Coronavirus Stimulus Bill to include workers in the music business

U.S. lawmakers have just passed the Coronavirus Stimulus Bill to support Americans affected by the global coronavirus pandemic - and workers in the music industry are included, multiple sources report.

Once finalized, the $2 trillion stimulus bill will include people working in the music industry - from songwriters, self-employed musicians, music support crew such as sound engineers - in what is now dubbed as the largest economic stimulus in the country's history.

Under the relief package, workers in the music industry whose annual pay is less than $100,000 are now eligible to apply for state relief grants and loans including emergency economic injury disaster loan (EIDL) grants.

The U.S. Senate passed the stimulus bill late yesterday, March 25. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to pass their counterpart of the bill today, March 26, to be sent to President Donald Trump for signing.

This initiative will pour money through loans and grants to keep the national economy running. Local think tanks see direct payments of about $1,200 for adults and $500 for children.

Industry groups such as the Songwriters of North America (SONA), Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) cooperated with Congressional leaders Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) to clearly ensure the inclusion of "sole-proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed" in the loan and grant programs provisioned in the bill, according to Variety.

This distinction would draw the primary line for people in the music industry. The bill will specifically include "self-employed small business owners," which includes workers from songwriters to roadies. Unfortunately, most industry creatives and support occupations are not eligible.

In a statement provided to Billboard, courtesy of NSAI, Sen. Blackboard recognized that Nashville is not built by powerful business tycoons "but by a fiercely talented community of independent singers, songwriters, and musicians who are now struggling to keep their heads above water."

SONA board member Atty. Dina Lapolt explained that the U.S. represents a third of the global music industry and said in a statement that "We need laws that protect creators and ensure that they are protected from economic destruction."

NMPA President and CEO David Israelite said, "We are greatly relieved that songwriters, composers and musicians across the country will be helped by the emergency stimulus package passed by the Senate today."

Analysts have set the ballpark for music industry losses at a staggering 5 billion dollars, according to Forbes, now signaled by the increasing cancellations of tours such as those by Avril Lavigne, Green Day, Metallica, Slipknot, and the K-Pop group BTS. Also, the past few weeks witnessed the postponement of major American music events like Coachella, SXSW, Beyond Wonderland, and more.

As of this article, there are close to 70,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the U.S., out of the 487,000 positives worldwide. There are also more than a thousand deaths, and more than 600 recoveries, according to the monitoring done by experts at the Johns Hopkins University.