Spotify recently welcomed songwriters, artists, executives, and music students to Nashville for a Mental Health & Songwriter Summit. The event was an extension of our ongoing Heart & Soul, Mental Health for Creators initiative, which offers tools, care, and space to reflect on the emotional side of creative life.
The summit at Belmont University's Fisher Center was held in partnership with Backline and powered by BetterHelp, the world's largest online mental health platform. It brought together nearly 200 members of the songwriting community for a day of conversation, resources, and shared experiences centered on mental health in the music industry.
During the event, Spotify and Backline unveiled Between the Lines, a vital mental health guide for songwriters developed by Backline's clinical team. Blending reflection with practical support, the guide offers songwriters a way to stay grounded, care for their wellbeing, and sustain a meaningful connection to their craft as it grows and changes over time.
Supporting the people behind the songs The music industry is deeply rewarding, but it can also come with long hours, uncertainty, and emotional pressure that isn't always visible. As we've shared through our Heart & Soul work, these realities can shape mental health in ways that are difficult to name, especially for songwriters working behind the scenes.
This summit was designed to meet that moment, bringing the community together not just to talk about challenges, but to share resources and build stronger support systems.
NEXT
A day of conversation and connection The programming kicked off with The Unsung Heroes, a panel exploring the rejection, comparison, and quiet pressures that come with songwriting and song plugging. Moderated by MusicRow's LB Cantrell, the conversation featured Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Gabe Simon, hit songwriter Emily Weisband, Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston, and Jessi Vaughn Stevenson, founder of Perfect Game Creative.
From there, Christopher O'Reilly, Owner, Remedy Counseling & Wellness, led an interactive session on emotional regulation, giving attendees practical tools they could take into the studio and beyond.
The afternoon's Creativity on Demand panel explored how to live a consistent, balanced, healthy lifestyle while sustaining creative inspiration, pushing back on the idea that one needs to suffer to make great art. Moderated by Debbie Carroll, Executive Director of Belmont's Center for Mental Health in Entertainment, the panel featured Old Dominion s Brad Tursi, singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun, genre-blending artist Breland, and hit songwriter Barry Dean.
The day closed with a fireside chat between songwriter Steph Jones and Spotify's Songwriter and Publisher Partnerships Lead, Alex Tamashunas, for a candid conversation on identity, balance, and creative longevity.
I think it is so deeply important to keep the conversation of mental health an open and honest one, said Jones. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to share my experiences at this event and hear others' as well.
In-person support Local organizations including MusiCares, Porter's Call, Onsite, Family Alliance in Music, and Belmont's Center for Mental Health in Entertainment took to the stage to share the resources they offer for songwriters and spoke directly with those in the room.
Beyond the onstage programming, the summit offered support people could use right away. A dedicated wellness space, curated by Backline and powered by BetterHelp, gave songwriters the opportunity to connect with wellness practitioners and take a moment to rest and reset. Backline provided pathways to ongoing care through their Case Management program, Global Resource Hub, and B-LINE, the music industry's 24/7 crisis and support line, while BetterHelp extended access to continued mental health support beyond the event.
Continuing the work The Nashville summit and launch of Between the Lines is one step in Spotify's broader commitment to supporting the music community, not just in their work, but in their wellbeing. Through Heart & Soul, we'll continue to invest in resources, partnerships, and conversations that help artists, songwriters, and their teams navigate the realities of creative life.
Europe Stories
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
14/05/2026
At Spotify, we're focused on making every listening experience feel intentio...
14/05/2026
Spotify recently welcomed songwriters, artists, executives, and music students t...
14/05/2026
New articulations, ostinatos, Motion Scoring Articulation Sets & more
Sonuscore's flagship cinematic string library has just been treated to a significa...
14/05/2026
World-class studio opens on T rkiye's Aegean coast
P r Recording & Residence have announced their official opening, introducing a new world-class reside...
14/05/2026
Now supports channel layouts up to 9.1.6
Nugen Audio have just released an update for their AI-powered dialogue intelligibility and compliance tool. Set to ...
14/05/2026
New recordings & one-key chord tool
UVI have just announced the release of Orchestral Suite 2, a ground-up redesign of their all-in-one symphonic orchestra ...
14/05/2026
Two new arrivals & expanded factory content
Rob Papen's all-encompassing plug-in and virtual instrument collection has just been treated to another upda...
14/05/2026
Embed QR codes into DAW sessions
FSK Audio's latest plug-in doesn't process audio, but serves as an organisational tool that allows QR codes to be e...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz transforms spectrum complexity into situational awareness and ef...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz and Quantum Systems join forces to redefine EW and C-UAS-enabled...
