#MusicUNITESUS

Financial Assistance

These are tough times for music creators, especially those of us who rely on live gigs and in-person sessions for our income. Here are some organizations offering emergency financial assistance to help out.

 (Updated on 6/15/22)

• American Federation of Musicians has a resource page with information on unemployment benefits. Several local chapters have relief funds and assistance programs for their members, including AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles), AFM Local 802 (New York) and AFM Local 257 (Nashville). 

• American Guild of Musical Artists is encouraging members in good standing to apply for financial assistance through the AGMA Relief Fund. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis, based on need. 

• Artist Relief is an emergency, non-restricted emergency relief fund, set up by a coalition of national arts grantmakers, that will grant $5,000 to individual artists facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.

• The Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is intended to help those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), are pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators, and whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. If you fit this description, apply for an emergency grant in the amount of $200 per person.

• Bandzoogle put together a helpful article about how musicians can ask fans for support during coronavirus pandemic.  (PS: If you're thinking about getting your website in order during quarantine, ASCAP members get a 6-month free trial to use Bandzoogle - plus 15% off membership - where you can sell music, take direct donations and pledges for crowdfunding, and create monthly fan subscriptions from their website, all commission-free)

• The City of Los Angeles has established the LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund, open to micro-entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits located in Los Angeles County. Their fifth round of funding is accepting applications as of October 5. In addition, if you operate a small business in LA you may be eligible for a loan through the city's Small Business Loan Program. 

• Country Music Association set up a resource center geared toward the country music community, with sections dedicated to financial relief, government resources, advocacy and more.

• The Creative Community Fund - spearheaded by Winston House and IGAF - directly pairs people in the music industry who need financial help due to COVID-19 with people who can help. Apply for help (or TO help) at the Winston House website.

• Equal Sound (a group that “strives to introduce listeners to new music by breaking down the traditional confines of musical genres”) has set up a relief fund for musicians who have lost income due to a canceled gig as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. 

• FindHelp is a search engine to find food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced-cost programs in your area, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Gospel Music Association has raised $150,000 for those in need.  Artists and touring professionals within the Christian/Gospel Music Industry are invited to apply.

• The Foundation for Contemporary Arts has created a temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. Applications are currently being accepted through November 30, 2020.

• The International Bluegrass Music Association has set aside up to $150,000 of current assets to assist eligible professional bluegrass music applicants who have been impacted by COVID-19, with awards up to $500 per application. Apply online for assistance through the Bluegrass Trust Fund.

• The Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation program provides financial assistance to self-employed individuals who were left out of the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program due to technically qualifying for traditional state unemployment. If you earn money both through traditional W2 employment and also through self-employment, you may be eligible to MEUC funds through your state's employment agency. Visit mixedincome.org for more info.

• Nonprofit Lawyers for the Arts organizations in California, New York and Tennessee are providing free legal services to help music creators and industry professionals figure out the resources available to them. Contact the org. closest to you for help navigating financial assistance paperwork, unemployment insurance, labor questions, small business relief, performance cancellation disputes, or anything else related to the epidemic. Billboard has more info.

• The Jazz Foundation is accepting applications for financial support to jazz musicians in need, through its COVID-19 Musicians' Emergency Fund. 

• The non-profit Music Health Alliance offers guidance and resources for music creators looking for healthcare. They also offer grants for financially vulnerable music professionals directly impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and the recent tornadoes.

• The Newport Festivals Foundation is accepting applications for grants through the Newport Festivals Musician Relief Fund. The focus and priority is musicians who have played the Newport Jazz or Folk Festivals and others in the Rhode Island music community.

• New York City set up its ACCESS NYC portal to help NYC residents determine their eligibility for more than 30 economic programs and benefits. NYC is also accepting grants for its Small Business Continuity Loan Program, for businesses with under 100 employees that can demonstrate a financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
• June 28, 2022 deadline: New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) & New York State Council on the Arts have partnered to launch a $261,000 disability grant program. The program will distribute $1,000 in cash grants to cover art-related expenses for New York State visual, media, music, performing, literary, and multidisciplinary artists with a disability who reside outside of New York City’s five boroughs and have experienced financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis. Read more here and apply by June 28, 2022.

• Paul, Weiss has put together a Coronavirus Relief Center as a clearinghouse of the most up-to-date information about city, state, federal and nonprofit resources available to those contending with COVID-19 economic impacts.

• The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched musiccovidrelief.com in partnership with dozens of US music industry organizations. The site provides info on receiving unemployment benefits, small business loans/advances, and potential grants from the NEA, plus a comprehensive list of resources from its partner organizations.

• Songwriters of North America (SONA), supported by Sony Music Publishing, has launched The Songwriter Fund to help songwriters and composers impacted by the pandemic. If you are affiliated with a PRO, over 18 years old and have two years of experience working as a professional writer/composer in the US, you can apply for a $1000 emergency grant. A second round of applications opens April 28. 

• Sound Royalties published an article about factors to consider before you try selling your music catalog during the pandemic. 

• Sweet Relief is taking applications for its COVID-19 Fund. The fund is intended for musicians and music industry workers affected by the coronavirus. Money raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work.  

• The Texas Music Office is updating a list of relief programs available to Texas music creators. There are programs specific to Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and more.

• The US Small Business Administration has a guidance & loan assistance page dedicated to helping small business owners impacted by the coronavirus epidemic.

Looking for more?  

Billboard has compiled a state-by-state resource guide for music professionals impacted by the coronavirus crisis, including many financial relief funds.