MUSIC + HEALTH IN THE NEWS: OCTOBER 2025
- Cat Jones
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
A roundup of news, research, and current events related to music + health -- with a special spotlight on mental and hearing health.
We’re continuing our series of recommended reading and recent headlines from the SMASH team!
October is a special month for a couple of reasons (in addition to the spooky vibes in the air and extra reasons to bake festive treats): It’s Protect Your Hearing Month, and 10/10 was also World Mental Health Day.
🩺 MUSIC + GENERAL HEALTH / INDUSTRY NEWS
2025 Wellness In Music Survey Results (MusiCares)
Recently, two essential resources related to music and health were published: MusiCares released their Wellness In Music survey, and in our region, the WA Nightlife & Music Association published their Washington State Music Census. Whether you play music, know musicians personally, or even if you’re a casual music fan, this information is incredibly valuable and can help us all build a more compassionate music community.
As a part of their series on the intersection of health and the arts, PBS reported from Park City Song Summit, a music festival focusing on wellness, mental health, addiction recovery, and inclusivity. This video features an interview with Hilary Gleason, Executive Director of Backline Care, on the health-related challenges facing musicians in 2025.
👂MUSIC + HEARING HEALTH
Healthy Touring 101: Clear Hearing + Audiology (SMASH blog)
The 3 Best Earplugs for Concerts (Wirecutter)
Four articles about the importance of hearing protection and how to know what type is right for you. (And your budget!)
Changing Mindsets: Prioritising Hearing Health in the Music Industry (Musicians’ Union)
An interesting article by audiologist Matthew Allsop on the changing attitudes around hearing protection in the music industry, as well as practical ways musicians can keep their ears healthy for as long as possible.
8 Famous Musicians Who Suffer With Hearing Loss or Tinnitus (Connect Hearing)
It can happen to anyone – even the most successful musicians in the world! Knowing these stories can help us all stay vigilant about protecting our hearing early.
🧠 MUSIC + MENTAL HEALTH / PSYCHOLOGY
A new study finds that the way we blink may act as a “subtle but meaningful marker of attention” and can become synchronized with the music we listen to.
Can you imagine a complete indifference toward music, and getting no pleasure from it in any way? For 5-10% of the population, that’s a very real thing, and it turns out there may be a neurological reason behind it.
Fascinating research on how music can be used as a tool to enhance memory and mood, especially in people with Alzheimer’s or depression.
Let Music Be Your Medicine (Psychology Today)
A recent study finds that due to sound stimulating theta brain waves and light doing the same for the brain’s gamma waves, a combination of music and light therapy may work wonders on the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Revisiting the Feels: Why Nostalgia Is Good for the Soul (Psychology Today)
A thoughtful essay on the psychology of music and nostalgia, inspired by the recent return of the band Oasis – and the joy the shows have brought to thousands of people over the past few months.
We believe in proactively caring for your mental health, hearing, and general wellness every day, so in addition to these recent headlines, be sure to also check out (and bookmark!) the Resources page on our website as well as our Mental Health Toolkit for Touring Musicians. Both are updated regularly as we learn about new information and resources.
Got a MUSIC + HEALTH-related article you want to share with us? Email us at SMASH@SMASHSeattle.org!
