1 May 2024 – “I’d like to thank all the artists, presenters and our colleagues across the music industry who have contributed so openly to Change The Tune, as well as to Music Minds Matter for their support.” — Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music

As part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, BBC Radio 6 Music will launch Change The Tune – an on-air, digital and social media initiative to raise awareness of the impact that online abuse has on the lives of artists.

We will hear from musicians and presenters, who will share their online experiences, as well as from mental health professionals about the effects that personal attacks online can have on individuals and their lives.

In response, 6 Music will launch a clear code of conduct and a new means of reporting comments of concern on its own social media platforms.

The initiative will feature:

• A Journeys In Sound special on 6 Music (Monday 13 May, 11pm-12am), presented by 6 Music broadcaster and psychotherapist Nemone and featuring Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES, Nitin Sawhney CBE and SHERELLE.

• Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes – a 1 x 15 minute documentary for BBC iPlayer (live from 6am on Monday 13 May).

• A social media initiative across 6 Music’s platforms (from 10am on Monday 13 May) which will see the station share: a clear code of conduct for its online community; a new means of reporting comments of concern; and films from 6 Music’s AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE, as well as Gossip and Hak Baker about their own online experiences.

Working in partnership with 6 Music for Change The Tune is Music Minds Matter – sister charity of Help Musicians, which supports the mental health of everyone working in music in the UK.

Lauren Mayberry says: “The internet has been such an intrinsic part of my career, positively and negatively. Social media was really baked into the way that CHVRCHES first got discovered but there were consistent side effects to that which I don’t think I would ever have anticipated. We know a lot more now in terms of the impact that can have on people but I’m not sure how we change that behaviour, or the conversation around it.”

In support of Change The Tune, 6 Music presenter Guy Garvey says: “Our social media is for celebrating artists. It celebrates the people listening as well. By tuning into 6 Music, you’re already part of this community. I’d say the rule should be, support good ideas, and if you don’t like something, keep it to yourself.”

Nemone says: “It’s been really thought-provoking speaking to artists about their lived experience with social media and to hear first-hand about the impact that online comments of a personal nature have. It brought home to me how important it is for us all to reflect on how we show up online and the kind of community we want to shape.”

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “6 Music has always aimed to be a positive and uplifting place for artists and fans alike, where we celebrate the widest range of music possible, both on-air and across platforms. With Change The Tune, we want to give musicians the space to share their online experiences, the good and the bad. At the same time, we will put measures in place that we hope will make our corner of the internet a kinder, encouraging and more supportive place for musicians’ work. I’d like to thank all the artists, presenters and our colleagues across the music industry who have contributed so openly to Change The Tune, as well as to Music Minds Matter for their support.”

Laurie Oliva, Director of Services and Research, Help Musicians and sister charity Music Minds Matter says: “Musicians pour their souls into their performances and records in a uniquely personal way, which means sharing their music is an inherently vulnerable endeavour. At Music Minds Matter, we understand the mental health pressure that can come with a job in music, especially for artists who often need to be on social media to grow their fanbases and build sustainable careers. However, being online should be a place to find your tribe, not to divide. We’re so pleased to partner with 6 Music on this important series and ensure those who may be struggling know they have a charity that will listen, understand and help.”

Journeys In Sound (6 Music)

On Monday 13 May (11pm-12pm), 6 Music will broadcast a Journeys In Sound special, in which 6 Music presenter and psychotherapist Nemone hears from Rebecca Lucy Taylor, otherwise known as Self Esteem, Lauren Mayberry of the synth-pop band CHVRCHES, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney CBE, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring, 6 Music presenter, DJ and artist SHERELLE, as well as psychotherapist and former Babyshambles member Dr Adam Ficek about their perspectives on online abuse and the challenges they have faced in the digital space.

Rebecca, Lauren, Nitin and SHERELLE talk openly and frankly in the programme about their use of social media as a tool to promote their music and connect with fans, and reveal how such platforms have made them a target for shocking misogynistic and racial abuse.

Marianna comments on the digital world in which we find ourselves now. She shares her own experiences of receiving extreme hate online, the repercussions it has on her everyday life as an investigative reporter and the importance of shining a light on the darker areas of the internet.

