Myndstream, founded by Freddie Moross, was an early pioneer. Since 2021, it has championed music’s healing power and its role in therapy and wellbeing. Now, Moross is advancing the field further by launching the Global Wellness Institute’s first-ever Music for Health & Wellbeing Initiative.
The initiative is led by a cross-disciplinary team of global experts, with Moross as Chair and Rob Marshall as Vice-Chair, joined by:
- Dr. Lori F. Gooding – Music Therapy, Florida State University (US)
- Tom Middleton – Co-founder, White Mirror (UK)
- Cathy Applefeld Olson – Founder, Hollywood & Mind (US)
- Bryan Stone – Universal Music Group (UK)
- Dr. Michelle Ulor – Music Psychologist & DJ (UK)
The GWI Music for Health & Wellbeing Initiative aims to foster a ‘quad-win’ across four key groups: industry, academia, artists, and listeners. Its mission include:
- Promoting a culture of duty of care and intentional creation when delivering music into care settings
- Addressing the lack of a shared vocabulary by establishing foundational definitions (e.g. music therapy vs. sound therapy vs. functional music)
- Supporting innovative research by funding small-scale studies that pave the way for larger grants
- Developing industry guidelines and best practices to inform future accreditation/certification for artists creating purpose-driven music (e.g. for anxiety relief, relaxation or energy)
- Collaborating with organizations, such as AMTA, to contribute to evolving best practices
Moross commented: “I’m delighted to be joined by an incredible founding team who represent a cross-section of understanding and expertise across the music sector. They support in creating an independent, central resource to help navigate the ever-growing complexities and intricacies of the music for health and wellness space. “Looking ahead, we’ll champion the responsible evolution of music as a tool for healing — supporting artists, researchers and innovators in creating music that is not only emotionally resonant but scientifically informed.
