While music fans are finding myriad ways to support their favorite artists in the time of COVID-19, many artists themselves are launching campaigns to support those who support them on the road.
Grounded tours mean grounded touring crews, who don’t have the benefit of record or merch sales to bolster lost income. So musicians including Soccer Mommy and The National are making determined efforts to keep their people housed and fed.
Soccer Mommy has launched a merch line, with all proceeds going directly to her crew members. She promoted the t-shirt and posters on Instagram with a Shopify link to buy direct.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-FWtg8ldme/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
The National, on the other hand, is currently offering all proceeds from band merch and fan club memberships purchased though official channels to their touring crew.
“Our crew are the lifeblood of our touring operation and have become family through the many years we’ve worked together,” they shared on Twitter. “As uncertainty looms over the state of the live concert industry, we will direct all profits from merch sales through our webstore, new Cherry Tree fan club enrollments, and sales from the Cherry Tree members-only store to support our crew members throughout this crisis to the best of our ability.”
The campaigns come as a group of indie artists, including Bikini Kill, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Snail Mail, have signed an open letter to U.S. Congress and all U.S. state governments demanding unemployment benefits for self-employed workers.
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Our crew are the lifeblood of our touring operation and have become family through the many years we’ve worked together. As uncertainty looms over the state of the live concert industry, we will direct all profits from merch sales through our webstore… pic.twitter.com/3zhJVyZiaw— The National (@TheNational) March 24, 2020
