MusiCares’ 2026 Wellness in Music Survey: 5 Statistics That Paint a Sobering Picture

MusiCares shared key findings from its 2026 Wellness in Music Survey on Tuesday (Nov. 10), revealing that financial instability, limited access to healthcare and persistent mental health challenges remain closely interconnected across the music industry.

More than 3,300 music professionals responded to this year’s survey in English and Spanish, representing every U.S. state and Puerto Rico and more than 40 professions across the industry. The annual survey examines more than 100 indicators, including financial security, physical and mental health, access to health insurance and preventive care, substance use and confidence in sustaining a career in music.

MusiCares’ takeaway from the study: “Taken together, the 2026 findings point to a need for the industry to look beyond individual wellness interventions and more closely examine the underlying conditions affecting whether music professionals can build healthy, sustainable careers.”

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This year’s survey also included dedicated outreach to emerging music professionals aged 18 to 24 with support from Live Free 999, a nonprofit founded by Carmela Wallace in honor of her son, the late rapper Juice WRLD, offering a closer look at the challenges facing the next generation entering the industry.

Since its founding in 1989, MusiCares has distributed more than $146 million in financial assistance to the music community. Findings from the Wellness in Music Survey help MusiCares identify where needs are most urgent.

In recent years, survey findings have helped shape expanded services, including access to women’s and family care through Maven Clinic, increased education around cannabis use, and scaled preventive care services. Following last year’s Wellness in Music data showing persistently high rates of suicidal ideation among music professionals, MusiCares also expanded its mental health resources through Tune Into Mental Health, developed with The Jed Foundation (JED) to provide mental health and suicide prevention resources tailored specifically to the music community.

• Nearly half of respondents earn less than $50,000 annually.

  Between 46% and 50% of music professionals who responded to the survey earn less than $50,000 annually, while only 30% say they can comfortably cover their expenses through work in music. Finances remain the leading single source of stress, anxiety and depression across demographics.

• The percentage of respondents with health insurance is about 8% lower than the general population.

  Approximately 84% to 85% of music professionals who responded to the survey report having health insurance compared with 93% of the general U.S. population. Coverage is lower among Black and Latino music professionals who responded at 79% and 80.6%, respectively.

• Only 30% of respondents receive health insurance through an employer.

  Even for those who are insured, high deductibles, costly out-of-pocket expenses and limited coverage can make it difficult to access the care they need. Among those without insurance, more than 60% cite affordability as the reason they do not have coverage. Preventive care access also differs sharply by insurance status. Nearly 80% of insured respondents reported receiving an annual exam compared with just one-third of those without coverage, with similar disparities across dental, vision, hearing and cancer screenings.

• The percentage of respondents who report having accessed mental health therapy is holding steady at 57% to 59%.

  Despite increased attention on mental health, the proportion of music professionals using available care has not substantially changed. Over the last five years, the percentage of music professionals who responded to the survey who report having accessed therapy has remained relatively steady at 57% to 59%. Among those interested in therapy who have not received it, 45% cite an inability to pay as the primary barrier. Suicidal ideation among respondents has also consistently measured two to three times higher than the U.S. general population.

• The situation is even worse for emerging professionals (aged 18 to 24).

  Within the overall survey sample, 203 respondents were emerging music professionals (defined as those aged 18 to 24). With the support provided by Live Free 999, MusiCares was able to analyze this group more closely to compare their experiences with those of the broader respondent pool. Among them, 68.8% earned $25,000 or less in the previous year and 86.4% earned $50,000 or less. Seventy-nine percent said they could not comfortably cover their expenses through work in music, compared with 70% of respondents overall, while 72.7% reported low or very low confidence in their ability to cover future expenses through music work alone.

  Health coverage among this younger group presents another important consideration. While 89.7% of emerging professionals who responded to the survey currently have health insurance, 57.4% receive that coverage through a parent. MusiCares’ summary: “As these professionals age out of family coverage, many may enter an industry where employer-sponsored insurance is far from guaranteed, underscoring the need to help early-career music professionals prepare for health care costs and coverage as their careers evolve.”