Seven years ago, I was at a breaking point. The industry I loved - the music world, the place where I’d built my career had become a toxic space for me. Anxiety, pressure, burnout, and addiction were normalised. I got sober, and in the years since, I’ve learned first-hand how therapy can transform lives. Through years of working behind the scenes in music, I realised that mental health was a massive blind spot in artist development. The industry invests in branding, songwriting, and marketing, but what about the artist as a person? Their emotional and mental resilience?
The Stats Don’t Lie: A Crisis in the Industry
At Riot Noise, we believe that needs to change. As both a music industry professional and a therapist-in-training, my mission is clear: to put mental health at the centre of artist development, not as an afterthought. The music industry is one of the most exciting in the world, but it’s also one of the most mentally exhausting. The statistics speak for themselves. Seventy-one percent of musicians have experienced high anxiety or panic attacks. Seventy-three percent of independent musicians struggle with mental illness.
Forty percent of touring professionals have reported suicidal ideation.
These numbers highlight an industry that thrives on passion but often neglects the well-being of the very people who make it run. Job insecurity, brutal touring schedules, and social media pressures create a perfect storm for burnout. We’ve seen too many artists succumb to the pressure—Avicii, Chester Bennington, and countless others who have spoken openly about their struggles.
And these stories are not rare. I’ve witnessed these challenges up close, not just in my own journey but in my work with artists.
Touring, Pressure, and the Cost of Success
One of the most eye-opening experiences for me was working with an artist I have toured with for the last three years. When I first met them, they were dealing with anxiety, stage fright, and the immense pressure that comes with building a music career. The demands of touring, performing, and constantly being ‘on’ took a toll on their mental health.
I wasn’t just a tour manager, I became an on-tour therapist, offering emotional support in a way that most artists never get access to. And what I learned was staggering. Many artists lack even basic emotional support while navigating the industry. The industry is built to push artists to their limits rather than nurture them.
Without proper care, mental health struggles can derail careers before they even take off.
But my awareness of the music industry’s failure to support mental health started long before that. The first band I managed suffered an unimaginable loss when the artist took his own life at a festival. At the time, no one was talking about mental health. The tragedy was pretty much swept under the carpet, and we just got on with it. No help was offered to me or the rest of the band. We were left to process the loss alone, with no support system in place. That experience has stayed with me, a stark reminder of what happens when mental health is ignored.
Building a Better Industry: What Riot Noise Stands For
This experience solidified something for me. Artists don’t just need managers, producers, and labels. They need mental health professionals in their corner from the very start. If we can put mental health at the heart of artist development—alongside songwriting, branding, and touring strategy—we can prevent burnout before it happens. That’s the vision we’re building at Riot Noise. By partnering with organisations such as MITC (Music Industry Counselling Collective) and Music Support, we can create real change. This means organising talks and panels, providing subsidised therapy to artists we are working with right at the start of their careers, and making mental health support part of their vernacular from day one.
I’ve worked in this industry. I’ve lived through its struggles. And I know it needs to change. That’s why I’m here—to be part of that change.
Join the Movement: Let’s Change the Industry Together
At Riot Noise, we’re committed to supporting artists not just in their careers, but in their lives. Because music should be a source of joy, not suffering. And no artist should have to sacrifice their mental health for success.
At Riot Noise, we’re committed to supporting artists not just in their careers, but in their lives.
If you’re an artist, manager, or industry professional and want to be part of this movement, let’s talk. The conversation starts here, but the change happens when we all take action.