Christmas message from RSM
As we reach the end of another year, RSM’s work continues to support more music professionals than ever before.
2025 has been a busy year for RSM, and central to all our work has been the vital support we give to music professionals whose lives have been impacted by mental and physical ill health. Our Grants Programme has looked after freelance, employed, emerging and retired musicians aged from 19 to 99, either with immediate one-off support, or long-term assistance.
The last five years has seen a 65% increase in the number of music professionals RSM has supported and our partnerships with organisations across the sector ensure our impact continues to be maximised either through our bespoke Grants Programme or our Health & Wellbeing initiatives.
Our ever-popular Health & Wellbeing Programme has continued providing opportunities for participants to understand more about their own health and wellbeing. This year’s Healthy Practice Webinars run in partnership with BAPAM and Music Support saw a 66% increase in sign-ups and post-event streams. Our live talk series with Things Musicians Don’t Talk About welcomed audiences to our London headquarters, where guests Linton Stephen, Gillian Moore, CN Lester and Lauren McQuistin discussed living authentically with a public platform, women in music and musicians’ relationships with food and addiction. Over 1,000 also listened to the post-talk podcast. Our Social Network continues to thrive, with over 100 attendees from across the UK to joining twice monthly sessions.
We have been out and about across the UK this year including Belfast, Birmingham, Glasgow, London and Manchester where we have visited orchestras, met key sector organisations, attended Freshers Fairs and met RSM’s Members who continue to play a key role in our charity.
As a society of musicians founded on benevolence, people have always been at the heart of all we do. Thanks to the combined efforts of everyone, past and present, we have provided uninterrupted support to musicians in need since 1738 and we remain deeply grateful to everyone who supports us. However, with the ever-increasing challenges faced by musicians and an evolving funding landscape, we must ensure we have the resources to continue delivering high-quality assistance whenever it is needed.
Our plans for 2026 will enable us to strengthen our offering and we hope you will join us on our exciting journey. We have been here for 287 years and with your support we can continue providing vital assistance to musicians from the very beginning of their careers through to retirement and beyond.
On behalf of everyone at RSM, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you all in 2026.