Backline successfully launches B-LINE: 24/7 mental health & crisis support for the music industry
Backline has successfully launched B-LINE, the music industry-specific 24/7 mental health and crisis support line connecting music professionals and their families with trained counselors who understand the unique pressures of working in and around music. Now, care is accessible day or night by calling 1-855-BLINE99 or texting 254-639.
Since its inception on January 27, B-LINE has already assisted over 80 people. Backline co-founder and Executive Director Hilary Gleason says, “The response to the launch showed us just how needed this resource really is. People reached out not just to look for help, but to say thank you for building something that truly understands our world. It was a powerful reminder that when care is created by and for the community, it can genuinely change lives.”
To celebrate this pioneering lifeline in the music industry, Backline gathered with donors and day one supporters at Irving Plaza on the evening of the launch, January 27. Backline’s Biggest Night was filled heartfelt speeches by Hilary Gleason and Spotify’s Senior Vice President, Global Head of Music Charlie Hellman and Live Nation’s Head of Clubs, Maggie Gessner. Musical performances by Mimi Naja, Steve Earle, Cautious Clay, Joy Oladokun and Melt put the power of music in the room and a DJ Questlove concluded the night with joy.
On B-LINE’s launch night, a very special video debuted on stage about what this work is and who it’s for. Watch the Hero video, featuring Noah Kahan, Marcus King, Indigo de Souza, Kaleena Zanders and many more. Following the celebration at Irving Plaza in NYC, the Backline team was in Los Angeles the following morning to attend a B-LINE Brunch at Live Nation’s offices, joined by Noah Kahan.
During the 2025 GRAMMY Awards, Chappell Roan asked who is caring for the artists, if the industry isn’t in her Best New Artist speech. This year, B-LINE was accepting calls and shining back from that very stage as the answer, pinned on Sierra Hull’s gown in a full circle moment.
Support for B-LINE comes from Spotify, Live Nation, Noah Kahan / The Busyhead Project, Adyen, AEG Presents, Red Light Management, and Wasserman Foundation. B-LINE ensures that anyone working in music—artists, crew, staff, executives and also family members within the music community—can access immediate, confidential support 24/7, with a seamless transition into long-term care. Launching this initiative now means getting ahead of future crises with a solution that meets the industry where it works: on the road, outside of 9-to-5 hours, and in moments of acute need. Backline is working with experts who know this work, such as Vibrant Emotional Health, a national leader in mental health which delivers life-saving support to millions each year through numerous lifelines, innovative programs, and system advocacy.
Live for Live Music Editor-In-Chief Andrew O’brien, who joined the celebration in NYC, says, “While the organization has been connecting people in the music industry with vital mental health resources since 2019, its ability to offer real-time assistance was limited during nights and weekends—the times when many in the industry are most likely to need support. Until now, she joked, her cell phone number has been the closest thing Backline has had to a real-time crisis hotline.”
News editor Ben Kaye from Consequence, who also attended the B-LINE launch party, says, “Gleason prefaced her remarks by noting she was likely to get emotional because B-LINE has been a dream for so long. And she did, choking up as she recalled securing the backing for B-LINE and the fact that calls had already started rolling in, just 24 hours after launch,” adding “As someone who has utilized their resources myself, I can attest to how invaluable their work is, and how truly great their team is. B-LINE is a tool that has the potential to have a marked impact across the music industry, and in a time where too much seems to be going wrong for professionals in this field, there’s nothing more worthy of celebration.”
Backline’s 24/7 crisis hotline is just a call or text away and with B-LINE up and running, a healthier, more sustainable music industry for everyone is a dream come true. As always, Backline’s incredible service hub can always be found online as well at backline.care.
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