Nemone also explores the subject with Dr Adam, the founder of Music & Mind, an independent service that helps musicians, creatives and music industry workers navigate their mental health and wellness.

Lauren Mayberry and Nemone will also discuss Change The Tune on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show on Monday 13 May (7.30am-10.30am) and Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show on Wednesday 15 May (12pm-2pm).

A BBC Audio production. All radio programming will be available on BBC Sounds.

Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes (BBC iPlayer)

Live on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 13 May, CHVRCHES frontwoman Lauren reflects on the highs and lows of her journey in music as she launches her solo career.

From worldwide success to online trolling and misogyny, the singer-songwriter speaks candidly about putting negative experiences as an artist behind her – including online threats – and the cathartic nature of her solo writing, which she describes as ‘psychological unstitching’.

Before her time as the frontwoman of CHVRCHES, multi-instrumentalist Lauren made an impact locally in the Glasgow music scene and was surrounded by a group of like-minded friends, who she met through TYCI: a DIY feminist fanzine that she co-founded to address gender imbalance in music.

National and international success followed and Lauren was quickly thrust into an exciting new world, however, there was a darker side. Lauren recalls how the narrative around her success was often centered on gender and image, rather than musicianship, and how she frequently faced abuse online, including misogynistic comments and violent threats.

This documentary will see Lauren explain how her fight against abuse made its way into her writing and how her experiences motivated her to move forward in an empowering and progressive way. Commissioned by BBC Scotland and produced by BBC Scotland Productions.

Social media

On Monday 13 May from 10am, 6 Music will launch Change The Tune across its social media platforms.

The station will reaffirm its mission for its online spaces – which includes the support and celebration of artists – and outline a clear code of conduct for its online community. In addition, there will be a new and simplified method for reporting comments of concern, with artists and fans alike able to contact the station via an email address that will be available on 6 Music’s social media platforms from 10am on Monday 13 May.

Across the week, (Monday 13 – Friday 17 May) 6 Music’s social media accounts will post films from artists and 6 Music presenters – AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Gossip, Hak Baker, Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE – in which they’ll share their personal experiences of online abuse.

Music Minds Matter

Partnering with 6 Music on Change The Tune is Help Musicians’ sister charity Music Minds Matter – its range of services include a 24/7 support line, available for free to everyone working in music in the UK.

Audiences can visit BBC Action Line for more information about how to get in touch with Music Minds Matter, from Monday 13th May onwards.

The BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season

Change The Tune is part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, which takes place throughout May. The BBC will be bringing audiences a range of mental health and wellbeing content across its platforms and services, highlighting stories of those who have faced mental health struggles as well as helping audiences understand how to look after their mental wellbeing, and where to go for support.

About BBC Radio 6 Music

With a reach of 2.52m listeners (Rajar Q4, 2023), 6 Music brings a broad range of music and culture beyond the mainstream to music lovers with a curious spirit, combining the cutting-edge music of today with the iconic, ground-breaking sounds of the past 50 years. Presenters include: AFRODEUTSCHE, Amy Lamé, Cerys Matthews, Chris Hawkins, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Don Letts, Emily Pilbeam, Gideon Coe, Gilles Peterson, Guy Garvey, Huw Stephens, Huey Morgan, Iggy Pop, Jamz Supernova, Lauren Laverne, Marc Riley, Mark Radcliffe, Mary Anne Hobbs, Nathan Shepherd, SHERELLE, Steve Lamacq, Stuart Maconie, Tom Ravenscroft and Tom Robinson.

About Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter

Help Musicians and sister charity Music Minds Matter are powered by a love of music, which is why they empower and support those who create it and make it happen.

Music Minds Matter puts mental wellbeing centre stage in music. It works proactively to help prevent mental health crises, providing everybody who works in music with the early support, knowledge and tools they need, at exactly the time they need them.

For over 100 years, Help Musicians has been working hard to make a meaningful difference to the lives of musicians across the UK. It offers a broad range of help to support music creators in times of crisis and opportunity – ensuring musicians across the UK can achieve their creative potential and sustain a career in music.