May tends to be a marathon month for Backline, and 2026 was no exception. The music industry’s go-to mental health nonprofit spent Mental Health Awareness Month doing what it does best: meeting artists, crews, and industry pros exactly where they are — backstage, on tour buses, at festivals, and in the quiet moments between sets.
From dropping their 2025 Impact Report to celebrating the 90-day milestone of their new 24/7 crisis line B-LINE, to showing up at Kilby Block Party, Music Biz, and Spotify’s first-ever Nashville Mental Health & Songwriter Summit, Backline made one thing clear: the conversation around mental health in music isn’t slowing down — it’s finally catching up.
A Year of Alchemy: The 2025 Impact Report
Backline’s newly published 2025 Impact Report reads like a love letter to what’s possible when care meets community. Last year alone, 740 individuals went through their Case Management program, $267K was distributed in direct financial aid, and the organization’s referral network grew to more than 1,500 vetted mental health providers.
“Looking back on 2025, it’s clear that the word of the year was alchemy,” co-founder and Executive Director Hilary Gleason wrote in her opening letter, reflecting on partnerships with Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Noah Kahan, and Charli xcx through the We Got You! fund. “Alchemy is about transformation. It is about taking what already exists and, through intention and care, creating something greater than the sum of its parts.”
Since 2019, Backline has invested $4.8 million into mental health and wellness in the music industry, including over $500K in direct financial aid for therapy, and more than 3,000 music professionals have moved through their Case Management pipeline.
B-LINE Hits Its First 90 Days
Launched on January 27, B-LINE is the music industry’s first dedicated 24/7 mental health and crisis support line — and its early numbers speak volumes. In just 94 days, the service supported 306 music industry professionals across the U.S., facilitated more than 300 meaningful interactions, and connected 31 people to ongoing care through Backline’s Case Management program.
Nearly half (45%) of those who reached out identified as active artists or musicians, and more than a third had spent over a decade in the industry. Translation: B-LINE is being trusted by the people who need it most. Music pros and their families can reach the line anytime by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639.
Real Talk at Kilby Block Party
At this year’s Kilby Block Party, Backline teamed up with music creator Fuegostine to capture a series of short-form, unfiltered conversations with artists and crew about life on the road, burnout, and what wellness actually looks like when you’re living out of a van. Participants included Beach Bunny, Gelli Haha, NewDad, The Kilans, Automatic, Briston Maroney, Bad Luck Brigade, Old Mervs, Flipturn, and Ethan Regan.
The centerpiece of the campaign, though, was a longer, more intimate sit-down with singer-songwriter Ben Kweller — a raw and moving conversation about grief, healing, resilience, and the community that carries us through. Watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Backline+Ben+Kweller+interview
The EDM Mental Health Toolkit
On May 5, Backline officially launched the EDM Mental Health Toolkit — their first resource built specifically for the electronic and dance music world. Free and publicly available, the toolkit tackles the specific pressures of EDM life, including tour prep, post-tour re-entry, substance use and harm reduction, sobriety support, nutrition, self-care, and regular mental health check-ins. It’s a practical companion for artists, producers, managers, and crew alike.
Between The Lines: A Guide for Songwriters
On April 30, Backline also released Between The Lines, a free resource made specifically for songwriters. Part journal, part reflection tool, part gentle nudge back to center, the guide invites writers to pause, take stock, and reconnect with why they create in the first place. There’s no required order — each page is designed to meet the reader where they are on any given day.
Meeting the Industry Where It Is
Between the impact report, B-LINE, the EDM Toolkit, Between The Lines, and a growing slate of festival activations, Backline continues to prove that mental health support in music isn’t a one-size-fits-all conversation — it’s an ongoing, evolving one. And in 2026, that conversation is louder, more honest, and more accessible than ever.
If you or someone you know in the music industry needs support, B-LINE is available 24/7 at 1-855-BLINE99 or by text at 254-639. Learn more, download the resources, and read the full 2025 Impact Report at backline.care.
