Music gives us a lot.
The record that gets you through a difficult week. The gig you talk about for years. The song that takes you straight back to a person, a place or a version of yourself you thought you’d forgotten.
It brings people together. Gives us somewhere to belong. Helps us find words for things we struggle to explain.
At Underground & Sound, that connection runs through everything we do. It’s also why I want to introduce you to Music Minds Matter.
Because the people who make those moments possible need looking after too.
Who are Music Minds Matter?
Music Minds Matter is a UK charity dedicated to supporting the mental health of people working in music. Created by Help Musicians, it is now its sister charity, with a focus on helping people across the industry find support and look after their wellbeing.
Its reach extends across the whole music community. Performers, songwriters, sound engineers, tour managers, venue staff, promoters, studio teams and people working in music offices can all turn to it. Freelance, part-time or full-time, there is support available.
Think about how many people it takes to put on your favourite gig. Most of them never step into the spotlight. Their wellbeing matters just as much.
Why is that support needed?
Working in music can be hugely rewarding. It can also mean long hours, late nights, financial uncertainty and extended periods away from home. Those pressures can build, particularly when sleep, routine and time with the people you care about become difficult to protect.
Then there’s everything life brings outside work. Relationships. Bereavement. Worry. The things that don’t disappear because the doors are about to open or a tour is going well.
Music Minds Matter understands that someone’s struggles don’t have to be about their career for them to deserve support.
Through photography, band management, touring, stage management and promotion, music has been a huge part of my own life. That experience is part of why this work matters to me. Behind every performance are people with lives far bigger than the few hours we see.
How do they help?
Music Minds Matter provides several ways to find support, depending on what someone needs.
Its free, confidential helpline operates around the clock. Trained, experienced call handlers offer emotional support, information and guidance, and can help people find further services. You don’t need to know exactly what to ask for before getting in touch. Friends and relatives concerned about someone working in music can also contact the service.
For those who need further help, charity-funded mental health assessments and counselling form part of its support. In 2025, Music Minds Matter helped 611 people access funded counselling and delivered 496 mental health assessments, working closely with the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine.
Some specialist services have eligibility requirements. Its helpline, online workshops and many resources are freely available across the music industry, while access to certain funded services depends on individual circumstances and qualifying criteria.
There’s also support for looking after yourself before difficulties become overwhelming. Online sessions and practical resources explore subjects such as sleep, boundaries, stress and staying connected, giving people tools they can use in everyday life.
Why this matters to all of us
You don’t need to work in music to care about the people behind it.
If you’ve ever found friendship through a band, felt understood by a lyric or walked out of a gig feeling better than when you arrived, you already know how much music can give.
Learning about Music Minds Matter, sharing its work or donating directly are ways to give something back. Passing its details to the right person could help them discover support they didn’t know existed.
Community is a big part of Underground & Sound. For me, that means taking an interest in how people are doing and helping useful information reach them.
Music has given so many of us a place to belong. The people who keep it going deserve care, understanding and somewhere to turn.
A real person. A real difference.
Artist manager and coach Steph had built her career around helping other people succeed. After losing her job during the pandemic, she launched her own management and consultancy business. As it grew, she pushed her own emotional struggles aside until she experienced burnout.
Through Music Minds Matter, she joined peer support groups with other managers and agents who understood the pressures she was facing. That connection led to charity-funded therapy with someone who understood the music industry, too.
Steph describes how therapy helped her recognise patterns and rebuild a healthier routine. In her words: “Music Minds Matter changed everything for me.”
Her experience shows what this support can mean: being understood, finding people you can talk to and getting help to make everyday life more manageable.
Read Steph’s full story on Music Minds Matter’s website.
Different minds. Shared roots.
Find out more, explore support or donate at musicmindsmatter.org.uk.