Latest news with #Backline
Associated Press
19-02-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
AEG Presents Global Touring Matches Chappell Roan's $25K Donation To Support Artist Healthcare
February 19, 2025 /3BL/ - With a combination of financial insecurity and heavy creative demands, the music industry can often take a heavy toll on the mental health of artists. Research indicates that 50% of musicians reported symptoms of depression, while an estimated 73% experience anxiety. Yet, despite these alarming figures, many in the industry struggle to access quality mental health care resources. To help build a safer and more supported environment for artists to thrive, AEG Presents Global Touring has donated $25,000 to the WE GOT YOU! Campaign, an initiative founded by singer-songwriter Chappell Roan in partnership with Backline to support artist healthcare. AEG Presents Global Touring's contribution matches Roan's initial $25,000 donation, amplifying the impact of the WE GOT YOU! Campaign. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to fostering a safer and more supportive environment for artists and industry professionals alike. With increased funding, Backline can continue to expand its services, ensuring that those who bring music to life receive the mental health care they need and deserve. Backline is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides mental health and wellness resources to music industry professionals and their families. We envision a future where mental health support is affordable and accessible in every aspect of the industry. The average waitlist time for a professional is 3 or more months, but Backline can help clients find providers within 3-7 business days.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chappell Roan blasted the music industry at the Grammys. It helped start a movement.
When Chappell Roan accepted the award for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys on Feb. 2, she seized the opportunity to urge 'the most powerful people in music' to give artists a livable wage and access to health care. 'I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists,' she said in her acceptance speech. The 'Good Luck, Babe!' singer signed her first record deal when she was 17. After being dropped by her label in 2020, she could not afford health care and struggled to make ends meet. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and so dehumanized to not have health care,' Roan said. 'If my label would've prioritized artists' health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to.' On Feb. 5, Jeff Rabhan, a former music and business executive, criticized Roan's comments. In a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter, Rabhan argued that record labels 'are businesses, not charities.' He challenged Roan to 'put your money where your mouth is' and invest in the change she wants to see. Roan responded to the op-ed on Feb. 7. In a series of Instagram stories, the Grammy winner praised Rabhan's call to action as 'genius.' She then said she would donate $25,000 to 'struggling dropped artists' and challenged Rabhan to do the same. With the help of Backline, a nonprofit organization that prioritizes mental health in the music industry, that's exactly what the 'Pink Pony Club' singer did. On Feb. 10, Backline announced it partnered with Roan to create the 'We Got You! Campaign.' Named after a line from Roan's Grammy speech — 'Labels, we got you, but do you got us?' — the campaign is 'a fund to support artists' mental health in an effort to create a safer, more sustainable music industry.' 'Sunday night [Feb. 9], we were informed by [Roan's] team that they chose Backline to be the beneficiary of the $25,000 donation,' Terra Lopez, Backline's community manager, told Yahoo Entertainment. 'It's been a very fast-growing campaign. Easily our single busiest day in our entire five and a half years as an organization.' Founded in 2019 by Hilary Gleason, Backline provides free mental health and wellness resources to people working in the music industry, including artists, managers, agents, promoters, labels, venue staff and their family members. Roughly 48 hours since its launch, the 'We Got You! Campaign' has raised nearly $250,000, said Lopez. Noah Kahan and Charli XCX immediately matched Roan's donation, each giving $25,000 of their own. Live Nation and Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc. (AEG), have also donated to the fund. Mid-interview with Yahoo, Lopez received word that Sabrina Carpenter had just made a $25,000 donation to the campaign too. 'Having these internationally known stars come together and not only support us financially but also let their communities and followers know that we exist has just been huge,' said Lopez. '[The money] is going to help us fund grants to cover these long-term mental health costs because we do find that many folks just don't have the funds and the means to … even think about therapy. So, we're going to pay for therapy costs.' Roan isn't the only star who is speaking out about mental health care for rising stars. On the Feb. 10 episode of Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Ariana Grande said therapy should be built into young stars' contracts. 