Backline Answers The Call With B-LINE, New 24/7 Crisis Line For Music Professionals

Backline fulfills a vision the nonprofit organization has held since its start with the launch of B-LINE, the music industry’s first 24/7 mental health and crisis support line. Those who call 855-BLINE99 or text 254-639 will receive real-time support from trained crisis counselors who understand the pressures of life in and around music.

B-LINE provides crucial support to music professionals and their families at all hours of the day. “This has always been the dream. We’ve supported thousands of music industry professionals in their mental health and wellness journeys, but one critical piece was missing: real-time access to care. B-LINE changes that,” explained Backline co-founder and Executive Director Hilary Gleason.

Spotify partnered with Backline as the lead sponsor for the new initiative along with Noah Kahan and Live Nation. “These are close partners that have been key in advancing our mission over the past six years. When we started to bring up B-LINE with them, it became more and more clear that this was the initiative that could change the industry for good,” Gleason added.

“Artists are the lifeblood of culture, but too often they and their teams don’t have the safety nets they need. That has to change,” noted Charlie Hellman, Spotify’s Global Head of Music. “Spotify is proud to enable Backline to build B-LINE and expand access to this critical support.”

Noah Kahan, who was deeply invested in the path to the hotline, shared, “I started working with Backline to provide mental health services for my touring band and crew in 2023. Support for the wellbeing of the incredibly hard working artists and people that make the music industry function has long been neglected. A dedicated 24 hour hotline is the first step toward accessing critical mental health support. The Busyhead Project and I are proud to work with Backline to create a pathway toward a healthier future and an entry point for accessing resources,” Kahan said.

Everyone in the music world, including artists, crew, venue staff, executives and family members, now have access to immediate, confidential mental health support any time of day or night. The new initiative creates a direct line to long-term care, built for an industry that rarely clocks out and often operates far from home. By teaming up with such experts as Vibrant Emotional Health, a national leader in mental health care known for running trusted lifelines and advocacy programs, Backline continues to take proactive steps to meet the industry’s needs before crises hit. The new 24/7 crisis hotline puts help just a call or text away.