Spotify, Tidal, Pandora & More Streaming Services Donate to MusiCares’ COVID-19 Fund

Amazon Music, Facebook, SiriusXM and Pandora, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube Music have all donated to MusiCares’ relief fund for music workers whose livelihoods have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, launched the COVID-19 Relief Fund last week. It kicked off with an initial $1 million donation each from MusiCares and the Recording Academy, totaling $2 million.

Thanks to the donations announced today (March 24) from major streaming and tech companies, plus fundraising efforts from musicians like Alicia Keys and Better Than Ezra‘s Kevin Griffin, that total has more than doubled, according to a representative. The funds will go directly to music professionals who lost income due to coronavirus-related gig cancellations, from artists to technicians and production crew members.

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“The music community is in great need, so The Recording Academy greatly appreciates the collective support and emergency aid that this coalition of music industry and tech leaders has provided,” Recording Academy interim president/CEO and chair of the board Harvey Mason Jr. said. “We hope these partnerships inspire other organizations to stand behind the music community in this time of great uncertainty. We continue to encourage our peers to embrace the collaborative power of music and to support impacted industry professionals in both trying and good times.”

Music professionals who have had at least five years of employment in the music industry, or six commercially released singles or music videos, can apply for funds on the MusiCares website, where they will be required to show proof of gig cancellations due to coronavirus precautionary measures.

The Recording Academy’s 12 local chapters across the U.S. have also committed to fundraising in their local communities. Meanwhile, the Recording Academy is urging Congress to provide targeted aid to music industry workers adversely impacted by the pandemic.