Music Covid Relief

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (signed into law March 27, 2020) included $2 trillion in federal aid and adjustments to critical health and economic security programs to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Full text of the law.
• Summary
• Section by section

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (signed into law on April 24, 2020) supplemented the CARES Act with additional funding and extended deadlines.

• Full text of the law

The COVID-19 Relief Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (signed into law on December 27, 2020) again provided additional funding and further extended deadlines.  Of particular note for the music community is the inclusion of funding geared toward Mixed Earners – those with both employee salary income (reflected in W-2 filings) and self-employment revenue (reflected in 1099 filings); more information here – and the Save Our Stages Act, which provides support for performance venues.

• Full text of the law (Coronavirus provisions in Division M)

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 (signed into law on March 11, 2021) again provided additional funding and extended deadlines. Of interest to the music community, ARPA (1) continued to provide funding for Mixed Earners and (2) increased funding for the Save Our Stages Act.

 

• Full text of the law.

ARPA will extend application for the CARES Act’s Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) programs through September 2021 and will provide workers with $300 per week in unemployment benefits in addition to relief offered by individual states.

Workers earning less than $75,000 annually ($150,000 for couples, with phase-outs exceeding those amounts) will also receive a one-time $1,400 credit, in addition to $1,400 per qualifying child and adult dependent.

ARPA also extends the Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation program (MEUC) through September 2021. This means $100/week for Mixed Earners – those with both employee salary income (reflected in W-2 filings) and self-employment revenue (reflected in 1099 filings) – who have at least $5,000 a year in self-employment income but are disqualified from receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance because they are eligible for regular state unemployment benefits.  Currently, every state except Idaho and South Dakota have opted into the program.  More information is available here.

Federal

• DOL info.
• Benefits.gov info.

Alabama

• General information for Alabama unemployment.
• CARES Act and Unemployment Insurance FAQs.
• How to Apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
• How to apply for Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)

Alaska 

• General information for Alaska unemployment.
• Alaska’s COVID-19 FAQ.

Arizona

• Resources for Unemployment Insurance.
• Arizona unemployment FAQ.
• Find Arizona’s unemployment application site here.
• CARES Act Information.

Arkansas 

• COVID-19 Resources For Unemployment.
• General unemployment information for Arkansas unemployment.

California  

• Helping Entertainment Labor and Professionals (HELP) free legal webinar series to help entertainment workers.
• California FAQ for COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
• General information on COVID-19 in California.
• California’s unemployment insurance information.
• CA Pandemic Unemployment Benefits Process Flowchart.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Page.

Colorado 

• COVID-19 unemployment info .
• Colorado’s general unemployment information
• File a claim.

Connecticut 

• Connecticut unemployment information.
• Connecticut FAQ on COVID-19.
• File a claim.

Washington D.C. 

• UI Benefits for Claimants.
• D.C. information on unemployment claims. 
• Information about COVID-19 in D.C.
• FAQ on COVID-19 in D.C.

Delaware 

• Delaware’s general unemployment information. 
• Delaware FAQ for unemployment benefits and insurance.
• Coronavirus information.
• File a claim.

Florida 

• Info on reemployment assistance.
• Florida’s general unemployment information.
• Applying for Florida unemployment benefits.

Georgia 

• Georgia FAQ for unemployment.
• Information about COVID-19 in Georgia.
• Contact list of Georgia’s regional Dept. of Labor offices.
• CARES Act information.

Hawaii 

• Hawaii’s general unemployment Information.
• Contact list of Hawaii’s regional claims and benefits offices. 
• COVID-19 labor benefits fact sheet.
• How to file for unemployment insurance step by step.

Idaho 

• Idaho’s FAQ for unemployment in how it relates to COVID-19. 
• Apply for unemployment benefits.

Illinois 

• Illinois’ general unemployment information relating to COVID-19.
• Illinois’s FAQ on unemployment related to COVID-19.

Indiana 

• Indiana’s general unemployment information.
• Filing for unemployment in Indiana.

 Iowa 

• Iowa’s general unemployment information.
• Information and impact of COVID-19 in Iowa.
• Guidance for the self-employed (video).
• If you are self-employed and denied regular UI benefits, you will be required to submit proof of earnings online for Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) to determine your eligibility for unemployment assistance.

Kansas  

• Kansas general information for unemployment benefits.
• Kansas information on its COVID-19 response.
• Contact list of Kansas regional Dept. of labor offices.

Kentucky 

• Kentucky’s general unemployment information. 
• Unemployment claims system.
• Contact list of regional career centers.

Louisiana 

• General information for Louisiana unemployment.
• Louisiana FAQ for unemployment insurance benefits.
• File unemployment claims.

