Resources For Independent Artists, Music Professionals During COVID-19
Those working in the music industry have been hit hard in the fallout from this pandemic, facing cancelled gigs and sparse work opportunities. Here we look at some important resources musicians and other industry professionals should be aware of to help ease the pain.
Guest post by Kevin Cornell of the TuneCore Blog
Artists and members of the music industry alike have been hit from all sides during the current pandemic. TuneCore is no stranger to making artists lives easier via our platform, but as our artists are faced with a major challenge due to cancelled gigs/tours, part time jobs temporarily closing, and health concerns, we’ve drawn up some helpful resources that we encourage you to look into.
Whether you’re struggling financially, worried about the coming weeks, or simply want to give back to the music community yourself, take a look below and spread the good word.
MusiCares
Under the umbrella of the GRAMMYs/Recording Academy, MusiCares strives to provide “a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need.” MusiCares has expanded its services to help members of the industry make up for some of the lost income as a result of cancelled tours/performances, and you can read more about their COVID-19 Relief Fund here.
American Federation of Musicians
With 80,000 members, the AFM is the largest organized union of musicians in the world, specifically made up of residents of Canada and the U.S. From unemployment information to state-by-state resources, AFM is stepping up its efforts to support its members. Read more about AFM’s COVID-19 resource offerings here.
American Guild of Musical Artists
Touting themselves as “The labor union that represents artists who create America’s operatic, choral and dance heritage”, AGMA is taking action to assist its members, including the cap expansion on their AGMA Relief Fund. Read more about AGMA’s COVID-19 response here.
The Nomad Fundraiser
The Nomad Fundraiser is a GoFundMe dedicated to assisting and relieving members of the touring industry, who no doubt were hit by the measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consider giving or passing this info along to your tour industry friends, and read more about it here.
Equal Sounds
Equal Sounds is a non-profit organization that “brings together artists from diverse musical worlds to illuminate the threads between them.” During these trying times, Equal Sounds is accepting tax deductible donations to assist artists who’ve seen their livelihood dry up as a result of COVID-19, and you can find out more info about it here.
Musicians Foundation
Dating back to 1914, the Musicians Foundation is the oldest and longest-running non profit organization dedicated to assisting with financial support for musicians and their families during times of crisis. Their COVID-19 Fund application window is temporarily closed due to demand, but the organization plans to re-open it soon.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
Sweet Relief is a group that aims to provide financial assistance and support for artists and members of the industry facing illness, disability or age-related problems. As such, they’ve put together their COVID-19 Fund that will help raise money for vital expenses during this time. Learn more about their fund here.
The Jazz Foundation
The longtime jazz-centric organization continues to offer its Musicians’ Emergency Fund, to aid artists in the genre with housing assistance, pro-bono medical care, and emergency relief. Learn more about the Jazz Foundation’s fund here.
Billboard – State-by-State Resource Guide
The legendary outlet Billboard put together an extremely helpful state-by-state resource guide for artists and other music professionals in need of assistance due to the spread of COVID-19. While some of the groups above may be included, be sure to see what’s available in your state by checking it out here.
