Responsible ARTistry, Inc.

• American Federation of Musicians has a resource page with information on unemployment benefits. Several local chapters have relief funds and assistance programs for their members, including AFM Local 47 (Los Angeles), AFM Local 802 (New York) and AFM Local 257 (Nashville). 

• American Guild of Musical Artists is encouraging members in good standing to apply for financial assistance through the AGMA Relief Fund. Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis, based on need. 

• Bandzoogle put together a helpful article about how musicians can ask fans for support during coronavirus pandemic.

• Equal Sound (a group that “strives to introduce listeners to new music by breaking down the traditional confines of musical genres”) has set up a relief fund for musicians who have lost income due to a canceled gig as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. 

• The International Bluegrass Music Association is offering assistance to current and former professionals in the business of bluegrass who are in a time of need. Apply online for assistance through the Bluegrass Trust Fund. 

• The Jazz Foundation provides disaster relief and direct financial support to jazz musicians in need, through its Musicians’ Emergency Fund. 

• The City of Los Angeles has established a Small Business Emergency Microloan Program to strengthen small business enterprises that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. 

• MusiCares has set up a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Apply for assistance online. 

• The non-profit Music Health Alliance offers guidance and resources for music creators looking for healthcare. They also offer grants for medical bills not covered by health insurance. 

• The Nomad Fundraiser is raising money for tour managers, roadies, merch sellers and other tour crew that lost jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic.  

• Law firm Paul Weiss has put together a Coronavirus Relief Center as a clearinghouse of the most up-to-date information about available city, state, federal and nonprofit resources available to those contending with COVID-19 economic impacts.

• Sound Royalties has set up a $20 million fund for music creators impacted by coronavirus to receive no-fee advances on their royalties. Applications are being accepted through April 16, 2020. 

• Sweet Relief is taking applications for its COVID-19 Fund. The fund is intended for musicians and music industry workers affected by the coronavirus. Money raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work.  

• Variety Online Songwriters, Self-Employed Music Workers Eligible for Relief in Federal Stimulus Bill Songwriters, along with other “gig economy” workers in the music industry ranging from producers to roadies, will be eligible for grants and loans under the $2 trillion stimulus bill passed by the Senate in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the advocacy organizations Songwriters of North America and Nashville Songwriters Association International announced today. (The House is expected to confirm a counterpart bill on Thursday.)

• Edutopia: New Studies Link the Arts to Crucial Cognitive Skills

• Forbes: The Music Business Is In For A Change: A Look At What Might Happen When The Coronavirus Lockdown Ends

• The Six Minute Music Business Podcast by Wade Sutton

• ASCAP Experience Digital released the newest issue which includes handy tips on building your team, email marketing, picking the right DAW, and more. Plus - multiple opportunities to get featured in our next issue.  

• COVID-19 & Freelance Artists Resource has a ton of useful information for artists of all stripes, including sections on working, gathering & teaching online and free online learning events. 

• Forbes has a short list of organizations and companies offering free creative tools. 

• Music Business Toolbox’s recent blog post contains solid advice on ways to build your business under quarantine, and a bunch of resources to help you do so. 

• Music Think Tank posted tips for staying creative, staying productive and making money during a pandemic. 

• National Alliance for Musical Theatre is hosting a “15 Minute Musical Challenge.” Submit a complete, 15-minute musical or 15 minutes of a new full-length project, written after March 19, 2020. Winning submissions will receive a cash prize. Visit the NAMT website for the application. Submissions are due by May 15, 2020.  

• The National Guild for Community Arts Education recently co-hosted a community discussion on how COVID-19 is impacting arts educators. Watch the whole thing here. 

• Troy Carter is curating The Panel, a daily virtual gathering of cultural leaders discussing the state of music and other industry insights. The discussions are free via Zoom, and take place March 23-27, 4-5pm PT. 

• Reddit has an active thread dedicated to Music Education During Coronavirus. Visit for explainers on the chromatic scale, tips on virtual lessons and more. 

• Jennifer Rosenfeld, a business coach for classical musicians, is hosting a free interview series and virtual retreat called The Classical Music Industry: REINVENTED 

• Dhawal Shah, founder of Class Central, has compiled a list of more than 400 online Ivy League classes that you can take for free - including an Introduction to Classical Music from Yale, a Harvard seminar on 19th Century Program Music (e.g. Berlioz’s “Symphony Fantastique”), and a course on Music and Social Action from Yale. 

• Songs for Kids is an online music mentorship program for kids with illnesses, injuries or disabilities. Their programs are up and running during the pandemic, “providing a welcome respite for families during challenging and home-bound days.” Apply or nominate a kid here.  

• Soundfly put together a super-helpful Guide to Learning Things Online. Once you’ve worked your way through it, you can get a discount on any of their online courses & programs as part of our ASCAP Member Benefits program. 

• Andrea Stolpe, a pro songwriter and USC/Berklee Online songwriting instructor, is posting info-rich video interviews with hit songwriters on her YouTube channel. 

​

​

​