AIM hopes to distribute £1000 to 1000 workers over the next two months.
The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has launched a £1 million fund to support freelancers and contractors working in independent music during the coronavirus pandemic. The fund is open to tour crew, studio producers, radio pluggers, graphic designers, mixing engineers, stylists, publicists and many other professions across and surrounding the independent music industry.
The goal of the fund is to distribute £1000 to 1000 workers over the next two months, with £500,000 already committed by AIM and its members. The Association is inviting contributions from across the music industry and beyond to raise the rest of the money.
The fund also serves as AIM’s response to an industry-wide survey, completed in collaboration with the Creative Industries Federation, that revealed 96% of music-related businesses have lost income as a result of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, with 40% of music businesses having lost all of their income.
AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said “We are hearing daily reports of creative and innovative ways that AIM Members are working directly with their artists and teams to alleviate hardship through the crisis. Independent music businesses are holding on to their workers and trying wherever possible to keep their teams together in spite of the losses they are facing. They are helping artists financially where possible but also with practical measures and resources, and with emotional support in this difficult time of isolation.”
In order to qualify for funds, applicants must be a self-employed contractor or the sole employee of their own loan-out company, not be currently benefiting from any other music industry coronavirus support scheme and have been nominated by their employing artist’s AIM member label, submitting confirmatory back-up information.
Successful applications will receive up to 80% of their lost committed income from the project to a maximum of £1,000. Payments will be made immediately on approval directly into workers’ bank accounts.
For more information, head to the AIM website