Universal Music Group have launched a mental health fund for music professionals after Chappell Roan's Grammy speech

Universal Music Group have launched a new mental health fund in partnership with the Music Health Alliance, providing mental health services to music professionals across the US.

The Music Industry Mental Health Fund will offer support to both current and former music industry professionals, regardless of their affiliation with Universal Music Group. The initiative expands upon an existing four-year healthcare programme between the two organisations.

The fund will provide personalised recommendations for mental health counsellors, alongside grants to offset costs and funding resource recommendations to ensure continued care. The Music Health Alliance also offers additional services including dental care resources, individual and family health insurance, senior care support, and vision care resources.

The partnership between Universal Music Group and the Music Health Alliance has previously served nearly 1,000 clients, resulting in healthcare cost savings of more than $12.5million.

The announcement follows recent industry discussions about artist welfare, sparked by Chappell Roan's Grammy acceptance speech for Best New Artist. During the ceremony, Roan addressed the music industry, calling for labels to provide 'a liveable wage and health care, especially developing artists'.

Ariana Grande has also contributed to the conversation, stating: "It's so important that these record labels, these studios, these TV studios, these big production companies make it a part of the contract when you sign on to do something that's going to change your life in that way, on that scale. You need a therapist to be seeing several times a week."

"When these people are cast in these life-changing roles, or when they get that record deal, when they get that moment, that should be non-negotiable in the contract," Grande added. "Because to be an artist, you are a vulnerable person with your heart on your sleeve."