In a significant development for the music industry, Universal Music Group (UMG) has announced a partnership with the Music Health Alliance to establish the Music Industry Mental Health Fund. This new initiative aims to provide “comprehensive, high-quality outpatient mental health resources for music industry professionals nationwide,” extending its support even to those who have exited the industry.
The fund will primarily offer resources and recommendations, along with grants to help offset costs for mental health services, as detailed in an official statement.
This effort builds on UMG’s earlier collaboration with the Music Health Alliance, known as the Priority Healthcare Advocacy Program, which was designed to offer free, confidential healthcare resources to UMG artists.
The recent conversation surrounding mental health gained momentum following Chappell Roan’s impactful speech at the Grammys, where she highlighted the struggles artists face in accessing affordable healthcare. Roan urged record labels, which profit significantly from artists’ work, to provide livable wages and health insurance. She stated, “Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection.”
In response to ongoing discussions, music entrepreneur Jeff Rabhan expressed skepticism regarding the responsibility of labels to enact change, suggesting Roan should lead by example. Roan responded by pledging $25,000 to a fund supporting emerging artists, inspiring others like Charli XCX and Noah Kahan to contribute as well. During a recent podcast, Ariana Grande also advocated for including free therapy sessions in contracts for young artists.
