Help Smaller Bands!

     If you know a band that was on tour, try looking on their social media page- they probably have a fund set up to help. Many bands that were touring have set up relief funds to not help themselves, but rather their crew and expenses that were involved with the tour. Busses cost a lot of money to rent, and the crew members now have no job.

     While donating money is obviously not a viable option for some people at this time, any money can help these people who have no jobs. In order to make it out of this pandemic (financially), most smaller musicians need help to sustain themselves before they can get back on the road.

Music COVID Relief

    This fund seems to be the most general and broad one that I could find. They call themselves "a resource brought to you by partners in the U.S. Music Community 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) and the “Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act” signed into law on April 24, 2020".

This one has a lot of credibility and statistics to back where the money goes, so this might be one of the best for musicians across the US.

https://musiccovidrelief.com/

Sweet Relief Fund

     This fund is "here to provide immediate assistance and we have created this DONOR-DIRECTED FUND with a limited amount of funds available to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus. Funds raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work". This one is important because they also say music industry workers, which includes crew members, roadies, venue organizers, managers, and more.

     As a musician, you can apply for this fund to try and get some relief money.

https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html

MusiCares® Fund

     This Recording Academy fund is aimed towards musicians and is sponsored by MusiCares®. This is more of a general fund to help musicians around the world- but probably just to the bigger musicians. Local musicians and smaller touring bands are the ones that truly need help, although this money is still going to a good cause.


https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/musicares-coronavirus-relief-fund

Local Houston Musicians Fund

     This fund is helping local Houston Musicians, buy allowing loans and other benefits. Millions are out of work and the Texas music industry is at a halt with no end in sight to venue closures. Thankfully, some hope is on the way for thousands of out-of-work musicians.

     "In Houston, a husband and wife team, comprised of talent buyer Mark C. Austin and marketing and public relations professional Rachel Austin, launched the Houston Music Foundation, partnering with nonprofit organization Artists for Artists to provide direct relief to Houston-based musicians. Musicians facing financial hardship can apply for a one-time grant of $500 to pay for bills and living expenses."

     Their goal is to try to get money into the pockets so they can sustain themselves until the closures get lifted. I would not be surprised if many musicians don't make it out of this pandemic, financially.

https://houston.culturemap.com/news/entertainment/04-14-20-music-relief-efforts-COVID-19-texas-houston-music-foundation-texas-music-office-austin-music-foundation-concerts/