Newly formed fund will help provide struggling Association members with essential mental health services
January 28, 2021 — The Music Business Association (Music Biz) today announces the formation of the Music Business Mental Health Fund, established in partnership with Music Health Alliance (MHA) and the Scars Foundation. The fund was created to help Association members impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic gain access to important mental health services, including screenings and therapy sessions.
“The increased stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have shed more light on something we’ve already come to know: access to mental health services is essential in sustaining our professional success and, more importantly, our individual well-being,” said Music Biz President Portia Sabin. “Our industry has only weathered the lasting effects of this pandemic through collaboration; as such, Music Biz is thrilled to partner with Music Health Alliance and the Scars Foundation to offer these vital services to those in our member community who need them.”
The Music Business Mental Health Fund is open to qualified employees of Music Biz member companies, individual professional members, and people who were furloughed or laid off from a Music Biz member company in 2020. Nashville-based non-profit Music Health Alliance, which provides free healthcare advocacy and support to the nationwide music community, will administer the fund with 100% confidentiality, overseeing applications for assistance and disbursement of funds. For more information on the fund, a full list of qualifications, and access to the application, visit MusicHealthAlliance.com.
“I have been a member of Music Biz for five years now, and honestly I have never met a group of people more willing and dedicated to helping others in our industry,” said Scars Foundation Executive Director Naomi Fabricant. “There is such a like-minded energy of ‘anything we can do to help is what we are here for,’ and as someone who has been in the music business for many years, I appreciate that more than words can say. Because of this, the SCARS Foundation thought that Music Biz and MHA would be the right partner to help us deliver mental health services to our community.”
“Our daily interaction with music industry professionals through the COVID-19 pandemic has graphically exposed the need for access to mental health services,” said Tatum Allsep, founder and CEO of Music Health Alliance. “Thanks to the foresight of Godsmack’s SCARS Foundation and the Music Biz Association, Music Health Alliance can provide immediate navigation and financial assistance to meet this need and positively impact the mental health of the Music Biz members.”
Sully Erna, lead singer of Godsmack and founder of the Scars Foundation, explains the organization’s name and why it was important to provide this resource for the music industry: “Scars come in all forms. They are both physical and emotional. They’re traumatizing and make us fear what people may think of us. We are ALL imperfect in some way, that’s what makes us perfect and unique! Everyone has something that makes them insecure or embarrassed. Instead of hiding or internalizing them, own them and show them off to the world! Let them empower you so you can be a voice for everyone who can’t be. If we ALL wear our scars loudly and proudly, others will follow. No matter what your scars are — abuse, mental illness, disabilities, bullying, addiction — none of them are defects, but a part of your unique story.”
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About the Music Business Association
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) is a not-for-profit membership organization that advances, promotes and invests in the future of the music business by providing a trusted forum where ideas and cooperation flourish. Through events, education and engagement, the Association brings together the full breadth of the industry for unparalleled access to networking, resources and thought leadership.
About Music Health Alliance
Based in Nashville, Music Health Alliance has provided free healthcare advocacy and support to more than 13,000 music industry members in 48 states across the U.S. and saved the music community more than $63,000,000 nationwide by providing advocacy and access to lifesaving transplants, medicine, mental health resources, end of life care and many other necessary services. In response to the pandemic, Music Health Alliance’s COVID-19 Relief Plan was created to provide direct support for the immediate needs of music industry professionals and their families during this public health crisis through relief grants, simplified solutions and a comprehensive database of resources. MHA fights so those in our industry never have to feel alone in a health crisis and removes obstacles so patients can receive lifesaving care. Its services are free to any person who has worked in the music industry for three or more years or who has credited contributions to 4 commercially released recordings or videos. Spouses, partners, and children of qualifying individuals may also receive access to the non-profit’s services from birth to end of life. Entirely funded through grants and individual and corporate donations, financial support from the music community is critical to continue Music Health Alliance’s (MHA) advocacy and free services. For every $1 donation, MHA is able to provide $30 in life-saving healthcare resources to Heal The Music. More info at www.musichealthalliance.com.
About the Scars Foundation
Founded by Godsmack frontman and guitarist Sully Erna, the Scars Foundation was established to raise awareness of mental health issues associated with abuse, bullying, addiction, suicide and beyond. The organization also offers resources to help ease the burdens of those who struggle with such issues.
Media Contacts
For Music Business Association:
Nicole Hennessey, Vice President — nicole.hennessey@musicbiz.org
For Scars Foundation:
Naomi Fabricant, Executive Director — naomi@scars-foundation.org
For Music Health Alliance:
Cindy Hunt, Monarch Publicity — cindy.hunt@monarchpublicity.com
Joseph Conner, Essential Broadcast Media — joseph@ebmediapr.com