During a time where the spread of the coronavirus has the U.S. Congress considering multibillion-dollar emergency aid to offset the economic impacts, the Recording Academy is now begging members of Congress to keep musicians in mind during relief efforts.
While the Recording Academy announced a $2 million coronavirus relief fund through its philanthropic arm, MusiCares, which will support music professionals adversely impacted by the crisis, Recording Academy chairman and interim CEO Harvey Mason Jr. expressed his concerns in a letter on Wednesday that he forwarded to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. He is pleading with lawmakers to not forget about those that make their sole living from music.⠀⠀⠀
“As the national coronavirus pandemic takes its toll on all Americans, I urge you to protect our nation’s musicians, performers, songwriters, and studio professionals. Just as many large industries will be seeking support, you should not forget the smallest of small businesses: individual music makers who will not benefit from employer-based relief,” The letter read.⠀⠀⠀⠀
The pandemic has left dozens of tours, festivals, and almost every other event that draws a crowd larger than 50 people, cancelled or postponed. This has resulted in artists, tour crews, lighting engineers, backing vocalists, and countless others, who depend on musical events for income, strapped for cash. Because many are oftentimes considered self-employed freelancers and independent contractors, they do not have benefits like paid leave or healthcare, nor are they eligible for unemployment benefits.
“Music is the original ‘gig economy,'” Mason wrote in his letter.
“As Congress considers emergency steps to provide critical support to American workers and families, it must extend such support to self-employed gig workers like those in the music community,” the letter continued. “Including these non-traditional workers in a stimulus package will give hundreds of thousands of individuals and their families the financial assistance they need during this crisis.”
