It’s the close of Dry January, and many people kicked off 2023 sober. Whether you choose to abstain from alcohol and drugs or not, you’ve likely seen first-hand how addiction disproportionately impacts those of us in the music industry. In fact, 56% of music industry professionals cite problematic substance use1 and 34% of touring professionals report suffering from clinical levels of depression as compared with just 7% of the general population.2
But wellness is not a one-month trend. And those who are struggling with addiction have so much to offer. So we are uniting in support of our artists, talent, teams, crews, and fans – not just for one month, but year-round, year after year. We are calling on our peers in the music industry and our allies across the country to unite as a community – a community we call 1 Million Strong – to destigmatize addiction and to support recovery, so people are empowered to live their best lives.
We’re taking action to transform the way people think about addiction by supporting new ways for sober fans to enjoy shows, ensuring touring musicians and crews have access to resources on the road, and engaging in conversations about sobriety that are free from shame and stigma and full of possibilities. We believe community is core to recovery, that sobriety doesn’t have to be isolating, that those of us who don’t have challenges with substance use are well-positioned to be a community of support for those who do.
Together we’re on a path where recovery means gaining so much more in life. Starting now, we can expand music culture to include sobriety – a shift that supports health and wellness, not just sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. As it has throughout history, music can once again be a catalytic force for positive change. Join us as we come together to support those in recovery.
Sources: 1Source: Musicians Behavioral Health Research Summary, A partnership between Send Me a Friend and Tulane University School of Social Work and 2Source: White-Paper-Dr.-Chayim-Newman-Zack-Borer.pdf ( borernewman.com)
President & CEO,
American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
Chairman & CEO,
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
Chief Marketing Officer,
Danny Wimmer Presents
Professor of Practice, USC & CEO,
Kevin Lyman
President, Business Development,
Oak View Group
Founder & CEO,
Another Planet Entertainment
TV & Media Personality,
Allison Hagendorf Show
Chief Marketing Officer,
Downtown Music Holdings
President of Concerts & Festivals,
Another Planet Entertainment
President & CEO,
Live Nation Entertainment
Co-Founder & Owner,
Brooklyn Bowl & The Capitol Theatre
Founder,
RWE Partners
CEO & Founder,
Park City Song Summit
Co-CEO,
The Blueprint Group
CEO & Founder,
Primary Wave Music
CEO,
Festival Productions
Founder & CEO,
City Winery
Music Management Partner,
Primary Wave
Founder,
RWE Partners
Co-Founder & CEO,
Lava Media
Chairman Emeritus,
AEG Presents
Musician & Founder,
Goodnoise
CEO,
Wide Eye Entertainment
Chairman & CEO,
Oak View Group
CEO,
Wide Eye Entertainment
Founder,
NBD Management & vnclm_
Partner,
Morrison Hotel Gallery
CEO,
Disruptor Records
CEO,
True Tickets
CEO,
Merlin Entertainment
Artist
Singer-Songwriter
KISS, CHER Tour Director
Musician
Artist
Songwriter & Musician
Stargate
The Chainsmokers
Pedal Steel Guitarist
Artist
Artist
Television, Podcast and Radio Host
Recording Artist
Recording Artist
Stargate
Recording Artist
CEO, SPIN
Head of Stand Together Music
The Jayhawks
President, Thirty Tigers
Singer-Songwriter
