Community Reactions: music industry resources for support and relief against COVID-19

In these trying times, we’re all in this together. We have collated the current resources and support being offered by organisations around the globe for those in the music industry.

6 min readMar 27, 2020

Please note, further resources become available in the links we provide here.

FUNDS

Global — Facebook small business grants programme

Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate. Click the link to sign up for more info.

Global — Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief

The Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project has been created to amplify the efforts of organizations that focus on helping those most in need. Spotify is making a donation to organizations and will match donations made via this page dollar for dollar up to a collective total of $10 million.

Global — Shopify — list of small business relief programmes

Shopify have put together a list of Government relief programmes to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Germany — Emergency fund for songwriters worth up to $43M launched by GEMA in Germany

[Music Business Worldwide] The €40m aid fund will be provided by GEMA in a two-stage program, the PRO has confirmed. The first tranche of money, says GEMA, will be given to those composers and lyricists who also act as performers and therefore face financial difficulties due to the cancellation of live concerts. A second run of payments will then provide financial support for “individual hardship cases” amongst the songwriting community, which will fall under the framework of GEMA’s “social and cultural” support. GEMA has pledged to publish more detailed information on the emergency aid program (beneficiaries, application, payment, etc.) in the course of the coming week.

UK — Arts Council Covid-19

Arts Council ismaking £160 million of emergency funding available for those organisations and individuals who will need it during this crisis, and they have also changed the funding requirements for individuals and organisations currently in receipt of their funding, to help alleviate pressure on them as best they can.

UK — PRS Emergency Relief Fund

PRS have come together with our partners at the PRS Members’ Fund and the PRS Foundation to launch the PRS Emergency Relief Fund. This money is available to PRS members globally and will be offered in grants of up to £1000 each, depending on need.

UK — Help Musicians Fund

Help Musicians has set up the Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund to alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures that many professional musicians may be facing. They have created a fund of £5m to help reduce the worry many musicians are experiencing about their mounting household expenses.

UK — BFI/The Film and TV Charity/Netflix

Established with a £1m donation from Netflix, the new Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund will be administered by The Film and TV Charity with support from the BFI, and will provide emergency short-term relief to the many thousands of active workers and freelancers who have been directly affected by the closure of productions across the UK.

US — Recording Academy/GRAMMY’s and MusiCares

@recordingacademy and @musicares have established the COVID-19 Relief Fund to help our peers in the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

UK- UK Government small business support

Quickbooks has set up a regularly-updated page with practical tips and resources for small business support, as well as the latest information and support from the UK government.

US — Quickbooks help and advice for small businesses, including a Paycheck Protection Program loan

US — Music Covid Relief

A resource to help music professionals access information and applications to receive benefits made available by the CARES Act (Phase III of the Coronavirus Stimulus bill signed into law March 27, 2020). Incuding what the law means, how to receive unemployment, how to receive small business benefits, where to find relief and grants.

Sony Corporation has launched a $100 million fund to support those impacted by COVID-19, including support for members of the creative community impacted by the virus.

Other US-based financial assistance and resources:

Financial and General Assistance
Federal-State-Local Benefits Finder
211: Visit http://211.org/services/covid19 or Dial 2–1–1.
MusiCares/ Recording Academy Grant Application
Help Musicians Grant Application

For Independent Contractors, Sole Proprietors, and Self-Employed Individuals
SONA Stimulus Bill Application: https://www.wearesona.com/: This legislation is being voted on by the House of Representatives this moring (6th April) and is expected to be signed into law by the President tonight.

Other small business provisions here

Freelance Artist Resources
CERF+: https://cerfplus.org/coronavirus
(general): https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com
I Care If You Listen: https://www.icareifyoulisten.com/2020/03/covid-19-emergency-funding-arti...
Help a Freelancer: https://www.helpafreelancer.com/get-featured?fbclid=IwAR3V2YI9Tna_6fWDon...

Entertainment Assistance Resources
MusiCares: https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/musicares-coronavirus-relief-fund
Actors Fund: https://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/social-services-financial-a...
IATSE: https://www.iatse.net/coronavirus-update-portal
Entertainment Industry Foundation: https://musicforrelief.org/covid-19-coronavirus-response/
Musicians Foundation: www.musiciansfoundation.org
Sound Royalties: https://soundroyalties.com
Sweet Relief: https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html

ONLINE RESOURCES

Global — Soundcloud ‘Keep the music going’ resources and support

Including a new SoundCloud + Twitch livestreaming partnership, new options for direct support from fans, and live creator office hours with SoundCloud’s artist relations and marketing teams. Keep an eye on the ‘Keep the music going’ guide for updates.

Freelance Artist Resources

This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. This list is an aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.

Virtual Music Events Directory

shesaid.so member Cherie Hu compiled a resource for anyone seeking guidance on how to stage alternative music events, as well as a calendar of virtual/livestreamed events. Including tools anyone can use to host virtual shows/meetups/panels; virtual events that artists and companies are organizing in place of SXSW; and emergency-funding resources for artists.

shesaid.so — community resource

Please share your thoughts, comments and suggestions to us so we can support the best way we can.

ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Resident Advisor: Save Our Scene

Resident Advisor published an open letter, signed by more than 3,000 people in the scene across five continents, calling on collective action from the electronic music community to save our scene. RA have also launched further resources for the community including a stream of live updates, ideas for how to help the electronic community during COVID-19, ‘How To Set Up A Livestream’ and more.

Social Distancing Festival

An online artist’s community made to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing.

shesaid.so are holding community streaming sessions, which started last week with Digital Marketing essentials with Ciara O’Leary Fitzpatrick. Stay tuned for more updates on shesaid.so Instagram.

YouTube

YouTube Music is joining the call to action for people to #StayHomeandSaveLives, in an effort to encourage people around the world to flatten the curve and help stop the spread of Coronavirus.
They believe that YouTube artists, partners and creators have a unique opportunity to share this critical information during a time when people are craving human and community connection more than ever.