Glasgow for Resonate 2024

We're very pleased to be returning to Glasgow on 28th November for Resonate. Resonate is Scotland's flagship music industry conference, focusing on training, business development, accessibility and collaboration. Now in...

Neg Earth Lights’ commitment to championing the wellbeing of their workforce

Since the pandemic, much of our training has been delivered online, which works well for those who work in the music industry with busy schedules and touring commitments. Our Learning...

Music Support at Output Belfast

We're excited to be heading to Belfast on 12th November for Output. Output Belfast is Ireland's biggest annual one-day music conference and showcase, programmed by Score Draw Music. The event...

Music Support collaborates with Headstock on ‘Behind the Scenes’ peer support initiative

Behind the Scenes will launch as a four-week pilot of peer support groups at independent live music venues across Manchester including Band on the Wall, Gorilla, Lion's Den and YESThe...

Music Support launch awareness campaign ahead of World Mental Health Day

Music Support announces record number of beneficiaries as it launches new awareness campaign Helpline calls up 51% YoY in 2024. New Safe Hub wellbeing survey shows YoY increase in those...

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

If you are a Mental Health First Aider and it has been three years since your training, it's time to refresh your skills! Those who completed Mental Health First Aid...

Music Support Rock Icons fundraising auction

We are excited to announce our latest auction, Music Support's Rock Icons, with five incredible prizes on offer donated by three legendary rock acts: KISS, Roger Waters and Squeeze. The demand on...

Music Support at The Great Escape 2024

Join us at The Great Escape festival conference from 16th - 18th May The Music Support team are pleased to be returning to The Great Escape for our third year...

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024: Moving more for our mental health

Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place from 13th - 19th May, with the theme of "Movement: Moving more for our mental health." We're very grateful when our supporters...

Andy Franks wins the ILMC Arthurs Industry Champion Award

We are very proud to share that Music Support co-founder, Andy 'Franksy' Franks, has WON the ILMC Arthurs Industry Champion AwardWith thousands of votes compiled from professionals around the world,...

Music Support collaborates with Headstock to champion new text support service for the Music Industry

We’re pleased to share the details of a new text support service for anyone working within the music industry, thanks to Music and Mental Health social enterprise, Headstock. Music Support’s...

Music Support announce Safe Hubs for Tramlines and We Out Here festivals at AIF Congress

We were really pleased to return to the AIF Congress in Bristol on 1st Feb 2024.... This annual flagship event is organised by the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) and is...

Music Support announces Joe Hastings as new CEO

Music Support announces Joe Hastings as new CEO Charity also announces new trustees joining its board 7th December 2023 - Music Support, the charity that helps those who work in...

Farewell to Eric

Today, Friday 1st December 2023, we bid a fond farewell to our much-beloved Chief Executive, Eric Mtungwazi Eric is moving on to pursue a career in Psychotherapy. We will miss...

Sober Dave ‘One for the Road’ podcast with Rachael Lander

As part of Addiction Awareness Week 2023, we're really pleased to share this special interview that Music Support Trustee, Rachael Lander, has recorded with Dave 'Sober Dave' WilsonRachael joins Dave...

Daudi’s story – Living with Bipolar

Photo credit: Felix Mackenzie-BarrowDaudi's story explores a musician's experience of living with bipolar, psychosis and depression. We are honoured to share this inspirational discussion with British-Ugandan singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko. Daudi shares his...

Addiction Awareness Week 2023

Addiction Awareness Week 2023Music Support is proud to support Addiction Awareness Week 2023, taking place between 28th October - 4th November. We come together with fellow organisations to call for...

The Christopher Meredith Foundation powers up Music Support with new partnership

The Christopher Meredith Foundation powers up Music Supportwith new partnershipWe are proud to announce a new partnership with The Christopher Meredith Foundation (CMF), established in memory of Christopher; an Agent,...

MHFA Refresher: new date

*CALLING ALL MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS* Refresh your skills with Music Support and access three years of support and benefits!If you are a Mental Health First Aider and it has been...

Music Support’s Magnificent Seven Auction

We are excited to announce our latest fundraising auction, Music Support’s Magnificent Seven, to celebrate seven years of Music Support helping our peers who work in music and live events affected...

Coldplay donate guitar strings to raise funds for Music Support

We are excited to share this incredible fundraising initiative thanks to a collaboration between global music icons Coldplay and The guitarwrist. The guitarwrist is a not-for-profit company that makes bespoke jewellery...