Maine 

• Maine’s general unemployment information.
• Unemployment Insurance FAQ per COVID-19.
• Unemployment insurance benefits FAQ.
• Maine unemployment programs, including those in effect during COVID-19. 
• File unemployment claims.

Maryland 

• Maryland’s general unemployment information. 
• FAQ about COVID-19 in Maryland, including insurance benefits.
• General FAQ unemployment insurance benefits.
• File unemployment claims.

Massachusetts 

• Massachusetts COVID-19 unemployment information.
• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
• File unemployment claims.
• Apply for unemployment benefits.

Michigan 

• Michigan’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 and unemployment benefits in Michigan.
• Claiming unemployment benefits in Michigan – COVID-19 Guide.
• Michigan claims site.

Minnesota 

• Step by step guide for self-employed and contract workers.
• Minnesota’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 and unemployment benefits. 
• File a claim.

Mississippi 

• Mississippi’s general unemployment information. 
• COVID-19 claims in Mississippi.
• Mississippi FAQ about unemployment insurance benefits.
• File a claim.

Missouri 

• Missouri’s general unemployment information.
• FAQ for businesses and workers regarding COVID-19.
• File a claim.

Montana 

• Montana’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 resources guide for employers and employees. 
• COVID-19 scenarios and benefits. 
• How to file an unemployment claim on MontanaWorks 

Nebraska 

• FAQ and general info.
• Nebraska’s general unemployment information.
• File a claim.

Nevada 

• Nevada’s general unemployment information.
• General info for COVID-19.
• File a claim.

New Hampshire 

• New Hampshire’s general unemployment information.
• File a claim.
• Contact list of regional centers in New Hampshire.
• See section ***ATTENTION SELF-EMPLOYED CLAIMANTS*** halfway down this page.

New Jersey 

• New Jersey’s general unemployment information. 
• COVID-19 information.
• Benefits and Coronavirus
• Scenarios and benefits chart.

New Mexico 

• New Mexico’s general unemployment information. 
• Unemployment information for New Mexico workers
• COVID-19 information in New Mexico

New York 

• Site for Mixed Earners.
• New York Senator Mike Gianaris explains the MEUC benefit and free 2021 healthcare for anyone who has received unemployment benefits this year.
• New York’s general unemployment information.
• Information on CARES Act.

North Carolina 

• North Carolina’s general unemployment information.
• Information for North Carolina individuals.

North Dakota 

• Unemployment resources.
• File a claim.
• See section Submit Your PUA Claim Below on this page.

Ohio 

• COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance ResourceHub (note Expanded Eligibility section).
• FAQ for unemployment insurance benefits.
• File a claim.

Oklahoma 

• COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance FAQ & Important Messages For Claimants 
• File a claim
• Employer FAQ about unemployment insurance and COVID-19.  

Oregon 

• Oregon’s general unemployment information. 
• COVID-19 FAQ for layoffs, closures, and unemployment insurance benefits.
• File a claim.

Pennsylvania 

• Pennsylvania’s general unemployment information.
• Information for Pennsylvania employees impacted by COVID-19
• Benefits & COVID-19 FAQ.
• File a claim.

Puerto Rico 

• Puerto Rico’s general unemployment information.

Rhode Island 

• Rhode Island general unemployment information
• Rhode Island workplace fact sheet for COVID-19 

South Carolina 

• South Carolina general unemployment information
• Apply for unemployment benefits
• COVID-19 reource hub.
• File a claim.

South Dakota 

• South Dakota’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 resources. 
• Reemployment Assistance Benefits.

Tennessee 

• Applicants are urged to go to https://www.jobs4tn.gov/vosnet/loginintro.aspx to register.  This will allow you to set up an account in the State system to be ready when the State implements the process for allocation of Federal stimulus funds.   Note that once you are in the system, you will still have to go through the process of filing the claim once that process is available. 
• Unemployment Insurance FAQ and video on understanding the process.
• Tennessee’s general unemployment information.
• Info for self-employed filers.
• File a claim. 
• COVID-19 unemployment information for employees
• Tennessee Entertainment Commission COVID-19 Response

Texas 

• The Austin Music Disaster Relief Grant provides one-time, unrestricted $2,000 grants to local professional musicians, independent promoters, and music industry workers facing hardships due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are due by 1/28/22.
  
• Texas general unemployment information. 
• COVID-19 resources for job seekers 
• File a claim.
• Mass claims for unemployment benefits – employers.
• Coronavirus resources.

Utah 

• Utah’s general unemployment information
• COVID-19 information in Utah. 
• File a claim.
• Contact list of regional centers.

