Backline, a nonprofit organization connecting music industry professionals and their family members with mental health and wellness resources, has been named Tour Services Company of the Year at the 36th Annual Pollstar Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on April 16, 2025.

The Pollstar Awards celebrate the most innovative, hardworking, and impactful figures in the live entertainment business. The Tour Services Company of the Year category honors an organization that has provided exceptional support to touring artists and crews, both on and off the road. This is the first time a nonprofit organization has won the award.

This recognition highlights Backline’s commitment to make mental health and wellness services accessible to those working behind the scenes on and off the stage. Since its founding in 2019, Backline has become an essential resource for the touring community, offering a range of services including mental health support, case management, support groups, and wellness offerings–all tailored to the unique lifestyle of touring professionals. Backline has created over 2,000 custom care plans for industry individuals spanning thousands of bands, musical genres, festivals and venues. The ripple effect of this impact extends far beyond the individuals served–by supporting one professional, Backline helps entire teams, families, and productions run more smoothly, creating a chain reaction that strengthens the well-being of the industry as a whole.

Backline Executive Director, Hilary Gleason says,“Backline is honored to receive this recognition from Pollstar as it reflects the growing awareness around the importance of mental health in the music industry. At Backline, our mission has always been to support the mental health and well-being of the music industry and this award affirms that this work matters. We share this with every artist, crew member, and industry professional that believes in creating a healthier, more sustainable music community.”

As the live music industry continues to grow and evolve, Backline remains committed to fostering a healthier, more sustainable touring culture by: 

• Tour Support Program: Backline designs mental health and wellness programs for every part of tour – Before, During, and After. Featuring pre-tour workshops, wellness stops on tour, grants for therapy, wellness kits, and 24/7 concierge support from the Backline team. 
• Backline & The Busy Head Project: Backline supported Noah Kahan’s 78-person crew before, during, and after their 67-show tour in 2024. Backline provided $13,500 in mental health care grants to 21 individuals and distributed 78 take.care Wellness Kits. 
• Music’s Mental Health Fund: A collaboration between Backline and Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund, this fund provides financial assistance to support the mental health and well-being of the music industry community. Through this partnership, individuals can receive aid to cover the expense of their mental health and wellness needs. 
• Touring Notebook: A first of its kind resource guide for navigating communication and relationships before, during, and after tour. This resource is a collection of insights and practical tips, designed to empower touring professionals on their touring journey.  
• take.care Wellness Kits: Backline & Conscious Alliance have teamed up to supply tours with wellness kits – providing wellness products and mental health resources designed specifically for life on the road and the unique health challenges that come with it. To date, 700+ wellness kits have been delivered to touring individuals.

Most recently, Backline launched the We Got You! campaign with support from Chappell Roan, Noah Kahan and Charli XCX–a fund to provide resources for artists’ mental health in an effort to create a safer, more sustainable music industry.

Backline is a national 501(c)(3) organization that connects music industry professionals and their families with mental health and wellness resources. The organization provides a wide range of services to promote mental health, offering Case Management, wellness programs, and educational resources tailored to the music industry’s unique challenges.

To date, Backline has:

Provided 2,035+ individuals a custom mental health care plan
Supported 5,243+ people via weekly community meetings
Offered 3,105+ discounts to wellness apps and products
Welcomed 1,257+ mental health providers to our network
Provided $129,000+ worth of grants via Music’s Mental Health Fund