MusiCares Giving $250 Gift Cards to Music Industry Workers — Here’s How to Apply

Photo Credit: MusiCares

The Recording Academy’s charitable arm, MusiCares, is giving out $250 gift cards for the holidays. Here’s how to apply.

The organization launched its ‘Help for the Holidays’ campaign today (December 1st). It’s a new initiative to provide aid to music industry professionals impacted by the continued COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns.

“As part of its continued COVID-19 Relief, MusiCares is offering $250 essential goods e-cards to the first 4,000 eligible applicants. Applications open on Tuesday,” the announcement reads.

To receive the funds, applicants must meet some eligibility requirements. Music industry professionals need to have at least three years of past employment in the industry. All genres and professions are eligible, including artists, musicians, production crews, technicians, business teams, and anyone impacted by a loss of income due to live music event cancellations.

MusiCares has also updated some of its online support documentation for those seeking help. Anyone who is having trouble putting food on the table can call the food insecurity hotline. It connects people with the WhyHunger network, an organization dedicated to fighting world hunger and providing nutritious food.

This new MusiCares $250 gift cards initiative is just the latest effort to help struggling musicians.

Many industry professionals have been out of work for months as the live events landscape changes. Additional government assistance for Americans remains on hold – making this time of year especially challenging. Anyone who is having trouble meeting their basic life’s necessities is eligible to apply for assistance.

“Layoffs have left bands, crews, and music support people jobless and struggling to attain basic provisions, from food on the table to gas in the car,” Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares, says. “Despite the support we’ve been able to provide to date, the situation has yet to improve for the music industry, and the need grows. We continue to encourage all music lovers to support impacted industry professionals, especially during this holiday season, one that we know will look wildly different than in years past.”

The COVID-19 Relief effort was started in March 2020 with an initial donation of $1 million from MusiCares. Since then, $20 million has been distributed to help over 20,000 music industry professionals across the industry. The effort has helped feed and houses those who have lost their livelihood as the pandemic stretches on.

If you are a member of the music industry in need of assistance, you can apply here. If you wish to show your support for other musicians and professionals who may need it – consider a donation.