Vermont 

• Vermont’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 information.
• File a claim.
• Unemployment FAQ

Virginia 

• Virginia’s general unemployment information.
• COVID-19 Resources.
• FAQs from workers regarding COVID-19.
• File a claim.

Washington 

• Washington’s general unemployment information.
• For workers affected by COVID-19.
• File a claim.
• Self-employed or independent contractors.

West Virginia 

• West Virginia’s general unemployment information
• COVID-19 and unemployment updates 
• File a claim.

Wisconsin 

• Wisconsin’s general unemployment information.
• Unemployment and COVID-19. 
• Unemployment COVID-19 public information.
• File a claim. 

Wyoming 

• Wyoming’s general unemployment information.
• Workforce resources in response to COVID-19.
• File a claim.

Federal  

Paycheck Protection Program

The Consolidated Appropriations Act added $284 billion to the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and extended the deadline through May 31, 2021.  See SBA guidelines and applications here.

Disaster Loan Assistance

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) offers an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program for businesses impacted by COVID-19.  More information and applications here.

Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program

The ARPA updates the SVOG program authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act by providing an additional $1.25 billion (bringing the new total to $16.25 billion) of funding for theaters and venues that lost at least 25% in revenue.  The grants (from the Small Business Administration (SBA)) can be applied toward certain expenses like payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment. The SVOG application can be found here. (Note that, under the ARPA, entities can receive both a PPP loan and an SVOG grant.) See more information here, a summary by the Congressional Research Service here, and an SBA FAQ here.

SAM.gov entity registration information for businesses and grant or loan recipients to receive federal funds is available here.

Alabama  

• Alabama Small Business Development Center info.
• More information on small business loans can be found here.

Alaska 

• COVID-19 Economic Recovery Resource Portal for Business 

Arizona 

• General info for filing can be found here.
• COVID-19 small business resources.

Arkansas 

• COVID-19 resources for businesses and employees can be found here.

California  

• COVID-19 resources can be found here.
• COVID-19 Disaster Resources for Small Businesses  
• COVID-19 small Business FAQ. 
• Other State assistance and relief for small businesses and employers.
  

Colorado 

• COVID-19 small business resources. 

Connecticut 

• Business resources. 

Washington DC 

• (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans.
• General info page for business recovery.

Delaware 

• COVID-19 Information for Delaware Small Businesses.
• Financial assistance tips.
• Comparison chart of federal and state loan plans.

Florida 

• Small business emergency bridge loans.
• Resources for employers and individuals.

Georgia 

• General COVID-19 small business resources.
• SBA emergency loan programs comparison chart.

Hawaii 

• COVID-19 Hawaii business resource page.
• Pre-CARES Act small business disaster loan info. 
• Pre-CARES Act disaster loan program FAQ. 

Idaho 

• Resources for Business.

Illinois 

• Coronavirus information.
• General emergency small business grants and loan assistance info.

Indiana 

• Coronavirus information and small business resource guide. 
• Small Business Covid-19 resources 

Iowa 

• Coronavirus information.
• COVID-19 Targeted Small Business Sole Operator Fund.

Kansas  

• COVID-19 small business resources.

Kentucky 

• COVID-19 small business resources.
• Comparison chart of small business emergency loans.

Louisiana 

• General COVID-19 Resources for Impacted Businesses 
• COVID-19 Resources by Region 

Maine 

• Resources for Maine Businesses Impacted by COVID-19 Pandemic.
• COVID-19 Relief Loan Programs can be found here.
• COVID-19 Relief Consumer Loan Program – Fact Sheet 

Maryland 

• COVID-19 Information for Business can be found here.
• Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Programs for Businesses 

Massachusetts 

• COVD-19 Resources and Guidance for Businesses 

Michigan 

• Resources for Michigan Businesses During COVID-19 can be found here.
• How Michigan is Supporting Your Small Business During COVID-19 
• Application Process Now Live for Michigan Small Business Relief Program Funding 

Minnesota 

• COVID-19 Business Toolkit
• Loans and Grant information can be found here.

Mississippi 

• COVID-19 Information and Resources can be found here. 

Missouri 

• COVID-19 Resources for Business can be found here.
• St. Louis Economic Development Partnership loan program for small businesses.

Montana 

• Emergency Loans Now Available for Small Businesses in Montana 

Nebraska 

• DED COVID-19 Information and resources can be found here.
• U.S. Small Business Administration – Nebraska District Office 
• Information for businesses.

Nevada 

• COVID-19 Funding Options.

New Hampshire 

• Small business loan and grant info can be found here.

New Jersey 

• Coronavirus info for businesses.

New Mexico 

• General COVID-19 info can be found here. 

