The public health lab is a space where public health ideas are brought to life. A place to test new formats, experiment with science communication, and explore creative ways to explain public health. It is all about learning, experimenting, improving, and trying new ways to make public health clearer, more engaging, and more accessible.
PUBLIC HEALTH BEATS
Can music be used to raise awareness of public health issues?
Music has always been a powerful way to share ideas, tell stories and make messages stick. Public Health Beats brings that idea into action through a fun, educational album of 12 short songs covering topics such as sun safety, injury prevention, misinformation, smoking cessation, food safety and hand hygiene. The songs are based on established evidence and guidance, and AI-assisted tools were used to generate the music.
With styles ranging from hip-hop, K-pop and EDM to country, Australian bush music, sea shanty and phonk, the album offers a fresh and engaging way to raise awareness of important public health issues!
The Challenge
Traditional public health communication often relies on reports, fact sheets, media releases and short information campaigns. These formats can struggle to attract attention in a crowded media environment, particularly when the subject is technical, unfamiliar or competing with more emotionally engaging content.
Public Health Beats explores music as a complementary way to raise awareness of important public health issues. Music can provide a more engaging way to encounter public health themes beyond conventional written or spoken formats.
Why music?
Music has long been used to tell stories, share ideas and make messages easier to remember. It can cross language, cultural and literacy barriers, helping public health topics reach people who may not engage with traditional written information. Music can capture attention quickly, create an emotional connection and introduce people to topics they may not otherwise seek out.
By highlighting public health issues within a range of musical styles, the album aims to make them feel more approachable, engaging and memorable.
Why AI?
AI-assisted music production tools have opened up creative possibilities that were previously difficult or costly for an independent public health project.
Producing songs across multiple genres would traditionally require access to music studios, composers, producers, vocalists, musicians and bands. AI made it possible to experiment with different voices, arrangements and styles without a large production team.
The public health topics, evidence, lyrics and overall creative direction remained human-led, while AI was used to generate and develop the music.
The process
Each track began with an important and relevant public health issue and a review of the key evidence-based points. This was distilled and shaped into clear, concise lyrics, then matched with a suitable genre, voice and storytelling style.
AI-assisted music production tools were used to develop the arrangements, vocals and music. Music videos were created using AI assisted video production tools and edited to match the style of music.
The final track was then reviewed before being released across music and video platforms and assessed through audience response.
MUSIC VIDEOS
SPOTLIGHT
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer and an important global health issue. In 2022, an estimated 330,000 people were diagnosed with melanoma worldwide and almost 60,000 died from the disease [1]. More than 80% of cutaneous melanoma cases that year were estimated to be attributable to ultraviolet radiation exposure [2].
Established prevention measures include limiting excessive UV exposure, seeking shade, wearing protective clothing and a broad-brimmed hat, using UV-protective sunglasses, and applying sunscreen to exposed skin [3].
Do It for Jessie explores these themes through a country-style song about someone remembering a friend lost to melanoma. The personal narrative conveys the sense of losing Jessie while encouraging greater awareness of simple sun-protection measures. Its chorus draws on established prevention advice. The country style provides space for storytelling and emotion, helping turn the sun-safety themes into a memorable refrain.
1. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Global melanoma burden. 2022. 2. Langselius O, et al. Int J Cancer. 2025;157:1110–1119.3. World Health Organization. Protecting against skin cancer. 2017.
