Live Nation UK Backs New Pay It Forward Fund Bringing Mental Health Support to Tours
Key Takeaways
Live Nation is a Founding Funder of Pay It Forward, a new fund giving artists and crew on smaller tours free access to specialist mental health and occupational health support
Every funded team gets access to check-ins, a manager consultation, a workshop and practical resources – available to everyone on the road, not just the person on stage
Applications are open for touring teams worldwide, closing 30 September
Live Nation is backing a new industry-funded, free at source, occupational health programme for artists and crew on small and mid-scale tours.
Launched by the Music Industry TherapistCollective CIC (MITC), the Pay It Forward Fund has been created to address a gap in occupational health support, giving smaller touring teams access to specialist support more commonly available on large-scale productions.
The Fund will provide complete Tour Health packages to up to 50 touring teams each year, reaching up to 150 teams over the next three years.
Live Nation is one of nine Founding Funders behind the initial £272,000 raised, which will provide complete Tour Health packages to up to 50 touring teams annually over a three year pilot.
Live Nation UK said: "LiveNation relies on an incredible ecosystem of artists, crew, production staff, promoters, venue workers and freelancers to make live events happen. Touring is hugely rewarding, but long hours, constant travel and time away from home can be physically and emotionally demanding. Partnering with MITC gives us the opportunity to help provide practical, timely mental health support for people on the road and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable live music industry."
Tamsin Embleton, founder of MITC, said: "ThePay It Forward Fund is about making specialist support accessible to tours working within tight budgets, but it's also about moving beyond the idea that support should only be sought when crisis hits. We want to help forward-thinking teams develop the skills to manage pressure, recognise when something is beginning to take a toll, and intervene effectively before things start to snowball."
MITC’s Tour Health packages include TourCheck-Ins – confidential conversations with qualified mental health practitioners who understand the realities of music and touring. Also included in each package is a 90-minute occupational health consultation with MITC’s TouringWelfare Officer Sascha Heeney (who supported Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism tour team),Healthy Touring workshops, resources to support performance, communication and collaboration, and access to MITC's audiobook ‘Touring and Mental Health: the Music Industry Manual’.
Fund Details:
Applications are open now to eligible tours anywhere in the world starting between October and December, and close on 30September. Teams can find out more and apply at https://www.musicindustrytherapists.com/payitforward/apply.