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

If you are a Mental Health First Aider and it has been three years since your training, it's time to refresh your skills! Those who completed Mental Health First Aid...

LIVE discussion – Mental Health First Aid and the Industry

The discussion We are pleased to share this inspirational discussion that took place on 16th May 2023 as part of Mental Health Awareness Week. Music Support's Senior Learning and Development...

Music Support at The Great Escape 2023

Join us at The Great Escape on Friday 12th May We're pleased to be returning to The Great Escape Conference on Friday 12th May where Belinda and Lynne will be...

Kate’s ABC of managing wellbeing in a post-pandemic world…

Today is International Women's Day. We're pleased to share this blog, written by Live Events Manager, Kate Griffiths.Kate is a truly inspirational woman who champions wellbeing in the industry. Here,...

LIVE discussion: Understanding Addiction & Supporting Recovery in the music industry

The discussion We are pleased to share this inspirational LIVE discussion that took place on Monday 20th February. Music Support's Learning and Development Specialist, Hannah Brinley, welcomed Jamie Reynolds (multi-award-winning...

Has Music Support helped you?

Have you called our Helpline? Did it have a positive impact on your life? If so, we'd love to hear from you...Thursday 23rd February is Helpline Awareness Day. We're really...

Tales from the Tour Bus interview

Music Support's 'Tales from the Tour Bus' explores the highs and lows of life on the road post-Lockdown with British rock icons AND their crew. We're pleased to share this...

Mental Health First Aid Refresher

If you are a Mental Health First Aider and it has been three years since your training it's time to refresh your skills! If you are a Mental Health First...

AIF Festival Congress 2023

We’re really pleased to share that we’ll be attending Festival Congress on Wednesday 1st February at Bristol Beacon. This annual flagship event is organised by the Association of Independent Festivals...

Sober Dave ‘One for the Road’ podcast

As Men's Mental Health Awareness Month comes to an end, we are really pleased to share this special interview that Music Support co-founder Andy 'Franksy' Franks has recorded with Dave...

The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert Collection Auction

We are excited to share details of "The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert Collection," a charity auction featuring a number of items including guitars, cymbals and drumheads, signed by many of...

Addiction and supporting recovery discussion

The discussion We are pleased to share this inspirational discussion that took place on 1st November 2022, as part of Addiction Awareness Week. Music Support's Senior Learning and Development Specialist,...

BRIT Trust Diaries: Rachael Lander, Trustee, Music Support

The BRIT Trust is the principal charity of UK recorded music and aims to improve lives through the power of music and the creative arts. Funded largely by the annual...

We are proud to be selected as one of the beneficiary charities for the Taylor Hawkins tribute shows

Music Support, the charity that provides help and support for those who work in all aspects of the UK music industry and live events affected by mental ill-health and/or addiction,...

Music Support – A Mother’s Story

A mother who called Music Support’s Helpline less than a year ago shares her experience of the impact it has had on her family…. “I stumbled across Music Support by...

Music Support: Music Icons Auction

We are excited to announce our latest auction, Music Support’s Music Icons with four incredible prizes on offer donated by four of the greatest rock acts of all time to...

Music Support’s Mental Health First Aid Refresher (Wednesday 22nd June)

Since November 2019 and throughout Lockdown, Music support is proud to have trained more than 350 of our industry peers in Mental Health First Aid skills. We are now back on...

10 ways I’m managing stress as we re-enter touring – Becky Pell

Becky Pell is a touring sound engineer with 26 years’ experience in the live music business. She is also a qualified yoga teacher and clinically trained yoga therapist. Becky is...

Rachael Lander on motherhood for Maternal Mental Health Month

Rachael Lander is a musician, a single mother, a recovering addict and a Trustee of Music Support. Here, she shares her experience of motherhood, seven years in *Trigger warning: Rachael discusses...

Join Music Support’s panel at The Great Escape Conference

As partner charity of The Great Escape, we're excited to be hosting a special panel at the festival’s conference on Friday 13th May where we will be discussing the issues...

Loneliness – the gift that keeps on giving

Matt Thomas, co-founder and Chair of Music Support, shares his feelings on loneliness, the theme of Mental Health Awareness Week 2022. Music Support, the charity that helps those who work...

Music Support’s Hannah Brinley on ‘The Stress Container’

What is stress? How full is my stress container today? Have I done anything to release the tap? Have my coping strategies been helpful or unhelpful? These are all questions...

Music Support at ILMC 2022

We’re really looking forward to being a part of the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) on Wednesday 27th April at London’s Royal Garden Hotel where we are hosting a special...

