What does it actually mean to put yourself out there as a musician in 2025? Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES) and Kirsteen Harvey discuss the reality of being publicly creative in an age where you're never really off - the comments don't stop, the scrutiny doesn't stop, and that constant visibility can take a toll on your mental health. Kirsteen shares her journey from zero to 100,000 TikTok followers in under two years, discussing the pressure to maintain consistency, the guilt of taking even a one-week break, and the challenge of separating yourself from your online persona. Lauren opens up about her experiences with cyber misogyny over more than a decade, including receiving death threats, rape threats, being turned into deep fake porn, and having to pay for enhanced home security. She discusses how she's learned to humanise trolls without excusing their behaviour, why happy people don't act like that, and the importance of finding balance between authenticity and self-protection. Both artists talk about the change we need to see and the impact of their experiences - both the good and the bad.

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⏱ CHAPTERS

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0:00 - Introduction

8:06 - The Reality of Online Growth

20:05 - Harassment and Safety

32:00 - Managing Mental Health Online

43:47 - Industry Changes Needed

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📚 RESOURCES

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Music Minds Matter - Mental health support: https://www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk

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⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING

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This episode contains detailed discussion of online abuse and trolling, misogyny and gender-based harassment which briefly mentions death threats, rape threats, and image based sexual abuse - the descriptions of these are limited but can be vivid. If you want to skip this section it is at 00:20:05-00:24:57. This episode also covers stalking, safety concerns, social media pressures and burn out, and the mental health impact of being constantly visible online including anxiety and dissociation. There is also some strong language at times. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the guests and host and are intended for informational purposes only. They do not constitute professional mental health, legal, or financial advice.

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🎙 ABOUT THIS PODCAST

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Tiny Changes Big Podcast is a six-episode series exploring mental health, safety, and systemic challenges in the music industry, with particular focus on supporting young people entering the industry. This podcast was produced, hosted, and promoted by young people under 30.

Follow us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinychanges

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tinychangescharity

Website: https://www.tinychanges.com

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🎵 CREDITS

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Host: Be Charlotte (@iambecharlotte)

Guests: Lauren Mayberry, Kirsteen Harvey

Music: Barry Jackson

Cover art: Berwyn Mure

Editing and technical production: Ross Sloan at Podplistic

Production: Kayla-Megan Burns and Nina Abeysriya

Post Production: Podplistic and Consultico

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#SocialMediaForMusicians #OnlineHarassment #ContentCreation #CyberMisogyny #DigitalWellbeing #ArtistBrand #OnlineSafety #MusicMarketing #TikTokForMusicians #ContentCreatorMentalHealth #CHVRCHES #MusicIndustry #MentalHealth #IndependentArtists #TinyChanges

What does it actually take to protect yourself in the music industry? Katie Waissel went through industry abuse first-hand - then built OWHL, a platform dedicated to safety and accountability for artists. In this episode of Tiny Changes Big Podcast, she shares what she learned the hard way so you don't have to.

🎙 KEEPING YOUNG PEOPLE SAFE IN AN UNDER-REGULATED INDUSTRY - PART 2

Hosted by Be Charlotte, this is the second episode in a six-part series exploring mental health, safety, and systemic challenges in the music industry - with a particular focus on supporting young people entering the industry. Katie Waissel is an artist, activist, and founder of the OWHL platform - a safety and accountability resource for people working in creative industries.

In this episode we cover:

- Red flags to watch for in contracts and opportunities

- Why relying on a label's internal lawyers can leave you exposed

- How setting up a limited company can protect you as an independent artist

- The OWHL platform's safety features and anonymous reporting system

- The legal vulnerability artists face and why legislative change is urgently needed

- What real industry accountability looks like

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode references experiences of exploitation and predatory behaviour in the music industry. It explores the unsafe conditions for artists in professional settings, the impact on mental health, creative burnout, and the significant trauma related to the music industry. It also highlights legal vulnerability and the lack of employment protection that has created historic injustice and harm. The views expressed are those of the guests and host and are intended for informational purposes only. They do not constitute professional mental health, legal, or financial advice.

----------------------------------------- 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED -----------------------------------------

OWHL Platform (safety, reporting, and community support): https://www.owhl.co.uk

Musicians' Union (free contract review for members): https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk

PRS for Music (registering musical works): https://www.prsformusic.com

----------------------------------------- 👋 ABOUT TINY CHANGES -----------------------------------------

Tiny Changes is a Scottish mental health charity helping young minds feel better. This podcast was produced, hosted, and promoted by young people under 30.

Follow us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinychanges

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tinychangescharity

Website: https://www.tinychanges.com

----------------------------------------- 🎵 CREDITS -----------------------------------------

Host: Be Charlotte

Guest: Katie Waissel

Music: Barry Jackson

Cover art: Berwyn Mure

Editing and technical production: Ross Sloan at Podplistic

Post production and promotion: Podplistic and Consultico

Production: Kayla-Megan Burns and Nina Abeysriya

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#MusicIndustry #ArtistProtection #LegalRightsForMusicians #MusicIndustryRegulation #ContractAdvice #IndustrySafety #MusicianMentalHealth #MusicBusinessEducation #IndependentArtistAdvice #OWHL #ScottishMusic #MusicBusiness #ArtistSupport #TinyChanges #MentalHealth

Dr. George Musgrave shares over 15 years of research into the dangerous paradox of music careers: how can something that brings joy also cause such profound mental health struggles?

In this episode, we explore why musicians face suicide rates 69% higher than the general population for women and 20% higher for men, examine the stark gap between social media mythology and harsh financial realities, and discuss how 47% of UK musicians earn less than £10,000 annually. George shares practical strategies for protecting your mental health from the perspective of both an academic in this field and an artist who was signed to multiple major labels; including defining success on your own terms, having friends outside the music industry, and focusing on what you can actually control in an unpredictable career.