Ashley Gorley, Variety’s Hitmakers Songwriter of the Year for 2023, will donate his royalties from his 80 th country No. 1 single, Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay,” to the Onsite Foundation: Creatives Support Network, providing free mentorship, education, resources and mental wellness support specifically designed for members of the songwriting community.
The song was written by the two along with Taylor Phillips and Casey Brown; Gorley’s contribution will take the form of 80 grants for 80 individuals as well as program infrastructure support.
“A song about struggling to get out of bed in the morning is No. 1 and that really speaks to where we are in the world,” Gorley said in the announcement. “It was important for us to take this moment to say ‘you’re not the only one,’ and to support a creative network with programming that is tailored to songwriters at any stage of their journey.”
According to the announcement, songwriter-focused intensives are a big part of the program, two-day immersive individual or group coaching and therapy sessions explicitly curated for creatives. Additionally, the program includes mentorship and social impact initiatives as well as online curriculum and conversation resources.
“This song in particular, along with the Jelly Roll Era, is creating a movement and timely conversation regarding the need to equip creatives with necessary tools to optimize their personal and professional pursuits,” adds Onsite’s Miles Adcox. “I’ve been at the intersection of Music and Mental Wellness for the better part of my career and have experienced firsthand the challenges and opportunities facing today’s creatives. Music is medicine, and the comfort, relief, support, and overall impact it provides globally to humanity is immeasurable. Our storytellers are a national treasure we should pour into and protect at all costs. We’re grateful to Ashley, Jelly Roll, and the Tape Room writers for starting this conversation in the songwriting community and for lending their expertise and resources.”
