Questions

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answers

What is The Wellness Starter Pack?

The Wellness Starter Pack is a collection of videos and articles that, with the help of industry experts, explore the impact that sleep, nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and positivity have on music makers’ mental health, along with actionable steps forward. By providing legitimate, science-based, and concrete information as well as tangible tools, it should help music makers prioritize and take better care of their mental wellbeing.

Why is Record Union doing this?

Record Union wants to create a healthier music climate with healthier artists. It is our belief that every artist should be able to make music and feel good doing it. This is why we, in an attempt to lower the barriers to greater wellbeing, have created The Wellness Starter Pack - a toolbox for wellbeing - together with industry experts, with music makers in mind.

This project was born out of “The 73 Percent Report”, which told us that 73 percent of independent music makers suffer from symptoms of mental illness in relation to their music creation. When the music makers in the study (that the report is based on) were asked if they prioritize their mental health and wellbeing, only 59 percent said yes. Among the 41 percent that didn’t claim to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing, 63 percent said that they would like to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing more than they are doing today.

How come you decided to focus on the five areas you do in the starter pack?

In “The 73 Percent Report” independent music makers were asked what they would like to focus on, or invest more time into, when it comes to their mental health and wellbeing. Basic needs such as eating well, working out, having enough sleep, being aware of my feelings and mental state, and being surrounded by more positive people, topped the list. These five areas have laid the foundation for The Wellness Starter Pack.

Why did you involve industry experts in this project?

Since we’re not working with the topic of mental health on a daily basis, we decided to bring in some experts - that actually know what they’re talking about - to provide concrete, legitimate, and science-based information as well as tangible tools that could help music makers to prioritize and take better care of their mental wellbeing..

How did you select the industry experts in this project?

We wanted to involve a group of global experts with demonstrated expertise and experience from the theme that they represent in the starter pack.

What do you hope to accomplish with this initiative?

We believe that every artist should be able to make music and feel good while doing it, but the reality is that a career in music often comes with an inconsistent and unpredictable schedule, with late-night gigs, cross-country tours, and all-night studio sessions. The lack of routine is a challenge for many artists when it comes to basic human needs such as sleep, diet and exercising, which are all closely related to mental health.

The 73 Percent study shows that many artists would like to prioritize their mental health and wellbeing more than they are doing today, but many don’t seem to know where to start. Hence, our aim is to provide concrete, legitimate, and science-based information as well as tangible tools that could help music makers to prioritize and take better care of their mental wellbeing.

Could the information given in The Wellness Starter Pack act as a substitute for professional medical advice?

The Wellness Starter Pack provides general information about health and related subjects. The information on The Wellness Starter Pack website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Seek the advice of a physician or qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. You should never discontinue medical treatment, or delay and disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately. If you choose to rely on any information provided on this website, you do so solely at your own risk.

The opinions and views expressed on this website have no relation to those of any academic, hospital, health practice or other institution.

What are the numbers in this project based on?

Between the 21st of March and the 2nd of April last year (2019) we conducted a survey among 1,489 Record Union users and independent music makers globally, where we asked about their mental health and wellbeing.

How did you conduct your survey and report?

The survey method was primarily quantitative and all respondents answered anonymously.

How do you define “independent”?

To us, being independent means that you aren’t signed or owned by one of the three major labels. Neither do you distribute your music via one of them.

Who do you consider to be an independent music maker?

An independent music maker is someone who is operating within the music industry independently. It could be an artist, a songwriter, a singer, a producer, a guitarist or even a record label owner.