SOUNDCHECK FINAL NATIONAL REPORT: MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

Feb 25
4 min read

SOUNDCHECK FINAL NATIONAL REPORT:

MENTAL HEALTH IN THE CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

LANDMARK NATIONAL STUDY REVEALS SYSTEMIC MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ACROSS CANADIAN MUSIC INDUSTRY

VIEW FINAL REPORT HERE

TORONTO, ON — February 25, 2026 — SOUNDCHECK: Mental Health in the Canadian Music Industry – Final Report is released today, 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.

“This is not about fragility,” says Catherine Harrison, M.Psych., Lead Researcher and President of Revelios. “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 5, 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.

FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION: NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

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.

About Revelios [Mental Health Works]

Revelios is a music industry leadership consultancy helping organizations equip people leaders at all levels to drive performance while creating a healthy, high-trust culture.

About Soundcheck collective

Born from industry feedback, Soundcheck Collective is a national non-profit that helps everyday Canadian music workers learn, grow, and thrive through community learning, mental health education, and practical, human-centred leadership skills that support confidence and long-term well-being

About Catherine Harrison

Catherine Harrison, M.Psych., is a Canadian musician, workplace mental health consultant, leadership expert, author, certified professional coach, scholar and advocate for inclusive and equitable well-being. Catherine aims to improve our collective mental health literacy and social fitness through education, reducing stigma, and facilitating open, courageous conversations. She is currently completing her second book, Leading in Stereo: Reimagining Leadership in the Music Industry, coming out in spring 2026. Catherine is a trusted advisor to several national and international non-profit music organizations and is president of Revelios, a music industry leadership consultancy helping organizations equip people leaders at all levels drive performance while creating healthy, high-trust cultures.

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