A letter from Backline’s Executive Director, Hilary Gleason
Last week, Backline won the Pollstar Award for Tour Services Company of the Year. The fact that a mental health and wellness nonprofit was recognized in this category speaks volumes about a powerful shift happening in our industry, where these resources are finally seen as essential, not optional. Backline is so proud to work alongside our partners to make this kind of care more accessible and affordable than ever before.
While we support touring professionals 365 days a year through our Core Programs, we have worked hard to develop touring-specific resources like the Touring Notebook, and Tour Support, a customizable program built specifically for a tour that can include wrap-around services like in-person support, wellness drop-ins, and the option to create an earmarked fund to cover mental health care costs for band, crew, and their agency / management teams. Artists like Noah Kahan and Goose have found this kind of concierge support to be extremely helpful, as it gives them somewhere to go for any mental health and wellness needs that come up, on or off the road. For more information on building out your own Tour Support program with Backline, please email hello@backline.care.
We wouldn’t be here without the courage of the individuals who have trusted us in their most vulnerable moments, the leadership of artists in calling for this kind of change, and the network of supporters who have showed up for us every step of the way. Incredibly grateful to all those who see the value in this work, amplify our message, and invest in our organization to ensure we can be here for music industry families in the long-term. We are more committed than ever to show up for the people who make the music happen — on and off the stage.
