What Music Support does

Music Support is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1170231), founded in April 2016 by four music industry veterans with lived experience of addiction and mental ill-health. Operating from Toynbee Studios in London, it provides a peer-led suite of confidential support services to UK music and live events industry professionals and their families, including a freephone helpline (0800 030 6789), BACP/UKCP-registered counselling, Mental Health First Aid training accredited by MHFA England, Addiction & Recovery workshops, backstage Safe Hubs at major UK festivals, Family & Friends services, and Recovery Support Groups. Its clinical model is built on an NHS-aligned four-level Stepped Care Model, supported by a Clinical Consultant and Psychotherapist, and delivered entirely by staff and volunteers who combine formal clinical credentials with direct industry experience.

The underlying technology stack is modest and operationally focused rather than differentiated: a confidential helpline, online video counselling and group sessions, a self-serve website for workshop and recovery group registration, the JustGiving donation platform, and an integration partnership with the NHS-approved Thrive mental wellbeing app. The primary 'technology' differentiator is the Stepped Care Model itself — a structured, four-level intervention framework that routes beneficiaries from preventative care through to complex-need case management and external referrals.

Music Support generates no revenue from beneficiaries; all core services are free. Its income is composed of individual donations (suggested tiers from £5 to £50), corporate partnerships (Neg Earth Lights, BRIT Trust, BPI, PRS Foundation, Help Musicians), restricted grant funding (notably the Christopher Meredith Foundation for Family & Friends services), and fundraising events. Commercial training (MHFA and Addiction & Recovery workshops) is sold to music industry employers, with bursaries provided to freelance production workers. The go-to-market motion is community-led: awareness is generated through industry events, festival Safe Hubs, beneficiary storytelling, earned media campaigns such as 'Without You, There Is No Music' (produced with BBC Creative), and deep partnerships across UK music trade bodies, festivals, and major-label employers.

Name

Music Support

Legal name

Music Support UK

Website

https://musicsupport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Music Support is a UK-registered charity providing peer-led, confidential mental health, substance use, and addiction support to UK music and live events industry professionals through a helpline, BACP-registered counselling, accredited training, festival Safe Hubs, and family services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Public donations through JustGiving platform and direct contributions. Suggested donation amounts include £5 for answering calls, £10 for clinical assessments, £20 for training bursaries, £30 for Safe Hubs, and £50 for detox/treatment funding
2. Corporate Partnerships: Partnerships with music industry companies including Neg Earth Lights, Help Musicians, BRIT Trust, BPI, PRS Foundation, and others providing ongoing financial support
3. Grant Funding: Funding from foundations including The Christopher Meredith Foundation for specific programs like Family and Friends services
4. Fundraising Events: Organised fundraising activities including auctions (Rock Icons, Magnificent Seven), challenges (Three Peaks, desert crossings), community events, and the 'The Roots' fundraising community

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Music Support is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1170231) that provides free mental health, addiction, and substance-use support services to anyone working in the UK music industry, including performers, crew, producers, freelancers, and their families. Core services include a confidential 24/7 helpline, structured counselling, peer-led support groups, family support, and specialist training programs for music industry employers and festivals.

Product overview

Music Support is a UK-registered charity (founded April 2016) providing a comprehensive suite of mental health, substance use, and addiction support services specifically for the UK music and live events industry. The organization operates a peer-led, confidential support model delivered by individuals with lived experience of the industry. Core offerings include: a confidential helpline (0800 030 6789) staffed by trained peers; counselling services offering 1:1 therapy sessions via qualified BACP-registered therapists; Mental Health First Aid training courses accredited by Mental Health First Aid England; Addiction & Recovery Awareness workshops; Safe Hubs providing backstage support at major UK festivals; a Family and Friends Service offering dedicated support to loved ones of those struggling; Recovery Support Groups and Navigating Addiction Workshops; the Connections & Community strand for peer connection; webinars and educational content; and access to the NHS-approved Thrive wellbeing app. All services are confidential and provided by peers who understand the specific pressures of the music industry. The organization is entirely dependent on external funding and donations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Confidential Helpline

