MusiCares: Help Is Available

November 1, 2014

Tough the music industry grosses more than $50 billion a year, the very people whose creativity and ingenuity fuel this massive cash machine frequently have few places to turn in troubled times. The Recording Academy established the MusiCares Foundation more than 20 years ago to help musicians faced with often insurmountable health and financial hardships. Its mission is to ensure that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, or personal crisis. Its primary purpose is to focus some of the music industry’s attention and resources on the human services issues that directly impact the health and welfare of music people.

MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. Services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical, and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. Following are some of the services MusiCares provides. For specifics, eligibility requirements, and contact information visit www.grammy.org/musicares/client-services/.

Emergency Financial Assistance

The Emergency Financial Assistance Program provides critical funds for musicians in need of financial assistance for medical expenses including doctor, dental, and hospital bills, prescriptions, addiction recovery treatment, psychotherapy, and treatment for other critical illnesses, as well as basic living expenses such as rent and utilities due to an unavoidable emergency. For eligibility and regional contact information, visit www.grammy.org/musicares/client-services/emergency-financial-assistance.

MusiCares Medical Network

MusiCares works closely with a dedicated group of health care professionals through the MusiCares Medical Network to provide valuable and often life-changing services that some musicians require, but simply cannot afford. The network is comprised of providers who generously donate their time and expertise to treat MusiCares’ referrals that are uninsured and lack the means to pay for services. Through the efforts of these professionals our clients are able to access specialty  medical and dental care that may not otherwise be available to them. This network of partners generously supports the music community through their ongoing commitment.

Addiction and Recovery Services

MusiCares has become a leading force in the effort to identify, raise awareness of, and address the problems of addiction in our industry. In addition to the financial assistance that is available, one way MusiCares provides addiction recovery support is through its Safe Harbor Room program, supported by the Bohemian Foundation. MusiCares established its first Safe Harbor Room in 1997, backstage at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards telecast. Staffed by qualified chemical dependency and addiction specialists, it provided a support system to artists and crew members struggling with addiction. MusiCares has since expanded the Safe Harbor Room program to include locations and venues throughout the country. For a list of upcoming MusiCares Safe Harbor Rooms visit: www.grammy.org/musicares/events.

MusiCares addiction support groups are provided for people in the music industry to discuss how to best cope with the issues surrounding the recovery process. Weekly mixed aftercare groups take place in Austin, Texas; Fort Collins, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; New York City; Seattle, Washington; and Nashville, Tennessee. The MusiCares Connection is a nationwide recovery support network of individuals who will assist music people on the road by meeting them at the airport, at a venue, or at their hotel and take them to a recovery support meeting.

MusiCares developed the MusiCares Musicians’ Assistance Program (MAP) Fund as a pool of resources set aside to provide members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment, regardless of their financial situation. MusiCares acknowledges that support and aftercare services are vital to successful recovery. MusiCares offers recovery support groups around the country in several chapter cities. These groups are facilitated with trained addiction recovery specialists who have the education, experience and knowledge to provide exceptional supportive care. They are free of charge and open to alumni, current MAP Fund clients, and interested music industry individuals.

Connect with MusiCares on Twitter or Instagram (@musicares) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/musicares).