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For those of us in the music industry, work can often seem glamorous. There aren’t many 9-5 gigs where the office for the day could include recording sessions, rehearsals, interviews, and stage events. From an outside perspective, the ‘performance’ of the music industry appears effortless, just as musicians and singers present their music as though it is the most natural activity.
But we at WildKat recognize the reality behind the glamor. The music industry can be intensely taxing, inconvenient as it cuts into personal life, and oftentimes grueling, especially as news breaks about the realities of working in the industry. During Mental Health Awareness Week (UK) and Month (US) this May, we are acknowledging the hardships faced by musicians everywhere. Music, which we all share an immense passion for, has a hold on our lives for better and for worse.
According to MusiCare’s Wellness in Music Survey, which captured statistics from the music community, “in 2025, 11.4 percent of WIM survey respondents reported suicidal ideation in the last year, representing an increase from 8 percent in our 2024 survey and more than double the U.S. general population.” To compound this, “20 percent of survey respondents knew a colleague who had been sexually harassed, and nearly 10 percent knew a colleague who had been sexually assaulted in the last year.”
These concerning statistics blatantly show that not enough is being done to support musicians and music industry professionals. In light of these numbers, Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) and Backline launched their new collaborative B-LINE service, a 24/7 Mental Health and Crisis Support Line specifically for music industry professionals.*
In honor of Mental Health Awareness this May, let us remain cognizant of our wellbeing and that of our peers. While there are still many systemic deficiencies that must be addressed—the long hours, lack of healthcare, and limited financial security—it is of the utmost importance in the immediate present to ensure that our mental health remains balanced and our nervous systems regulated.
Here are some activities to help you step away from the noise:
- Listen to your body
Though working in music includes hours of face-to-face collaboration for rehearsals and events, the tenfold hours spent practicing alone or working in an office by yourself can trap you in a dangerous tunnel vision. Long hours of staring at a screen or keeping your limbs in the same position while practicing will have consequences long-term.
Remember that it is not natural for humans to be alone for hours on end, or even to be sitting or standing in one position for long periods. Make sure to take five minute breaks to stretch your body and hydrate. It is crucial to not be lost in the momentum of practicing or working that you ignore bodily cues: headaches, twinges of pain in your limbs or back, or mental fog.
In these moments, pause and assess what your body needs. Learn some basic stretches you can do anywhere. Keep water by your side at all times (and a snack if you can). Go for a short walk in nature or find familiar faces for conversation (whether that be family or a quick FaceTime call). Once you return to your music stand or your computer, you’ll be ready to tackle the next task.
Work sustains our livelihoods, but it doesn’t sustain our physical bodies. Only rest, movement, and hydration will refill your stamina. Physical and mental health go hand in hand—feed one, and the other is nurtured.
- Accept imperfection
From time to time, we all play a wrong note. It’s an inevitable truth that can not be avoided.
But is it something to beat yourself up over? Absolutely not. It’s often joked that those of us in arts and entertainment have to remind ourselves that “it’s not life or death,” versus other high-stress careers where it certainly is. No one is going to have a medical emergency if you can’t play Paganini one-hundred-percent correctly.
Music is incredibly important to us, and no one is denying that. It is important to perform onstage and at work to your best ability. But, indeed, if you play one wrong note during a concert, for example, most will not notice. In many cases, you are entirely prepared to perform/work, but a nagging voice in your head tells you that you are not, which hijacks your ability. The brain can manifest emotions from our own mental state, so if you simply tell yourself you are ready, then you really will be.
We can often be our own worst enemies. Stressing out over little moments does nothing but wear down your mental stamina, and it is important not to be hung-up over small mistakes.
- Nurture your nervous system
Living under constant pressure is taken at face value in the music industry. With a plethora of competitions, high-pressure managerial situations, and the overall cultural pressure to succeed, we have to remind ourselves that it is not normal to be under immense stress 24/7. Combined with a lack of physical rest and stressing over small situations, and soon your life will feel completely out of control.
We must care for our nervous systems the same as any other system in our bodies. For example, take short mental breaks to clear your head of unwanted thoughts. Learn which tasks make you the most stressed and retrain how your brain approaches them. Offer yourself treats like fruit or dark chocolate when you calm down after a high-stress day.
Too many of us have dysregulated nervous systems as a result of an influx of stimulation, which leads to the next point.
- Embrace the silence
If you’re anything like me, you’d rather have music playing in the background of whatever you happen to be doing rather than listening to nothing at all. Contrary to our instinct, we must put away the earbuds, headphones, and streaming platforms more often, especially during designated periods of rest.
This is especially necessary for those of us in the music industry, whose entire lives revolve around listening to and creating music. The logic is simple: our brains need rest like our bodies. Constant input of new information will lead to burnout and overload.
Engage in a silent activity to refuel your brain, such as journaling, doing a puzzle, meditating, or reading a book. This will give the brain muscle that processes audio a proper rest.
Along with auditory silence comes visual silence. Make sure you have at least one moment everyday when you turn off all screens and simply exist, especially if you’ve been feeling stressed out. If you find yourself spending 4+ hours per day doomscrolling, put screen timers on your device and limit app/internet usage.
- Return to your roots
All of us are in the music industry for the same reason: music has a major presence in our lives, and we couldn’t imagine life without it.
Remind yourself why you ventured into this career in the first place. Listen to your favorite piece of music, perhaps outside of your typical genre, and reminisce. Play a piece of music you learned in grade school, and forget about it being perfect. The ease of it will allow you to relish in how fun it was to learn back then, and then you’ll realize how much progress you’ve truly made.
Even though music is your work, it will never leave you as a hobby. As I suspect it is for many of you, it will always be something you can return to for comfort and nostalgia, separate from the ‘industry’ of it all.
The future of the music industry may seem bleak, but steps can be taken to improve your own personal wellbeing. It is more important than ever to rest, recharge, and reexamine our rituals, all in service of promoting a better lifestyle where music does not take over our lives, but rather enriches it.
*If you or someone you love is having a mental health crisis, CALL 855-BLINE99 or TEXT 254-639
Click here for the full report of MusiCare’s Wellness in Music survey
Written by Caitlin Moehrle, Press & Digital Assistant (New York)