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 YES
The sessions will cater for up to 15 people and will be led by Music Support’s facilitators.
Behind the Scenes is supported by AO Arena and the peer support groups will be available to anyone working within the music industry.
(For anyone wishing to attend one of the pilot peer support group sessions, they can apply to do so HERE)
Music & mental health social enterprise, Headstock and music industry mental health charity, Music Support, have teamed up to announce the launch of a new weekly peer support group, specifically for people working within the music industry. Behind the Scenes has been created with the purpose of tackling mental health issues and building a stronger and more connected music community.
Behind the Scenes will commence in November 2024, with Headstock and Music Support running the groups to create a space for people in the music industry to connect, share experiences and offer mutual support. The initiative is being funded by AO Arena beginning with a four-week pilot, working with different spaces and music communities from across Manchester.
The peer support groups are for anyone working within the music industry, including : artists, management, agents and crew and promoters, as well as people working for festivals, labels and venues.
The sessions will be small and intimate, catering for 10-15 people per group. Each session will be run by a Music Support facilitator with lived experience of mental health issues in the industry, who will lead a group discussion, followed by an informal hangout with complimentary refreshments.
The focus for Behind the Scenes is to create a space where people can openly share their experiences, be heard, and support one another. With a focus on wellbeing and lived experience rather than clinical interventions, the purpose of the group sessions is to nurture a stronger, more supportive music community. By connecting people with each other, the goal is to remind anyone working within the industry that they are not alone, and through mutual support and shared experiences, they can boost their confidence, whilst helping regain a sense of belonging.
Joe Hastings, CEO, Music Support says: “I am so pleased to see these new services coming to fruition. Social isolation is a massive and under reported issue in our industry and I am passionate about the need to create new spaces for peers to listen and be listened to surrounding any challenges. Working with like-minded partners like Headstock is incredibly positive. This new service will become a vital part of a future thriving music community in the North-West.”
Gaby D’Annunzio, Head of Connections and Community at Music Support says:“We all love music and the incredible connection it can bring – whether it’s the shared joy of a favourite album, creating music together, or simply dancing and enjoying music at a gig. Yet, despite these connections, the music industry comes with a unique set of challenges. The pressures are real: financial insecurity, long tours, late nights, alcohol and substance use, plus the constant need to remain relevant.
“These demands can often lead to stress, burnout and feelings of isolation. The research shows that people working within the music industry are three times more likely to struggle with feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness compared to the general population – but unfortunately, there is a lack of support and spaces to discuss these struggles.”
Atheer Al-Salim, Founder, Headstock says: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with Music Support on this important initiative. Through our Behind the Scenes groups, we want to create an open environment where people working across the music industry can support one another through the unseen struggles we all face.
“Our ambition is to build a community where we uplift and support one another, so that people can start to thrive, both personally and professionally. Ultimately, our collective goal with Music Support is to work together to create a new, community-led approach to improving music industry mental health.”
Venues confirmed for the Manchester pilot of Behind the Scenes include:
- Band on the Wall (Nov 08th) (6pm-8pm)
- Gorilla (Nov 13th) (6pm-8pm)
- Lion’s Den (Nov 21st) (6pm-8pm)
- YES (Nov 27th) (6pm-8pm)
The name Behind the Scenes carries a powerful double meaning within both music and mental health, especially in the demanding environment of the music industry. In music, the phrase refers to the work that goes unnoticed by the public—the tireless effort of producers, engineers, tour managers, session musicians, and countless others who operate in the shadows to create the magic that audiences experience. These individuals, though rarely in the spotlight, are integral to the success of the music. In relation to mental health, Behind the Scenes also represents the internal struggles that often remain hidden from view – and serves as a timely reminder that people are often fighting battles we know nothing about.
Once Behind the Scenes is up and running in Manchester, Headstock & Music Support will roll the initiative out to other cities across the North West and beyond.
For anyone wishing to attend one of the pilot peer support group sessions, they can apply to do so HERE
About Headstock
Headstock is an award-winning music and mental health social enterprise, based in Manchester. Working closely with music industry mental health charities, organisations and brands, Headstock’s mission is to create and deliver music-led solutions and events to help tackle the growing mental health crisis, across the music industry and beyond. In February 2024, Headstock announced a partnership with mental health charity, Shout, to launch MUSIC 85258 – a dedicated mental health text support service for anyone working within the UK music industry. To date, more than forty live music venues across Manchester including AO Arena, Co-op Live and the Warehouse Project are now signposting to the MUSIC 85258 service back of house. For more information on Headstock, please go to www.headstock.live
About Music Support
Music Support is a registered charity founded in April 2016 by people from inside the UK music industry. It provides services to peers who have experienced challenges around substance use and/or mental health, alongside providing support for their family and friends and the wider music industry. The organisation offers a person-centred space to connect and receive specialist help, confidentially and without judgement. For further information visit www.musicsupport.org. Registered Charity Number: 1170231