In the face of the COVID-19 epidemic, several artists on the United States music scene, affected by the cancellations of its events, have asked President Donald Trump, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, to provide financial support to the music community.
Gwen Stefani, Stevie Nicks, Lizzo, Jonh Mayer, Maren Morris, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson, Sheryl Crow and Tim McGraw, among others, signed a letter from the Coalition of Musical Artists, in which they request support, given the cancellation and postponement of tour dates, their main income has been affected.
“The music industry faces an unprecedented threat: The touring business, as we know it, has disappeared without warning and without a safety net for hundreds of thousands of people. The Music Artists Coalition (MAC) believes that people affected in the music industry are one of the groups that need government help the most, ”Rolling Stone magazine announced.
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As a precautionary and sanitary measure, massive festivals were canceled to avoid contagion. They expressed that not only the artists are affected, but also those who help the production of the festivals and who transport them.
In the letter, they warn that “the concert business has as drastic and negative an impact as the airlines and the hotel industries, despite the lack of media attention. The men and women who work tirelessly to bring live music to fans cannot work from home and have no alternative means to support themselves and their families. ”
They assure that “concerts are not only the main theme: The basis of live music are touring musicians, truck and bus drivers, stage actors, production teams, teams that handle lighting, sound, team, security and many others do not have any option to work, since there are no live events in the foreseeable future ”, concludes the letter.
The Recording Academy eventually joined the petition and the request for a financial benefit, as well as interest-free loans and direct support to small businesses and non-profit organizations. In addition, it has been disclosed that, until now, President Donald Trump has signed one of the petitions.
JL