“All I Can Say” highlights mental ill-health and addiction through the lens of Blind Melon frontman, Shannon Hoon

Beautifully humanizes a rock-casualty story Rolling Stone Fascinating. And heartbreaking LA Times As a charity dedicated to helping those who work in music and live events affected by mental ill-health...

Music Support is here for you during Stress Awareness Month and beyond

STRESS: “A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.” Friday 1st April marks the beginning of Stress Awareness Month, held every year since 1992...

Music Support interview on Addiction & Recovery with The Guardian newspaper

"We're not anti-alcohol, anti-hedonism, anti-anything...what we are is pro-education - and choice." Music Support co-founder, Matt Thomas. We were really pleased to be approached by The Guardian to be a...

The final countdown to the Event Production Show!

It’s less than a week to go until the Event Production Show (EPS) where Music Support is proud to be partner charity. Taking place at London’s ExCel on Tuesday 8th...

Music Support partner charity of the Event Production Awards and Event Production Show

We are proud to share that Music Support has been chosen by Mash Media as partner charity of the 2022 Event Production Awards (EPA’s) on 17th February at Novotel, London...

Rachael Lander on working in the music industry post-covid

Rachael Lander is a musician, a single mother, a recovering addict and a Trustee of Music Support. Here, in a follow up to her 2021 blog on Women in Isolation,...

Music Support partner charity of The Great Escape Festival 2022

We are excited to share that The Great Escape Festival has chosen Music Support as its lead charity partner for the 2022 festival, taking place across Brighton from 11th –...

Seasons Greetings from Music Support

Look after yourselves over the holidays and if you need support please call our helpline: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm (excluding bank holidays) For 24 hour crisis support contact...

Addiction Awareness Week: Taking Action on Addiction

Music Support is proud to be a part of Addiction Awareness Week, taking place from 18th – 24th October 2021. We will come together with fellow charities who specialise in...

Josh & Mark’s Perfect Fifth

The Perfect Fifth….in music terms, a root note and five notes above it creating a perfect connection; some say the basis of harmony. Since our inception in 2016, Music Support...

Roadies create non-profit cookbook to fund mental health first aid on tour

The Roadie Cookbook: Toured There, Ate That is a new charity publication created by live music crew members with the mission of funding Mental Health First Aid training for every tour...

Music Support and TPG launch Addiction & Recovery Aware training

We're proud to announce we've been commissioned by Tour Production Group (TPG) to deliver pioneering Addiction and Recovery Aware training.Co-ordinated by the TPG, donations totalling nearly £20,000 have been provided...

WIN our exclusive Music Support Perfect Fifth Vinyl Collection

As part of our 5th birthday celebrations we are excited to give you the opportunity to win our Perfect Fifth Vinyl Collection; a money-can’t-buy prize of five albums signed by...

Celebrate five years of Music Support with Franksy & friends

Register for free Celebrate five years of Music Support with Co-Founder, Trustee and multi-award-winning Tour Manager, Andy Franks and industry friends Manfred Frank and Steven Chapman as they share highlights...

We are very sad to hear about the recent passing of former Bay City Rollers frontman Leslie McKeown

Following the sudden and very sad death of Leslie McKeown his wife Keiko and son Jubei were asked by people all over the world what they could do. Instead of flowers...

Music Support Perfect Fifth – Joanne’s Story

The Perfect Fifth….in music terms, a root note and five notes above it creating a perfect connection; some say the basis of harmony. Since our inception in 2016, Music Support...

Music Support Perfect Fifth – Cam’s Story

The Perfect Fifth….in music terms, a root note and five notes above it creating a perfect connection; some say the basis of harmony.Since our inception in 2016, Music Support has...

While She Sleeps’ guitarist Sean Long talks about his personal experiences of anxiety

Sheffield metalcore merchants While She Sleeps’ new single ‘Nervous’ - ft Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil on guest vocals - deals with themes of anxiety, led by Guitarist Sean Long’s personal...

Helium London & MATCHESFASHION present Pressing Matters in aid of Music Support

Helium London presents ‘Pressing Matters’, in association with Music Support and MATCHESFASHION.Curated and created by Pavement Licker, ‘Pressing Matters’ is a unique exhibition and fundraising auction, seeing leading contemporary artists...

Music Support Trustee, Rachael Lander, reflects on a year in isolation

Join Rachael and an all-female panel of music industry and mental health experts at our “Women in Isolation” webinar on Thursday 25th March at 6pm. Register for FREE here.Later this month I...

