Mount Sinai Study Advances “Social Music” as a Prescription for Better Health Outcomes
Peer-reviewed paper outlines a scalable model for improving well-being through shared musical experiences
Researchers from the Mount Sinai Health System have published a peer-reviewed paper defining and advancing “social music” as an innovative evidence-based approach to improving health and well-being.
The study was co-authored by Joanne Loewy, DA, LCAT, MT-BC, Director of The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and eight-time Grammy Award–winning musician Jon Batiste. It was published in March 2026 in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy.
Titled “Social Music as a Prescription for Maintaining Wellness,” the paper introduces a framework for using shared musical experiences as a “social prescription”—a non-medical intervention designed to improve health outcomes, particularly for individuals experiencing or at risk for depression. The research builds on findings from the Assessment of Music Experiences in Navigating Depression (AMEND), a National Endowment for the Arts-supported research lab led by Dr. Loewy. The initiative examines how individual, group, and blended music experiences can positively impact well-being among people with depression or those at elevated risk.
“While technological advances have transformed how we connect, many people are increasingly isolated, with limited opportunities for meaningful social engagement—conditions that can negatively affect health,” said Dr. Loewy, Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “In parts of Europe, music is already used as a social prescription. Our work defines a model—social music—that demonstrates how intentional, shared musical experiences can meaningfully influence health outcomes.”
Originally developed by Mr. Batiste, “social music” refers to participatory, culturally rooted musical experiences that foster connection, expression, and collective release. The model emphasizes elements such as call and response, shared movement, and interactive performance, creating a dynamic dialogue between participants.
“This is a meaningful step forward in recognizing the longstanding connection between music and healing,” said Mr. Batiste. “Across cultures and generations, music has been a source of strength, connection, and renewal. Bringing that wisdom into modern medicine through research and clinical practice reflects the dedication of leaders like Joanne Loewy and her colleagues.”
Dr. Loewy and her team continue to expand research through the AMEND initiative, exploring how music-based interventions can be more widely integrated into clinical and community settings.
“Our goal is to help medical, educational, and community organizations better understand and adopt the potential of music as a tool for health,” Dr. Loewy said. “Social music offers a scalable, inclusive approach to fostering connection and improving well-being.”
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the nation’s leading integrated academic health systems and one of the largest in the New York metropolitan area. Its comprehensive system includes seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, over 600 research and clinical laboratories, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing. Together, the Health System comprises approximately 48,000 employees, more than 9,000 physicians, and 8,600 nurses.
As a leading learning health system, Mount Sinai combines clinical expertise with scientific discovery to improve patient care while training the next generation of health care and biomedical leaders. The Health System provides care across every stage of life, from prenatal care through geriatrics, while advancing personalized medicine through artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical research.
Mount Sinai is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading academic health systems for patient care, research, and education. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 1 in New York by Newsweek and No. 5 on the magazine’s World’s Best Hospitals list. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ranks No. 11 among U.S. medical schools and No. 1 among freestanding medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding, reflecting the strength of its scientific enterprise and leadership in biomedical research.