Pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo provided professional therapy to her entire band and crew throughout her recent “Guts World Tour.” The extensive mental health support, described as “accessible and free,” was overseen directly by Rodrigo and her tour manager, Marty Hom, a move hailed as exceptionally generous within the often-grueling live music business.
The “Guts World Tour” accompanied Rodrigo’s second studio album, ‘Guts,’ and encompassed 102 shows across multiple continents from February 2024 to early this month.
Acknowledging Mental Health Challenges in Music
The demanding nature of touring — with its late nights, extensive travel, time away from home, jet lag, and the intense adrenaline highs followed by post-show crashes — is widely acknowledged as a significant contributor to mental health issues within the music industry. Research from the mental health charity Mind indicates that those working in music are “more prone to mental health problems than the general population,” with musicians reportedly “up to three times more likely to suffer from depression.” Financial pressures, isolation, and hectic schedules are often cited as contributing factors.
Rodrigo’s guitarist, Daisy Spencer, publicly shared the initiative, calling Rodrigo “the dreamiest boss of all time.” Spencer admitted she had “fallen off” from therapy for a long time due to its inaccessibility. “And then suddenly I had this free resource of incredible therapists, and I utilised the crap out of that,” she told The Stage Left podcast. “I was going, you know, once a week, once every other week, whenever I could. And it was even during the off time, we also still had access to this resource.”
Spencer emphasised the profound impact of this provision. “Honestly, that was one of the coolest things that has ever happened on tour. Like, seriously, one of the best things you can give to people is accessible free therapy, because it can get kind of expensive,” she added. She spoke personally about how it helped her “flesh out some stuff from my childhood that that needed a voice.”
Broader Industry Initiatives
Rodrigo’s initiative aligns with growing recognition within the music industry regarding the need for better mental health support. Recently, a 24-hour mental health support service was launched for music industry professionals. The Music Industry Therapy Collective (MITC) established its Online Tour Health And Welfare Coaching service to address depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, and burnout among those working in live music.
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Rodrigo herself recently headlined the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, delivering a powerful performance that incorporated rock influences and featured a surprise guest appearance from The Cure frontman Robert Smith, with whom she performed ‘Friday I’m In Love’ and ‘Just Like Heaven.’ Her set also included pyro-infused renditions of her hits ‘Vampire’ and ‘Obsessed.’ Prior to this, she had also expressed her affection for England, mentioning British bands like The Cure and gushing about Marks and Spencer sweets.