Quantifiable outcome

• 51% increase in helpline calls YoY in 2024, demonstrating growing trust and need
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Neg Earth LightscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2026Leading independent lighting and rigging supplier has supported Music Support for over five years. Partnership renewed for two years through 2028. Neg Earth Lights provides regular donations and every member of staff is trained in Mental Health First Aid. Company was founded by former road crew who understand industry pressures.
• MHFA EnglandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Groundbreaking collaboration to produce tailor-made training films specifically for the UK music industry audience. First time MHFA England has partnered with a music industry organisation to create sector-specific content.
• Musicians UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner, with Music Support referenced in MU's Young Freelancer's Guide to Mental Health for the music industry.
• Help MusicianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Music Support during Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 to offer 4,500 musicians free access to the NHS-approved Thrive mental health app.
• StagehandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLive events industry charity supporting Music Support's Mental Health First Aid and Addiction & Recovery workshops.
• Festival RepubliccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFestival operator listed as a supporter of Music Support.
• ColdplayminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal artists who donated guitar strings to raise funds for Music Support through The guitarwrist.
• The Warehouse ProjectcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerManchester venue team trained as Mental Health First Aiders by Music Support ahead of busy summer season.
• BBC CreativeflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerWon G.E.M.A Charity Challenge to create promotional film for Music Support. Created 'Without You, There Is No Music' awareness campaign film with voiceover from Matt Willis.
• G.E.M.A (Global Entertainment Marketing Academy)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry body for marketing and creative community chose Music Support as 2023 Charity Challenge partner.
• Goldsmiths University of LondonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilm-making students supported the awareness campaign by filming at music venues 100 Club and Here at Outernet.
• Headstock (Music and Mental Health)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 'Behind the Scenes' peer support initiative launching as pilot at Manchester venues including Band on the Wall, Gorilla, Lion's Den and YES. Also partnered on new text support service for the music industry.
• TicketpassminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEthical ticketing platform recommended for Music Support fundraisers, donating 50% of their fee to the charity.
• The Great Escape FestivalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLead charity partner for the 2022 festival, with Music Support hosting panel discussions and raising awareness.
• JustGivingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary fundraising platform for individual and event-based donations to Music Support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MusiCares: US-based music industry charity providing health, addiction recovery, and crisis support. Functionally the closest international counterpart to Music Support and the explicit referral partner for US-based UK industry beneficiaries.
• Stagehand: UK charity for live events industry workers supporting Mental Health First Aid and Addiction & Recovery workshops alongside Music Support. Highly comparable beneficiary base among crew, production, and backstage staff.
• Music Minds Matter: UK-based mental health support service specifically for the music industry. Directly comparable in target population, mission, and peer-led counselling model, and is referenced as a previous employer of Music Support's Head of Marketing.
• Help Musicians: UK charity providing health, welfare, and mental wellbeing support to musicians. Closely comparable in mission and beneficiary base; both organisations partnered during Mental Health Awareness Week 2020 on the Thrive app.
• Tonic Music: UK charity delivering mental health and wellbeing support to the music industry workforce. Directly comparable in sector focus, peer-support ethos, and the mix of training and counselling services.
• Backline: US non-profit providing mental health and wellness resources to the music industry. Directly comparable peer-led model with counselling, support groups, and education targeting the same beneficiary population.

Broad incumbents

• The Film and TV Charity: UK charity delivering mental health, financial, and wellbeing support to film, TV, and cinema workers. Comparable operating geography, clinical support model, and corporate partnership approach, but serves a different creative sector.
• Entertainment Community Fund: US-based non-profit providing social services, mental health support, and crisis intervention across the broader performing arts and entertainment industry. Broader scope than Music Support, but highly comparable in service mix.

Emerging players

• Headstock (Music and Mental Health): UK music and mental health organisation partnering with Music Support on the 'Behind the Scenes' peer support pilot and a music-industry text support service. Comparable niche focus but smaller footprint and earlier-stage programmes.

Others

• Samaritans: UK-wide mental health and suicide prevention helpline charity. Not industry-specific, but the closest generalist counterpart that Music Support's confidential helpline is modelled against in terms of service type and access expectations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/music-support

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Music Support