New York 

• SBA COVID-19 Loan info.
• Fiscal Sponsors & Individual Artist Opportunities can be found here. 
• Additional funding opportunities can be found here.

North Carolina 

• Resources for North Carolina businesses.

North Dakota 

• Financial resources for businesses and employers.

Ohio 

• COVID-19 Checklist for businesses/employers.
  

Oklahoma 

• Coronavirus resources.

Oregon 

• General information regarding Oregon small business financing and COVID-19.

Pennsylvania 

• General information regarding Small Business Assistance 
• COVID-19 Resources for Businesses, Communities, and Local Governments 
• Employer UC & COVID-19 FAQs 

Puerto Rico 

• General information regarding Puerto Rico businesses.

Rhode Island 

• General information for Rhode Island businesses 
• SBA disaster loan FAQ 
• Emergency grants and funding 

South Carolina 

• Coronavirus info.

South Dakota 

• General information for South Dakota businesses impacted by COVID-19 
• SBA Approves Economic Injury Disaster Loan Fund Program Access for South Dakota 

Tennessee 

• COVID-19 small business resources.
• Tennessee Entertainment Commission COVID-19 Response 

Texas 

• Information for SVOG program.
• Resources & information for Texas music businesses and professionals affected by COVID-19

Utah 

• Coronavirus information for Utah businesses. 
• Business economic resource finder.

Vermont 

• COVID-19 Guidance for Vermont businesses.

Virginia 

• COVID-19 Resources for businesses.
• Disaster loan information.

Washington 

• General info for Washington small businesses
• CARES Act information.
• COVID-19 business resources for Washington State 
• COVID-19 loans and grants.

West Virginia 

• General information for small businesses.
• COVID-19 Resources for small businesses.

Wisconsin 

• Information on business lending.
• COVID-19 Business Resources.

Wyoming 

• Financing for businesses.
• Resources for employers.

• ACM Lifting Lives
• The Actors Fund 
• The AGMA Relief Fund   
• American Federation of Music Petrillo Memorial Fund   
• American Guild of Musical Arts 
• Artist Relief Project  
• Artist Relief Tree   
• Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund 
• Audio Assemble  
• Bagby Foundation for the Musical Arts 
• The Blues Foundation 
• Cerf Plus  
• Come Together: A Support Group for Production and Crew  
• The Creator Fund  
• The City of Los Angeles 
• COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund 
• Crew Nation Global Relief Fund
• The Entertainment Assistance Program / The Actors Fund  
• Equal Sound  
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program   
• The Foundation for Contemporary Arts   
• Freelancer Covid-19 Relief Fund   
• Freelancers Union
• Gospel Music Trust 
• Go Fund Me 
• The Haven Foundation Emergency Grants Assistance for Freelancers in the Entertainment World  
• International Bluegrass Music Association  
• The Jazz Foundation of America 
• Local 802 AFM Musicians Emergency Relief Fund (NY) 
• Local 47 AFM Musicians Emergency Relief Fund (LA) 
• MusiCares   
• Music Health Alliance 
• Music Unites Us 
• Musicians Foundation 
• Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s Covid-19 Response Fund 
• New Music Solidarity Fund  
• New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic 
• Nomad Fundraiser for Touring Crew 
• Passim Emergency Artist Relief Fund 
• Patreon Artist Grant 
• Pinetop Perkins Foundation’s Assistance League 
• PLUS1 Covid-19 Relief Fund  
• SAG-AFTRA Covid-19 Relief Fund 
• The Songwriter Fund
• The Soze Agency Artist and Activist Relief Fund 
• Springboard for the Arts 
• Sound Girls 
• Sound Royalties 
• Sweet Relief 
• Symphonic: Help Independent Musicians 
• Twenty Summers Emergency Arts Fund  
• US Small Business Administration 
• Virtual Festival 
• Other state-based resources for the arts.

• American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) 
• Music Unites Us
• American Federation of Musicians (AFM) 
• Artist Rights Alliance
• ASCAP – Music Unites Us
• BMI
• CA Arts Council
• California IATSE Council
• Country Music Association (CMA) 
• Dentons
• Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA)
• City of Los Angeles
• Directors Guild of America (DGA) 
• Gospel Music Association (GMA) 
• Gospel Music Association 
• International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) 
• MAC
• National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) 
• Nashville Songwriters Association
• Recording Academy
• Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) 
• Cares Act Notable Benefits for SAG-AFSTRA Members
• SESAC
• Songwriters of North America (SONA)  and Loans and Grants.
• Sony Music Entertainment
• SoundExchange
• Universal Music Group
• Warner Music Group
• Writers’ Guild of America, East