How This Song Saved Lives
Can music have a measurable impact? Yes, here's a case study by Logic.
When we think about communication or art making a social impact, we often picture awareness campaigns. You’ve seen them: ads telling you to wear sunscreen, posters reminding you to get your flu shot, or social media posts educating you on screenings.
These messages are important, but they face a challenge: awareness doesn’t always equal action. Someone might see the message, nod in agreement, and then carry on with their day without changing their behavior. Measuring actual impact (e.g., did someone take action to protect their health?) is often costly and complicated.
That’s why creative approaches are so exciting! When art doesn’t just inform but actually changes behavior, it can save lives. And one of the most powerful examples in recent years came through music.
Case Study: Logic
On April 28, 2017, hip hop artist Logic released the song “1-800-273-8255,” titled after the number for the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now referred to as the 988 Lifeline). The song was written from the perspective of someone struggling with suicidal thoughts, and ultimately finding hope by reaching out for help.
Just months later, its music video told an even deeper story: a young Black man, facing bullying and discrimination because of his sexual orientation, wrestles with despair until he chooses to call the Lifeline. It’s a decision that marks the start of his healing.
You can also view the music video by clicking here.
In August 2017, Logic performed the song at the MTV Video Music Awards, which amplified the message of suicide prevention. The song shot into the Top 10 of the Billboard’s Streaming Songs chart within the United States. To date, the song has amassed over a billion streams on Spotify and the music video has been watched over 450 million times on YouTube.
While that is impressive, the impact went far beyond streams and views (our typical awareness metrics). Researchers later discovered the song sparked measurable change in a real-world behavior.
A study published in The BMJ found the Lifeline received 9,915 more calls than expected following the song’s release and major live performances. During those same peak moments of conversation, 245 fewer suicides were observed than expected. Another study found that Google searches for “suicide hotline” jumped nearly 50% the day after the song dropped. Amazing, right? This song didn’t just raise awareness about mental illness, it helped people take action to save their lives.
Why Did This Song Work?
Logic’s creative process played a huge role in why this song resonated so deeply and ultimately had the impact it did. Rather than shying away from a hard topic like suicide, he learned into it. He sat with the darkness of the subject matter. His lyrical choices walk the listener through a journey:
Pre-Chorus: Lyrics like “I’ve been on the low” and “I feel like my life ain’t mine” invite listeners to feel seen and connected.
Chorus: Stark lyrics like “I don’t want to be alive” and “I just want to die” refuse to sugarcoat despair. He used these lines because they were real. And reality is what people connect to.
Verse 1: Lyrics like “I’m hurting deep down, but can’t show it” capture the hidden pain many carry, which make the song a channel for unspoken feelings.
Verse 2: He shifts the perspective to the Lifeline operator, with lyrics like “I want you to be alive” and shares reasons to keep going. He offers listeners the voice of hope on the other end of the call.
Verse 3: The narrative resolves with “I finally want to be alive” and “I don’t want to die,” which show the turn from crisis to survival.
In this video, Logic speaks about his creative process:
You can also find the video here.
Creativity is just as important as the public health message itself. If we don’t capture attention and create connection, the message may never land. That’s what music does so well: it reaches people on an emotional level. We don’t just sing songs because they sound nice (though sometimes we do); we sing them because they reflect something true about our experiences, our struggles, or our hopes. That human connection is powerful, and it’s what made Logic’s creative process so effective. His choice to write, sing, and structure the lyrics with raw honesty and emotional progression allowed the song to move from despair to survival in a way listeners could feel. Another artist might have taken the same subject matter in a different direction, but Logic’s unique approach turned a song into a lifeline. It showed us how creativity can bridge the gap between information and emotion, and ultimately drive impact.
Most of us don’t have a global platform like Logic. But as creatives and communicators, we do have tools that can connect people to resources, tell untold stories, help people feel seen, and even reduce stress and anxiety. Music is just one medium. Yet, it reminds us that our work can go beyond raising awareness; it can inspire action.
And that is the real power of social impact communication.