Coronavirus Resources: Helping Music Industry Pros in a Crisis
Help in a Crisis - What’s out There for Music Industry Professionals?
Coronavirus: tired of hearing about it yet? Chances are you’re more fed up about what it’s done to our industry. Like you, this pandemic has shocked us to our very core, so much so we’ve really struggled what to say.
What can you say?
Keep on keeping on!
We know that an awful lot of you right now are hurting and we’d like to take a moment to say “we hear you and are right there with you!”. Seeing so many of our friends lose their tours and jobs overnight has hurt us hard.
So what’s happening at iConnectivity? Well, we’re still alive, fortunately, both as people and as a business. Most of our team are all hard at work, and our R&D department boffins are still coming up with awesome stuff behind the scenes; our marketing department, however, has been twiddling their thumbs with a bit of a moral dilemma…
At times like this, it feels like the wrong thing to try and sell stuff.
Need Help? Get Help!
We’ve started to compile a list of resources and links we feel are helpful. We’re actively sifting through the resources we can find the ones most relevant to you, our extended family.
You’ve probably already seen various long lists of resources out there, and probably been as disappointed as us that a lot of the links weren’t of much use to you. We’ve waded through pages of links and to hopefully bring you genuinely usable resources.
We’ll be periodically updating this list whenever we find new information, so please keep checking back in for new resources. Also, if you’re aware of a resource (not just a long list of newspaper articles) in your part of the world that’s not on the list, please Contact Us and we’ll get it added.
Most of all though, we’d like to re-emphasise what we know doesn’t really need to be repeated:
If you need help - get help
If you’re able to help - offer help
Moreover, if there is anything you’d like to be hearing / seeing from us in this time please drop us a line and let us know.
We’ll get through this together!
International Resources
Artist Relief Project - An initiative to help artists, performers and musicians impacted by COVID-19.
Backline - Mental health and wellness project for music industry workers. In light of Coronavirus, they have launched the Come Together: COVID-19 Crisis Initiative
Crew Nation - Multi-million dollar global relief fund for live music crews. Founded by Live Nation and additionally funded by artist and public donations.
COVID-19 Music Production Response Group - Facebook group for debate and support on impact of COVID-19 on music production industry professionals
Facebook Small Business Grants Programme - Facebook is offering 100 million US Dollars of small business grants for those affected by COVID-19.
Musicares COVID-19 Relief Fund - An offshoot of the Recording Academy Musicares charity foundation, the COVID-19 Relief Fund is providing funding and support for established music industry professionals.
US/North America
American Federation of Musicians - lots of useful information on unemployment benefits and performer’s funds. The AFM is also actively lobbying for additional relief aid to musicians and performers
American Guild of Musical Artists - AGMA has an active relief fund in operation for current guild members.
Annuity Freedom - three separate grant schemes have been launched by Annuity freedom, offering marketing assistance as well as cash monthly grants:
Artist Grant
Black Business Grant
Small Business Grant for Women
Artist Relief - Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19
Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund - Equal Sound’s relief fund pays out up to $500 per application for musicians who have suffered gig cancellations as a result of COVID-19 based cancellations.
Freelancers Relief Fund - Setup by the Freelancers Union, the Freelancers Relief Fund provides up to $1000 per application to cover governmental shortfalls to professional freelance workers.
IRS Financial Assistance - The US Government is providing tax relief and economic impact payments for those affected by COVID-19
Soundgirls Coronavirus Relief - Soundgirls is offering $100 gift cards to production techs currently unemployed due to the COVID-19 crisis
Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund - Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund has set up a dedicated COVID-19 relief fund for musicians and music-industry workers affected by COVID-19
State by State Assistance
Austin
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM)
Boston
Boston Artist Relief Fund
Boston Music Maker COVID-19 Fund
Mass Cultural Council COVID-19 Relief Fund
Las Vegas
Washoe County Artist Relief Fund
Los Angeles
LA County COVID-19 Community Connectory Resources
Nashville
Opry Trust Fund
Music Export Memphis COVID-19 Relief Fund
Nashville COVID-19 Response Fund
New York City
Robin Hood Relief Fund
Washington
Spokane Artists and Creatives Emergency Fund
United Kingdom
Musician’s Union Hardship Scheme - The Musician’s Union has set up a £1M hardship fund for those suffering “genuine and pressing hardship”
PRS Emergency Relief Fund - The Performing Rights Society offers cash grants to existing members who meet their grant criteria.
Royal Theatrical Fund - Charity offering support to long-term entertainments industry professionals suffering health-related job-losses
UK Government COVID-19 Self Employed Income Support Scheme - The UK Government is offering financial support for the self employed via taxable grant up to 80% of your current earnings
France
Federation National des Auto entrepreneur - Extensive information on aid and support available to sole traders and “micro entrepreneur” businesses.
Germany
COVID-19 Tax and Social Security Relief - Information on Germany’s extensive measures to provide social security relief for those affected by COVID-19
Austria
Austrian Government Hardship Fund - The Austrian Government is providing emergency aid for sole-traders and small businesses.
Italy
Italian Government “Exemption Lay-off Fund” - The Italian Government is providing financial assitance to self-employed workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Switzerland
Swiss Government advice on assistance for the unemployed