New ASCAP Member Benefit Offers Private, Intuitive Discovery of Mental Health Providers
Cheryl “Salt” James (Salt-N-Pepa) and MILCK Join ASCAP’s Nick Lehman for “The Empathy Bridge: A Creator-to-Executive Conversation” at jump.global Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 10
NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) today announced a major expansion of its industry-leading Wellness Program, launched in 2019, with a new mental health member benefit in collaboration with Project Healthy Minds, the leading mental health tech nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to mental health services across the United States. The initiative provides ASCAP songwriter, composer and music publisher members with confidential access to a comprehensive ecosystem of mental health services, therapy options and wellness tools to support creators at every stage of their careers.
Project Healthy Minds developed an intuitive discovery platform that connects individuals with a diverse range of mental health services. Through this new, first-of-its-kind PRO partnership, ASCAP members will have curated access to the platform and can privately connect with mental health service providers. Available services include:
|
Care Category |
Services |
Delivery Model |
|
Clinical Care |
Therapy and psychiatry |
Confidential virtual and in-person consultations |
|
Community Support |
Peer-led and expert-moderated support groups |
Safe group settings for shared creator experiences |
|
Daily Wellness |
Self-care apps and digital tools |
On-demand mindfulness, meditation and habit tracking |
The announcement coincides with the jump.global Summit in Los Angeles, where Grammy winning artist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Cheryl “Salt” James of multi-platinum hip-hop trio Salt-N-Pepa and Billboard #1 Protest Songwriter and Elle UK’s woman of hope, MILCK, aka Connie K Lim, will take the stage alongside ASCAP Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy & Digital Officer Nick Lehman on Tuesday, November 10, for “The Empathy Bridge: A Creator-to-Executive Conversation.” In the session, Lehman and these two ASCAP members will explore ways for the music business to foster deeper empathy, bridge the divide between the creative and commercial sides of music, and prioritize creator well-being.
Over this weekend, in another intersection of wellness and music, ASCAP will bring members and staff to participate in the Diplo Run Club 5K at Los Angeles State Historic Park on November 8. ASCAP members can receive a 10% discount on the entry fee. Details are available at www.ascap.com/wellness.
Music creators encounter unique career pressures, from financial volatility and rigorous touring schedules to creative isolation. Because songwriting and composing rarely come with traditional employer benefits, ASCAP made history in 2019 as the first PRO to launch a dedicated wellness initiative. Today’s collaboration with Project Healthy Minds builds on that momentum, following the successful rollout of a telehealth member benefit through MD Live for 24/7 urgent care consultations, plus dermatology and additional health care services.
“Creativity thrives when creators are supported – in mind, body, and spirit,” said Lehman. “Music creators put their everything into the music we love, yet trying to find quality, affordable support shouldn’t feel like everything is stacked against them in an opaque healthcare system. By teaming up with Project Healthy Minds, we are delivering direct access to vetted care – removing friction so our members get meaningful support, whenever and however they need it.”
“Songwriters have helped millions of people feel less alone, and this partnership makes sure they have that same support in return. We are thrilled to give ASCAP’s members a simple way to find care, whether that’s a therapist, a support group or a tool they can use on the road,” said Phillip Schermer, Founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds.
The partnership expands ASCAP’s wellness benefits, which also include discounts and perks through partners such as Aaptiv, Daily Burn, BetterHelp and Paramount Rx, alongside telemedicine through MD Live.
How to Access the Benefit
All current ASCAP writer and publisher members can immediately take advantage of the new benefit at no additional cost. Members simply log into the ASCAP Member Access portal to access a unique landing page on Project Healthy Minds’ site. From there they can browse available mental health services, take personalized assessments and connect directly with care providers.
About ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of more than 1.1 million songwriters, composers and music publishers, and represents some of the world’s most talented music creators. Founded and governed by songwriters, composers and publishers, it returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar collected to its members as royalties and has the lowest overhead rate of any U.S. PRO. In 2025, ASCAP reported record-high financial results of $1.945 billion in revenues and $1.759 billion available in royalty distribution monies to its members. Over the last ten years, ASCAP has delivered a 6.7% compound annual growth rate for total revenues, and a 7.3% compound annual growth rate for total royalty distributions to members. ASCAP licenses a repertory of over 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses that use music, including streaming services, cable television, radio and satellite radio and brick and mortar businesses such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants and bars. ASCAP collects the licensing fees, and identifies, matches, processes and pays royalties to its members for trillions of performances every year. The ASCAP blanket license offers an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while respecting the right of songwriters and composers to be paid fairly. ASCAP puts music creators first, advocating for their rights and the value of music on Capitol Hill, driving innovation that moves the industry forward, building community and providing the resources and support that creators need to succeed in their careers. Learn more and stay in touch at www.ascap.com, on X and Instagram @ASCAP and on Facebook.
About Project Healthy Minds
Project Healthy Minds is a Millennial & Gen Z-driven mental health tech nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to mental health services across the United States for every community. Project Healthy Minds focuses on three programmatic areas: (1) destigmatizing mental health by mobilizing culture-makers; (2) expanding access to mental health services through the world’s first free digital mental health marketplace; and (3) advocating for innovative workplace investments in employee mental health. Project Healthy Minds’ programmatic initiatives have served more than 500,000 people. For more information, visit www.projecthealthyminds.com.
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