Join our ‘Women in isolation’ webinar on Thursday 25th March

ISOLATED - to be separated from other persons or things; alone; solitary….The music industry has long been an isolating place for women, being under-represented and under-valued. The Global pandemic has further...

Join our ‘Addiction and Supporting Recovery in the Music Industry’ webinar in conjunction with Skiddle

The Global Pandemic has affected not only music artists but the thousands who work alongside them from promoters and sound engineers to road crew and haulage. Levels of high-risk drinking...

Online 12 Step Support Group Meeting concludes

Music Support met the challenge of service delivery during COVID times in a unique way this year. As the situation unfolded and it looked less and less likely that we were going to be able to provide...

Run D.M.C’s Darryl McDaniels talks about how mental health and sobriety has changed his life

Episode one of our three-part series with Run D.M.C’s Darryl McDaniels explores how mental health and sobriety changed his life. Remove guilt and shame, you remove the pain. If you...

Music Support is proud to be the official charity of the A&R Awards for the second year running

Last night the A&R Awards in association with Abbey Road Studios returned to London’s De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms to honour both teams and individuals who work on creative endeavours...

Listen to Episode 2 of Run D.M.C’s Darryl McDaniels mental health story

Listen to episode two of our three-part series talking to Run D.M.C's Darryl McDaniels about mental health, suicide awareness and how sobriety has changed his life. Darryl’s memoir “Ten Ways...

Music Support partners with industry to further deliver mental health first aid training

In 2018 we began investing in Mental Health First Aid training for internal purposes to support our staff and volunteers, enabling them to build knowledge and continue to act effectively...

Listen to the final instalment of our interview with Run D.M.C’s Darryl McDaniels

In the final episode of our three-part series talking to Run D.M.C's Darryl McDaniels about mental health, suicide awareness and how sobriety has changed his life. "I am now able...

How to get back into work mode after the festive season: a creative career works best when it’s guided by vision

If you’re struggling with getting back into work mode after your festive break, you’re not alone. We spoke with Tamara Gal-On a coach working within the creative industries to get...

Music Support Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Considering the current global Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the information contained herein is an outline of Music Support’s response as an employer and deliverer of services. Please be assured that our...

MMF launches survey on the impact of COVID-19 on music makers and their representatives

The Music Managers Forum (MMF) are gathering evidence on the impact COVID-19 has on the music makers and their representatives with the below questionnaire. The form is divided into 6...

“Communication, connection & support, provide much of the solution to us coping”

Clinical Consultant & Psychotherapist, Chula Goonewardene discusses the effects of COVID-19 on the music industry, the mobilisation of online support networks and more. My specialism is providing Counselling & Psychotherapy...

We’ve partnered with the NHS-approved app Thrive, to offer 1,000 people free access

As a clinically effective app that offers 24/7 support for mental health and wellbeing, Thrive helps with the early detection, prevention and management of common disorders such as anxiety and...

We’re launching weekly online 12 step support group meetings for the music industry

Meetings will take place every Monday 18:00-19:00 GMT from 27 April to 28 September 2020. Available to any music industry peers throughout the summer, Music Support will provide a confidential...

Help Musicians partner with us to offer access to Thrive to a further 4,500 musicians

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, we’ve partnered with Help Musicians to offer 4,500 musicians free access to the NHS-approved mental health and wellbeing app, Thrive. A recent...

Warehouse Manifesto to live stream DJ sets in aid of Music Support

From 9pm on July 4th, electronic music fans can tune into 3.5 hours of free music in aid of Music Support via streaming platform Livefrom Events. Warehouse Manifesto will be...

The BPI announces a further £270,000 funding for artists, managers & grassroots venues impacted by Covid-19

UK record labels association the BPI has announced further financial support for the artist and live music communities as they continue to fight the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic....

Find out our picks for National Album Day’s #MyAlbumEscape

This year, National Album Day also lands on the same day as World Mental Health Day - a time which is used for reflecting on how to improve everyone’s mental...

Tune in to Writers Garden Live in aid of Music Support

Saturday, July 18th sees Squeeze’s Chris Difford host an ‘at home concert’ live from his Writers Garden in Sussex. Stay home, tune in and save lives. In the Writers Garden...

The BRIT Trust donate £30,000 to Music Support to promote mental well-being in the artist & music community

Record industry charity The BRIT Trust, which draws much of its funding from the annual BRIT Awards, have today announce a donation of £30,000 to Music Support. The money will...