Soundcheck Unveils National Report of Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry

Soundcheck: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry – Final Report (view here) has been released, marking the first comprehensive Canadian study to quantify mental health challenges across the entire music ecosystem.

Led by Catherine Harrison, M.Psych., and President & Founder of Revelios [Mental Health Works], Soundcheck began with the launch of a national survey in September 2024. What started as a call for Canada-specific data has become a landmark, evidence-based foundation for systemic change across the industry.

Until now, Canada lacked national, Canada-specific mental health data for its music workforce. While international research existed, no comprehensive Canadian baseline had ever been established. Soundcheck changes that.

More than 1,250 music professionals participated nationwide through a bilingual survey (n=1,216), focus groups, and in-depth interviews. Participants included artists, crew members, managers, venue operators, educators, media professionals, festival staff, and executives, confirming that this is not an isolated “artist issue,” but a systemic workplace crisis affecting the entire music ecosystem.

Key National Findings:

• 94% agree mental health issues are widespread in the Canadian music industry
• 86% have personally experienced mental health challenges
• 53% have felt life wasn’t worth living; 43% have considered taking their life
• 84% say financial stress directly impacts their mental health
• Only 10% strongly agree leaders actively support mental health in the workplace

Researchers conclude the industry has reached a critical tipping point requiring systemic change.

The Final Report directly challenges the long-standing misconception that mental health struggles in music are primarily an “artist problem.”

The data reveals that financial instability, toxic workplace culture, discrimination, harassment, irregular schedules, leadership gaps, and lack of structured support are impacting those behind the scenes just as deeply — and often in silence.

Mental health risk is being driven less by individual resilience and more by how work itself is structured.

Catherine Harrison, M.Psych., Lead Researcher and President of Revelios, comments:

“This is not about fragility. It’s about systems. When over half of respondents have felt life wasn’t worth living, we are no longer talking about isolated burnout — we are looking at structural harm. The Canadian music industry must confront how work is organized, led, and supported.”

Following the release of preliminary findings in May 2025, the industry reacted strongly to the revelations, prompting national conversation and engagement across sectors.

Catherine Harrison presented the findings on some of the largest stages in the Canadian music industry, including Departure Toronto Conference + Festival, NXNE, Capital Music Week, and Women in Music events, and met directly with major music companies and sector leaders to discuss structural reform.

Women in Music Canada also announced that Catherine Harrison, President & Founder of Revelios [Mental Health Works], has been nominated for “Entrepreneur of the Year” (Presented by Believe and TuneCore) as part of the “2026 Women in Music Canada Honours.”

The 4th annual Honours event will take place on Thursday, March 5th, 2026, at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

This nomination recognizes Harrison’s transformative leadership at the intersection of mental health, entrepreneurship, and the Canadian music industry. Through Revelios, which also provided funding for the research, she has become a leading voice advocating for sustainable, human-centred leadership models within the music sector.

The Final Report moves beyond documenting the crisis and outlines coordinated, industry-wide action, including:

• Industry-wide mental health literacy training
• A National Code of Conduct for psychologically safe workplaces
• Leadership development focused on psychological safety and human-centred management
• Accessible, preventative mental health support systems
• Structural reforms addressing income instability and precarious work

This report calls for collaborative reform across government, funders, associations, venues, labels, festivals, and educators — positioning Canada to become a global leader in music workforce well-being.

Given the intersection of arts, labour, health policy, economics, gender equity, and workplace reform, the findings carry national implications.