MusiCares has announced the final round of funding for its COVID-19 Relief program, which has distributed $25 million to more than 34,000 music professionals in need since its creation in March 2020.
The fund will conclude upon the distribution of the $2 million raised during MusiCares’ recent Music on a Mission virtual fundraiser to 2,000 eligible applicants.
“The pandemic has been devastating to musicians, tour managers, stage crews, and so many others that are involved in making music happen,” MusiCares executive director Laura Segura said. “We heard from our community that many are experiencing elevated levels of depression, financial insecurity and low levels of confidence that they could pay for basic living expenses during the pandemic. It is encouraging to know that music people turned to MusiCares in their time of need and we hope they continue to do so as we reacclimate post-pandemic.”
The Recording Academy and MusiCares — its charitable arm providing health, financial, and rehabilitation resources to music workers in times of need — each made a $1 million base donation to kick off the fund last March. By one month later in April 2020, funds had been depleted.
Now, the fund is once again open to music professionals who have had at least three years of employment in the music industry, or six commercially released recordings or videos. Anyone who has already received assistance from the fund is eligible to apply again.
Once the final funds are distributed, MusiCares says it will continue to support the music community through “existing and new mental health and hardship grant programs and virtual support groups, among other programs.”
MusiCares says the grant application will be available here, and those in need of support can also email the organization at musicaresrelief@musicares.org.
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