Dr. George Musgrave

Biography

Dr. Musgrave is an interdisciplinary sociologist of music, who has been researching musicians' psychosocial working lives for the past 15 years. His research concerns the psychological experiences and working conditions of creative careers, with a focus on mental health and wellbeing in the music industry. He has collaboratively undertaken two major research projects - 'Can Music Make You Sick?' (UK) and ‘When Music Speaks’ (Denmark) - on mental health and the music industry. The book of the former was an Amazon Number 1 Best Seller in the Sociology of Work. His research has been published in world-leading journals including The Lancet, The Lancet Psychiatry, Poetics, Cultural Trends, Musicae Scientiae, Frontiers in Public Health and Psychology of Music. He is regularly invited to speak internationally on the subject and has appeared on media including BBC News, BBC Radio 4, Times Radio and the Financial Times.

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His work led directly to the establishment of a 24/7 mental health helpline for musicians - Music Minds Matter - in 2017, and has been cited as informing the development of global therapeutic & public health interventions as well by the UK Government's Department for Culture Media and Sport as part of the Creative Industries Sector Vision. His findings and submissions of evidence have been drawn on by the UK Parliament's House of Commons Women and Equalities Commission, and the House of Lords. His research has been awarded close to $500,000 in funding by a range of stakeholders including UKRI (ESRC, AHRC), Government (Mayor of London) the third sector (Help Musicians UK), & the international music industries (Danish Partnership for Sustainable Development). His work has been featured by media outlets including BBC News, BBC Radio 4, Times Radio, The New York Times, Pitchfork, GQ, The FT, Billboard & more.

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He is also a musician who has signed both major recording & publishing deals with EMI/Sony/ATV. His music has earned over 1 million views on Youtube and secured the support from the likes of Mike Skinner, Plan B, Ellie Goulding & Ed Sheeran. He has been labelled 'Middle England's Poet Laureate' by BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra DJ MistaJam. Prior to signing to his record deal, he was the first ever unsigned artist to win a place on the MTV 'Brand New' list, and has played at festivals including Reading, Leeds, Wireless and BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. He has MC'd for global acts including Andy C, Shy FX, Rusko, SpectraSoul, Plastician & Benga.

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He lives in London with his wife and two children.

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