'It's so important that these record labels, these studios, these TV studios, these big production companies make it a part of the contract when you sign on to do something that's going to change your life in that way, on that scale,' Grande told Maron. 'You need a therapist to be seeing several times a week.' 'The pressures like [Grande] mentioned, especially if you're a woman … feeling like you have to be perfect at all times … there's so much that goes into being an artist. All of that inevitably affects your health,' said Lopez. There's also a misconception that once artists sign with a label, they've 'made it.' 'I think a lot of folks don't understand that when you're in the industry, there really is no bar,' Lopez said. 'You can be signed to a major label and still not have health care and still not have a living wage and still not know how you're going to pay your rent. You could be on the largest label all the time. So, we are seeing artists from all levels, from emerging artists, developing artists to major artists, still struggling with the same issues.' While she's in awe of the support the 'We Got You! Campaign' has seen from some of pop's biggest stars, Lopez urged industry executives to commit to protecting artists. 'This is a movement, and it cannot be a one-time thing. It cannot be a one-time event,' she said. 'We need the industry to fully change and reform itself. We also need artists, especially at the level of the Chappell Roans, Charli XCXs and Sabrina Carpenters, to continue to speak up for all artists. This is going to be a long game.'
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chappell Roan blasted the music industry at the Grammys. It helped start a movement.
When Chappell Roan accepted the award for Best New Artist at the 2025 Grammys on Feb. 2, she seized the opportunity to urge 'the most powerful people in music' to give artists a livable wage and access to health care. 'I told myself if I ever won a Grammy and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists,' she said in her acceptance speech. The 'Good Luck, Babe!' singer signed her first record deal when she was 17. After being dropped by her label in 2020, she could not afford health care and struggled to make ends meet. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 'It was so devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and so dehumanized to not have health care,' Roan said. 'If my label would've prioritized artists' health, I could have been provided care by a company I was giving everything to.' On Feb. 5, Jeff Rabhan, a former music and business executive, criticized Roan's comments. In a guest column for the Hollywood Reporter, Rabhan argued that record labels 'are businesses, not charities.' He challenged Roan to 'put your money where your mouth is' and invest in the change she wants to see. Roan responded to the op-ed on Feb. 7. In a series of Instagram stories, the Grammy winner praised Rabhan's call to action as 'genius.' She then said she would donate $25,000 to 'struggling dropped artists' and challenged Rabhan to do the same. With the help of Backline, a nonprofit organization that prioritizes mental health in the music industry, that's exactly what the 'Pink Pony Club' singer did. On Feb. 10, Backline announced it partnered with Roan to create the 'We Got You! Campaign.' Named after a line from Roan's Grammy speech — 'Labels, we got you, but do you got us?' — the campaign is 'a fund to support artists' mental health in an effort to create a safer, more sustainable music industry.' 'Sunday night [Feb. 9], we were informed by [Roan's] team that they chose Backline to be the beneficiary of the $25,000 donation,' Terra Lopez, Backline's community manager, told Yahoo Entertainment. 'It's been a very fast-growing campaign. Easily our single busiest day in our entire five and a half years as an organization.' Founded in 2019 by Hilary Gleason, Backline provides free mental health and wellness resources to people working in the music industry, including artists, managers, agents, promoters, labels, venue staff and their family members. Roughly 48 hours since its launch, the 'We Got You! Campaign' has raised nearly $250,000, said Lopez. Noah Kahan and Charli XCX immediately matched Roan's donation, each giving $25,000 of their own. Live Nation and Anschutz Entertainment Group Inc. (AEG), have also donated to the fund. Mid-interview with Yahoo, Lopez received word that Sabrina Carpenter had just made a $25,000 donation to the campaign too. 'Having these internationally known stars come together and not only support us financially but also let their communities and followers know that we exist has just been huge,' said Lopez. '[The money] is going to help us fund grants to cover these long-term mental health costs because we do find that many folks just don't have the funds and the means to … even think about therapy. So, we're going to pay for therapy costs.' Roan isn't the only star who is speaking out about mental health care for rising stars. On the Feb. 10 episode of Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Ariana Grande said therapy should be built into young stars' contracts. 