Photo Credit: Nico Smit
MusiCares is launching a second ‘Help for the Holiday’ initiative this year.
Many music venues across the United States are now scheduling shows again, but musicians still need help. The holiday campaign was so successful last year, that MusiCares is repeating it for 2021.
Eligible musicians can apply to receive a $250 gift card from Kroger or Walmart. The gift cards are intended to cover the purchase of essential items like food, gas, and prescriptions. Applications are now available on the Musicares website – with some eligibility requirements.
Requests for assistance will be processed in the order of which they are received. 4,000 eligible applicants will receive funds from this year’s grant. Email is used to distribute the gift cards, and they must be a personal or business address owned by the applicant.
Processing the grant could take up to 3-4 weeks, and incomplete applications will not be processed. Those who have received funding from MusiCares in the past are encouraged to apply.
“Even though live music is making a comeback, many in the music community are still struggling after months of lost income,” says Laura Segura, Executive Director of MusiCares. “We want to emphasize that our community is still in need of extra support to cover basic needs. We hope this year’s gift card distribution will ease the burden and spur others to donate and support music professionals.” MusiCares distributed 4,000 cards to music professionals last year.
What do I need to apply for Help for the Holidays from MusiCares?
You will need to supply some basic information about yourself in the application. That includes proof of employment of the last five years in the music industry – or links to six commercially released recordings or videos. Previous MusiCares recipients do not need to provide this proof since it is already on file.
Recipients will also need to provide their most recent bank statement to demonstrate current financial needs. Printouts from an ATM or screenshots of a bank account are not accepted.