For sober musicians and music fans, going to a concert can present a serious challenge. With drugs and alcohol being normalized and even glorified in the music industry, many believe that going to a show puts their sobriety at risk. Venues rely on liquor sales to turn a profit, performers can often be paid in drink tickets, and a hard-partying lifestyle is encouraged to maintain a rock star persona. Enter Sober Sessions.

Maintaining mental wellness has always been a challenge for working musicians. But now, more artists are willing to talk about it—and take action.

While some of the programs are trying to ease the empty pockets of Colorado’s musicians, programs like Music Minds Matter aim to ease their minds.

When there isn't a global pandemic one in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, and the rate is much higher for music industry professionals, according to an organization that helps independent musicians.