Touring is an integral part of a musician's livelihood, but life on the road can take a toll on mental health. As the leading music charity dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of music professionals, MusiCares is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Amber Health to help enhance the well-being of touring professionals — and artists and crews are now invited to take part.
Launching in April, "Headlining Mental Health: A Tour Study" is a transformative mental health study for touring professionals. This research marks a pivotal step in addressing the elevated risks of stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression that touring crews and artists face.
The study offers participants, including artists and tour crew, an opportunity to contribute to critical research that will inform how the music industry prioritizes mental health. By signing up, participating tours will help drive meaningful change while also gaining access to specialized wellness resources throughout the study.
How Artists & Crews Can Get Involved
MusiCares and Amber Health are currently seeking tours launching between April 2025 through June 2025 to join this research at no cost to the tour. Tours interested in participating can sign up here.
Who Can Participate
Eligible tours must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of 50 individuals, including artists and crew\
- A tour duration of at least 3 weeks\
- Commitment to improving mental health outcomes during the tour
Resources Included In The Study
Participating tours will receive:
- Pre-tour orientation on the study and its benefits\
- Free, on-demand mental health support available virtually and on-site for all participating crew and artists\
- Confidential and ethically approved research conducted in adherence to Institutional Review Board standards
Why This Matters
Touring professionals face heightened risks of suicidality, depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout. Formative research led by Amber Health's founders confirmed these concerns, revealing elevated mental health challenges among those on the road.
This study will collect critical data on mental health risk factors and evaluate the benefits of on-demand mental health services, marking a crucial step in addressing these risks. The findings will help drive strategic investment into mental health resources for touring professionals, ensuring support is placed where it's needed most.
With touring being the primary revenue driver for many artists, understanding how to support mental health during these demanding periods is more critical than ever. The "Headlining Mental Health" study presents a major opportunity for long-term, positive change in the music industry.
MusiCares' Resilience On The Road Toolkit: A Guide For Sustaining Mental & Physical Wellness On Tour