'It's so important that these record labels, these studios, these TV studios, these big production companies make it a part of the contract when you sign on to do something that's going to change your life in that way, on that scale,' Grande told Maron. 'You need a therapist to be seeing several times a week.' 'The pressures like [Grande] mentioned, especially if you're a woman … feeling like you have to be perfect at all times … there's so much that goes into being an artist. All of that inevitably affects your health,' said Lopez. There's also a misconception that once artists sign with a label, they've 'made it.' 'I think a lot of folks don't understand that when you're in the industry, there really is no bar,' Lopez said. 'You can be signed to a major label and still not have health care and still not have a living wage and still not know how you're going to pay your rent. You could be on the largest label all the time. So, we are seeing artists from all levels, from emerging artists, developing artists to major artists, still struggling with the same issues.' While she's in awe of the support the 'We Got You! Campaign' has seen from some of pop's biggest stars, Lopez urged industry executives to commit to protecting artists. 'This is a movement, and it cannot be a one-time thing. It cannot be a one-time event,' she said. 'We need the industry to fully change and reform itself. We also need artists, especially at the level of the Chappell Roans, Charli XCXs and Sabrina Carpenters, to continue to speak up for all artists. This is going to be a long game.'
MTV Lebanon
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- MTV Lebanon
Charity 'blown away' by support after Chappell Roan donation
A charity supporting artists' mental health says it's been "blown away" by the support it's had since Chappell Roan called for better rights for musicians at the Grammy's. The Pink Pony Club hitmaker donated $25,000 (£20,000) to Backline, a US-based charity, after an emotional speech on stage as she collected her award for Best New Artist. Charity director Hilary Gleason has told BBC Newsbeat there's been a surge of further support after criticism of a column by a music executive which described Chappell's speech as "misinformed". "We really appreciate her using that moment to call for action to change the music industry," she says. Monday was Backline's "single biggest fundraising day" she says, with artists including Charli XCX and Noah Kahan matching Chappell's contribution. "A lot of others have followed suit," Hilary says, citing donations from global touring companies and promoters. Hilary feels Chappell is "taking it one step further than a speech" but she'll need more support to make sure there is sustained change. "This is a movement and it's gonna take every single person in the industry calling for this. "So we're really excited to be at the forefront of this conversation right now, but it's going to be a long game," she says. During her speech, Chappell reflected on her own experience when she was dropped by her label during the pandemic, saying she struggled to find a job and could not afford health insurance. Hilary says while success in the music industry "looks different for everyone", Chappell's experience isn't uncommon. "It's not always an informed process as you're getting into contracts at the start of your career, so it can be really isolating," she says. Touring can also put a strain on artists, she adds. "That lifestyle involves a lot of time away from home, it can be really hard on relationships, there's often a lot of substance use... so touring professionals have a really hard road ahead of them." Singer Jeff Draco says he could really relate to the issues Chappell raised in her speech. "It's really tough being independent and when you're not backed by a major label," the 24-year-old from Washington DC tells Newsbeat. When he first started performing six years ago, Jeff says he "really struggled" with his mental health but didn't have anyone to turn to for support. "Things can feel really heavy when it's your main passion and it's like, this is the thing I love the most - why is it painful right now?" Backline offers support to workers across the industry, from artists down to tour bus drivers, with access to financial aid as well as wellbeing services but both Jeff and Hilary think the industry needs more radical change. Hilary says it's hard to map out the charity's vision for the future because "it looks different than anything that's existed before" but broadly they want "support from the first day you start in the music industry until the day you retire". For US artists, that includes access to healthcare and Jeff says he'd also like to see "more structural support" from labels, including things like mentoring for emerging artists. A report in 2023 by the Help Musicians charity found artists in the UK also face similar challenges to their American counterparts. It found a lack of sustainable income was a barrier to the careers of 44% of artists who took part in their survey and 23% said they were unable to support themselves or their families. However, a column in The Hollywood Reporter, written by music executive Jeff Rabhan, made the argument that labels aren't charities and artists are not traditional employees. He branded Chappell "disingenuous" because she's profiting from the industry she's calling out. Posting on her Instagram story after announcing her donation, Chappell said "sharing my personal experience on a Grammy stage wasn't meant to be a crowdfunded bandaid". "But a call to action to the leaders of the industry to step up, help us make real change," she said. Chappell also challenged Jeff Rabhan to match her donation, however he has not responded to requests from Newsbeat about this.