Lizzo, Lionel Richie Among Artists Asking Congress For Financial Relief For Live Music Industry

The music industry continues to reel as a result of the impact the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is having on the global economy.

While a number of artists were forced to postpone their respective tours, most spring concert festivals (i.e. Coachella, SXSW, etc.) are doing the same in an attempt to curtail spread of the disease.  And, while the postponements and cancellations merely come as scheduling inconveniences for some, for many others they are a matter of survival.

The live music industry employs hundreds of thousands – from musicians to sound and light engineers, dancers, set crew, and hourly customer service workers at venues.  In an effort to ensure they’re not forgotten, members of the Music Artists Coalition and their supporters are banding together to petition Trump and the United States Congress for direct financial relief on their behalf.

More inside:

Lizzo, Lionel Richie, Gwen Stefani, Diplo, and John Mayer are among the slew of music industry figures who signed a letter from the Music Artists Coalition specifically asking President Trump and others to provide financial relief to the music community suffering as a result of lost wages due to COVID-19.

“[T]he concert business is as drastically and negatively impacted as the airlines and the hospitality industries, despite a lack of media attention,” the letter states. “The men and women who work tirelessly to bring live music to fans are unable to work from home and have no alternative means of supporting themselves and their families… Concerts are not just about the headliner: the foundation of live music are the touring musicians, truck and bus drivers, stagehands, production teams, crews who handle lighting, sound, equipment, security, and so many others do not have any option for work as there are no live events for the foreseeable future.”

Other artists who signed the plea for financial assistance include Maren Morris, Dave Matthews, Little Big Town, Mark Ronson, Meghan Trainor, Sheryl Crow, Charli XCX, Tim McGraw, and Troye Sivan.

Click here to read it in full.