A2IM, NMPA, Recording Academy, RIAA, SONA Create a COVID-19 Survival Guide for the Music Industry

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A long list of music industry organizations have come together to create a COVID-19 survival guide.

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the music industry especially hard, as live events and concerts are canceled and postponed. But the ripple-effect is spilling into areas like streaming and physical sales, and smaller sub-industries like recording studios are getting pummelled.

The MusicCovidRelief.com website aims to provide the music industry with a central resource for information. The website describes the various parts of the CARES Act stimulus bill in easy to understand terms. It also includes downloadable forms and resources users may need to claim benefits and grants.

Organizations involved in the COVID-19 survival guide effort include:

• Artists Rights Alliance (ARA)
• American Association of Independent Music (A2IM)
• Music Artists Coalition (MAC)
• National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA)
• Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI)
• The Recording Academy
• The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA)
• Songwriters of North America (SONA)

The organizations involved with the COVID-19 survival guide website released a joint statement.

“The music community is extremely grateful for the benefits available to them through the CARES Act. The aid will be most valuable if people can access it in time to meet their needs,” the statement reads.

“This coalition pooled its resources to compile information to assist members of our community, understand who is eligible, and how they can access relief. We will continue to update the site as more information becomes available.”

The website will help music professionals learn how to receive unemployment as a result of losses from COVID-19.

It also includes guidance for small business loans, advances, and loan forgiveness related to the national emergency. Finally, it also provides a list of organizations that are providing relief and potential grants.

For now, music professionals can use the COVID-19 survival guide to learn how the law impacts them. The site contains the full text of the new law but breaks it down to make it digestible and actionable.