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Charity 'blown away' by support after Chappell Roan donation
A charity supporting artists' mental health says it's been "blown away" by the support it's had since Chappell Roan called for better rights for musicians at the Grammy's. The Pink Pony Club hitmaker donated $25,000 (£20,000) to Backline, a US-based charity, after an emotional speech on stage as she collected her award for Best New Artist. Charity director Hilary Gleason has told BBC Newsbeat there's been a surge of further support after criticism of a column by a music executive which described Chappell's speech as "misinformed". "We really appreciate her using that moment to call for action to change the music industry," she says. Monday was Backline's "single biggest fundraising day" she says, with artists including Charli XCX and Noah Kahan matching Chappell's contribution. "A lot of others have followed suit," Hilary says, citing donations from global touring companies and promoters. Hilary feels Chappell is "taking it one step further than a speech" but she'll need more support to make sure there is sustained change. "This is a movement and it's gonna take every single person in the industry calling for this. "So we're really excited to be at the forefront of this conversation right now, but it's going to be a long game," she says. During her speech, Chappell reflected on her own experience when she was dropped by her label during the pandemic, saying she struggled to find a job and could not afford health insurance. Hilary says while success in the music industry "looks different for everyone", Chappell's experience isn't uncommon. "It's not always an informed process as you're getting into contracts at the start of your career, so it can be really isolating," she says. Touring can also put a strain on artists, she adds. "That lifestyle involves a lot of time away from home, it can be really hard on relationships, there's often a lot of substance use... so touring professionals have a really hard road ahead of them." Singer Jeff Draco says he could really relate to the issues Chappell raised in her speech. "It's really tough being independent and when you're not backed by a major label," the 24-year-old from Washington DC tells Newsbeat. When he first started performing six years ago, Jeff says he "really struggled" with his mental health but didn't have anyone to turn to for support. "Things can feel really heavy when it's your main passion and it's like, this is the thing I love the most - why is it painful right now?" Backline offers support to workers across the industry, from artists down to tour bus drivers, with access to financial aid as well as wellbeing services but both Jeff and Hilary think the industry needs more radical change. Chappell Roan hits back at criticism over Grammys speech All the winners and nominees at the 2025 Grammy Awards 'It's a cost-of-working crisis for musicians' Hilary says it's hard to map out the charity's vision for the future because "it looks different than anything that's existed before" but broadly they want "support from the first day you start in the music industry until the day you retire". For US artists, that includes access to healthcare and Jeff says he'd also like to see "more structural support" from labels, including things like mentoring for emerging artists. A report in 2023 by the Help Musicians charity found artists in the UK also face similar challenges to their American counterparts. It found a lack of sustainable income was a barrier to the careers of 44% of artists who took part in their survey and 23% said they were unable to support themselves or their families. However, a column in The Hollywood Reporter, written by music executive Jeff Rabhan, made the argument that labels aren't charities and artists are not traditional employees. He branded Chappell "disingenuous" because she's profiting from the industry she's calling out. Posting on her Instagram story after announcing her donation, Chappell said "sharing my personal experience on a Grammy stage wasn't meant to be a crowdfunded bandaid". "But a call to action to the leaders of the industry to step up, help us make real change," she said. Chappell also challenged Jeff Rabhan to match her donation, however he has not responded to requests from Newsbeat about this. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
