Plus, Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour Using Music Industry Therapist Collective’s Services on Current Global Swing
“The life of a musical artist can be a magnificent thing when you’re on stage experiencing the enthusiasm and appreciation for your work and seeing first-hand the incredible impact it can have. Being away from home and the watchful eye of your loved ones can be incredibly hard work mentally as you go around the world at a pace dictated by the tour. Having what is effectively a mental health wellness manual to keep yourself in check is a wonderful initiative.” Nile Rodgers
“I wish this book had been around when I first started touring … It should be the first thing we all pack when we head out on the road.” Philip Selway, Radiohead
The widely praised music industry mental health manual from the Music Industry Therapist Collective (MITC), Touring and Mental Health; The Music Industry Manual edited by psychotherapist Tamsin Embleton, will be released as an audiobook today. Following the paperback publication of the book by the leading UK music book imprint Omnibus in 2023, the new audiobook will be released with an array of special new features including an epigraph by Nick Cave and meditation exercises by Rob Da Bank. The audiobook will also be narrated by the actor and voiceover artist Laura Howard (Midsomer Murders) and directed by Jeremy Hindmarsh (Swervedriver) and Peter Morris (Soho Voices). Music by Edward Butler.
The audiobook makes this essential resource significantly more accessible, especially for those who are neurodiverse, time-poor, or too stressed to sit and read a 600+ page manual. Now touring artists can access the manual anywhere, whether in a bunk, walking around the venue or on long drives.
The first one of its kind, the comprehensive manual, helps musicians, touring artists and those working in live music to identify and cope with the various physical and psychological difficulties that can occur during, or as a result of, touring. Written by health and performance professionals, this timely and essential book provides robust clinical advice, cutting edge research, practical strategies, resources and detailed illustrations. The audiobook features original interview recordings, including powerful insights from artists such as Nile Rodgers, Philip Selway, Charles Thompson IV (Pixies), Katie Melua, Will Young, Pharoahe Monch, Justin Hawkins, Neil Barnes, Kieran Hebden (aka 4 Tet), Laura Marling, Taylor Hanson, Erol Alkan, Natasha Hendry, and Christopher Tait.
Covering a variety of topics including mental health, peak performance and performance anxiety, addiction, group dynamics, relationship problems, dealing with the media, physical health, diversity and inclusion, crisis management and post-tour recovery, the manual is the go-to guide for dealing with the stress and pressure of being on the road.
In other exciting news, Dua Lipa’s tour director Peter Abbott was praising MITC’s work and the work of the brilliant Sascha Heeney who has been on the Dua Lipa Radical Optimism World Tour as MITC’s Welfare Officer. Please see the story in Light & Sound International here, on page 54 under Welfare & Operations.
Tamsin Embleton says: “In 2010, I was touring Europe with Anna Calvi and Grinderman (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ side project). I’d worked as a venue and festival booker and artist manager previously, and thought I knew what touring was all about. Within days, it became clear that I had completely underestimated how arduous it could be. We weren’t partying – there were no hangovers to blame – just the sheer accumulation of pressure, sleep deprivation, constant change, homesickness, long hours and emotional strain. My mood and mindset deteriorated, and by the time I got home, I had post-tour flu and two burning questions: was I the only one who felt this way? And if not, was anyone addressing it?”
That experience led me to retrain as a psychotherapist and make tour health my specialist field of study. Through years of research and frontline work, I discovered I wasn’t alone – many people struggle on the road, especially under intense touring conditions. Research tells us that performers and crew are at high risk of burnout, anxiety, depression, addiction and even suicidality, yet they are also some of the most underserved by health services. Unlike other high-pressure work environments, most touring personnel don’t have access to occupational health support or HR.
This audiobook explains what makes touring so challenging, how stress impacts your body, mind and relationships, and what can be done to mitigate that stress. It brings together clinical advice from experts in performance health and related fields, along with powerful insights from artists and crew, taken from many hours of original interviews. Hearing people speak in their own words brings these psychological concepts to life in a unique and accessible way.
Today, artists and crew are under growing pressure to tour intensively, just to cover rising costs. But the more intense the schedule, the greater the risk of serious health consequences. Touring can be thrilling and deeply rewarding, but it also isolates you from the relationships and routines that help you stay grounded. Many people are managing pre-existing health conditions that worsen on the road or are overwhelmed by cumulative stress without adequate support in place to help them cope.
This audiobook goes some way to plugging that gap. It’s designed for anyone who wants to better understand and prepare for the realities of touring – and to create healthier, more sustainable practices across the industry. As recent statements from artists like Chappell Roan and Lewis Capaldi have shown, the need for reform is urgent. We can no longer romanticize artist suffering. It’s time to take tour health seriously.”
The release of the audiobook has been generously sponsored by The Royal Albert Hall, Clair Global, Amazon Music, Support Act, Tag, TAIT, The Music Industry Therapist Collective, Live Nation, Stagehand, Kilimanjaro Live, Rock-It Cargo, Hilton, Rockpool Tour Catering, Universal Pixels, Music Minds Matters and Hipgnosis Songs.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Tamsin Embleton:
Tamsin Embleton is an award-winning psychotherapist, editor, and music industry health consultant based in London, UK. She is the founder and Clinical Lead of the Music Industry Therapist Collective (MITC), a global network of psychotherapists and health clinicians who have worked in the music industry and now specialize in supporting those within it. MITC provides individual and group therapy, backstage mental health services, consultation and workshops for major clients including Warner Music Group, AEG, Atlantic Records, Kobalt, and Mute.
In 2023, Tamsin released Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual, a landmark publication offering robust clinical guidance, cutting-edge research, and practical tools to help performers and crew manage the physical and psychological challenges of touring. The book was named a Rough Trade Book of the Year in 2023 and received acclaim in Rolling Stone, Variety, Pitchfork, NME, BBC 6 Music, SPIN, Music Business Worldwide, and Therapy Today.
With a background in live music, Tamsin began her career as a venue and festival booker, promoter, artist manager and tour manager. Her direct experience on the road inspired her to explore the psychological toll of touring, ultimately leading to the creation of The Music Industry Manual and the founding of MITC.
She has spoken at leading industry and clinical events including UK Music at Parliament, SXSW, The Great Escape, ILMC, Amsterdam Dance Event, BBC Introducing, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, and Abbey Road Studios. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Therapy Today, Music Business Worldwide, DJ Mag, Refinery29, and Metro.
In 2024, Tamsin received the TPi Magazine ‘Industry Recognition’ Award, celebrating her outstanding contribution to health and wellbeing in the live music industry.
FURTHER PRAISE FOR TOURING & MENTAL HEALTH: THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MANUAL:
Andy Bell (Ride / Oasis): “I’ve never seen anything like this before – and as someone who’s been on the road for 30-plus years it feels long overdue. If you’re a touring musician this could be a great find – reading it feels like getting good advice from a really sound mate – recommended reading!”
Neil Barnes (Leftfield):f “I’m continually dipping into your wonderful book. Honestly, it’s a masterpiece. So useful and helpful, it’s kept me grounded and aware. Thank you so much for writing it!”
Siobhan Donaghy, Sugababes: “It’s like having a therapist in your back pocket. It helped deepen my understanding of myself as a performer and how the demands of the music business can take a toll.”
Madame Gandhi: “This book is a must-read for the modern musician wanting to create longevity and meaning in their career”