MusiCares Opens Applications For 2021 Help For The Holidays Programs


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While to some people the start of the holiday season is a joyful time highlighted by singing along with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” and baking cookies, for others it’s another reminder of money stressors and bills that are piling up. The Recording Academy’s charitable foundation MusiCares is continuing to help out those within the music community with the second annual Help for the Holidays program. 

Help for the Holidays was launched last year as part of MusiCares’ COVID-19 relief efforts with 4,000 e-gift cards given out to music professionals in need. The organization will once again be offering $250 e-gifts to the first 4,000 eligible applicants, with applications now open via www.musicareshelps.org/

The Kroger and Walmart gift cards can be used to cover essential items including food, gas and prescriptions. 

Music professionals who have experienced financial strain because of the pandemic and who have at least five years of employment in the industry and/or six commercially released recordings or videos are eligible to apply for the Help for the Holidays program. All genres and professions are eligible including artists, musicians, production crews, technicians, and those who are part of business teams.
“Even though live music is making a comeback, many in the music community are still struggling after months of lost income,” said 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 also recently announced the second annual installment of its Health & Wellness Survey with the goal of learning “how different aspects of being a music professional relate to overall well-being and mental health” and to inform the organization of the needs of their clients. 
The voluntary survey is open to those 18 years and older who have been working in the industry for five or more years. 

MusiCares’ COVID-19 Relief efforts ran from March 2020 through July 2021, distributing more than $27 million to more than 37,000 people in need in the music industry.