14/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz showcases STANAG aligned ARDRONIS Counter UAS capability at NATO...
14/05/2026
Code of Silence has won the BAFTA for Best Drama Series at Sunday night's ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall.
The series, starring Rose Ayling-Ellis and w...
14/05/2026
Vivid Broadcast was embracing remote production long before it became the industry norm. Now, with Calrec's True Control 2.0-enabled Argo M and Type R conso...
14/05/2026
What can I watch on UKTV and stream on U this week?
This week on UKTV and the free streaming service U, viewers can watch a range of new and returning programm...
14/05/2026
The high-stakes chase thriller from Oscar- and BAFTA-nominated writer Matt Charm...
14/05/2026
Back From The Brink airs Sunday 17 May and Sunday 24 May at 6.30pm on RT One an...
13/05/2026
13 May 2026
VEON Delivers Strong Start to 2026 1Q26: Revenue 17.0%, EBITDA 17...
13/05/2026
Thousands of props donated from Skys longest-running original seriesWednesday 13 May 2026
How a neon windmill from A League of Their Own ended up in a dogs'...
13/05/2026
SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 13, 2026 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that I...
13/05/2026
A definitive portrait of one of Ireland's most influential musicians
New TV documentary airs Monday 18 May on RT One and RT Player at 9.35pm
Watch the...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
FOX Announces Schedule for 2026-27 Season FOX'S POWERFUL NEW SERIES PIPELINE FUELS A BREAKOUT SEASON WITH RETURNING HITS AND BOLD NEW STORYTELLING ACROSS ...
12/05/2026
Customer demand for data continues to grow in the first quarter of 2026 at Magya...
12/05/2026
The latest drama underscores Sky's continued investment in regional production and Welsh creative talent.Tuesday 12 May 2026
Wales takes the spotlight in S...
11/05/2026
As Eurovision fans gear up to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic song ...
11/05/2026
Pela primeira vez na hist ria, o Brasil figura entre os oito maiores mercados de...
11/05/2026
New desktop instrument focused on tactile performance
Bastl Instruments have announced the Kalimba, a new desktop instrument that combines physical modellin...
11/05/2026
Compact sampling workstation gains new features
1010music have announced the blackbox 2, a new version of their compact standalone sampler designed for DAWl...
11/05/2026
Performance-focused sequencer with microtonal control
Berlin-based KOMA Elektronik have announced Monoplex, a new 42HP Eurorack sequencer designed for hands...
11/05/2026
Boasts wireless control from mobile devices
The latest iteration of IK Multimedia's compact amp and effects modelling pedal expands on the capabilities ...
11/05/2026
Spans traditional orchestral and experimental sounds
Sonora Cinematic have recently released the third instalment in their Transfigured Orchestra series, de...
11/05/2026
Our exhibition coverage
Watch all our SUPERBOOTH 2026 video coverage in one place. Check back to this page regularly as we will be updating with more video ...
11/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, is participating in the Equity Forum Ge...
11/05/2026
Bounteous Acquires Cartesian to Accelerate Enterprise AI
May 11, 2026
Business Assurance
News
Acquisition enhances deep data and analytics capabil...
11/05/2026
11 May 2026
VEON Shareholders Re-elect Board and Chairman, Reaffirming Confiden...
11/05/2026
Fox Corporation Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2026 Financial Results NEW YORK, NY, May 11, 2026 - Fox Corporation (Nasdaq: FOXA, FOX; FOX or the Company ) t...
11/05/2026
Arvato Systems Becomes a Member of InsurLab Germany
Collaboration in the insurance industrys leading innovation network
G tersloh - Arvato Systems has joine...
11/05/2026
Pirate Predator uncovers new information from victims and survivors of abuse on ...
10/05/2026
RT ALL-IRELAND DRAMA FESTIVAL WINNERS ANNOUNCED DURING GALA AWARDS STREAMED LIVE ON RTE.IE/CULTURE
Kilmeen Drama Group hailing from Rossmore, Co. Cork Scoops ...
09/05/2026
New desktop instrument focused on tactile performance
Bastl Instruments have announced Kalimba, a new desktop instrument that combines physical modelling, F...
09/05/2026
Compact sampling workstation gains new features
1010music have announced blackbox 2, a new version of their compact standalone sampler designed for DAWless ...
Spotify recently welcomed songwriters, artists, executives, and music students to Nashville for a Mental Health & Songwriter Summit. The event was an extension of our ongoing Heart & Soul, Mental Health for Creators initiative, which offers tools, care, and space to reflect on the emotional side of creative life.
