News
COVID-19: PPL has donated $875,000 to Music Industry relief funds
The sum will be divided up amongst three COVID-19 relief funds, including AIM’s, Musician Unions’, and Help Musicians’.
Story Highlights
- The funds will be divided up amongst three COVID-19 relief funds.
- UK Music has called upon the British Government to give better support to the music industry amid COVID-19.
British music licensing company PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited) are giving back to their members. Today, the non-profit organization announced they were pledging a total donation of £700,000 ($875k) to three COVID-19 relief funds established to support music industry professionals. Of the sum, £200,000 ($250k) will be split equally between AIM’s COVID-19 Crisis Fund and the Musicians’ Union’s Coronavirus Hardship Fund. The remaining £500,000 ($625k) will go to the ‘Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship’ Fund.
After launching on March 15th with an initial pot of £5m, the Help Musicians Fund has had an overwhelming response – receiving over 17,000 applications.
Since then, Help Musicians has had additional donations from Spotify, Amazon Music, Arts Council for England, The Royal Society of Musicians, and now PPL. However, due to the volume of applications that have come in, they have now ceased accepting any new enquiries. Outstanding applications will still be processed, with approved ones receiving a one-off payment of £500 ($625).
James Ainscough, Help Musicians’ Chief Executive said: “We gratefully welcome the financial contribution and continued support of PPL to Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship funding.
“Demand for financial support has been overwhelming and we are seeing first-hand how the monies are supporting the many thousands in the music community who desperately need it. We are grateful to all of those who have responded to our plea for donations and this latest contribution from PPL will significantly boost our ability to help musicians”, he added.
Demand for financial support has been overwhelming
Musicians’ Union General Secretary Horace Trubridge stated: “The Musicians’ Union has been working around the clock to provide much-needed support and advice to its membership. PPL’s donation to our Hardship Fund will enable us to reach even more musicians who are struggling through these challenging times”
Differing slightly from the demographic of the Help Musicians and Musicians Union COVID-19 initiatives is AIM. The Association of Independent Music’s fund is more so targeted at music industry contractors and freelancers that were due to work with artists signed to AIM’s indie member labels prior to the coronavirus shutdowns. According to the company’s website, this includes ‘tour crews, studio producers, mixing engineers, radio pluggers, graphic designers, stylists, photographers, publicists’, and more.
Paul Pacifico, current CEO of AIM said: “The launch of the AIM COVID-19 Crisis Fund was a call to arms to ensure that all those working in the music industry, including contractors and freelancers who play such vital roles in the success of labels and artists, can weather these tough times.
“I am delighted that PPL has confirmed a donation to the fund which will increase the level of support we can provide in the short-term to these individuals”, he continued.
Approved applicants of AIM’s crisis fund will instantly receive anywhere up to £1,000 – depending on the amount of income lost.
With 96% of music businesses losing income over the past two months (a direct result of COVID-19), the widespread support given to those impacted is certainly much needed. Trade Body UK Music recently voiced strong concerns to the British Government, regarding the need for better assistance to individuals in the music industry – particularly the ‘lower earners’.
In a statement address to British Government officials, UK Music shared: “Many in our industry are directors of their own small firms“.
However, company directors are disqualified from the self-employed scheme and cannot furlough themselves as this would stop their businesses from operating. They need urgent government help to make sure these individuals, often low earners, do not slip through the net”.
This was in response to a government stimulus package offered to self-employed workers. Whilst sole traders (the UK equivalent of a sole proprietor) are covered in the package, company directors are not. These, however, make up a significant portion of those working in the music business – from some artist managers/management companies, pr firms, independent record labels and beyond.
Prior to making this £700,000 donation, PPL just recently made a quarterly royalties payout of £87.6 million ($11million) to its right holder member – sent March 31.
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MBN Staff
Entertainment
2021 Grammy Awards: Winners List
The 63rd annual Grammy Awards took place at LA’s Convention Center, with no live audience. Beyoncé now holds the record for the most Grammy wins by any singer and any female artist in history.
Story Highlights
- The 63rd annual award show took place at LA’s Convention Center, with no live audience
- Beyoncé now holds the record for the most Grammy wins by any singer and any female artist in history
After postponing the event from January 31st to March 14th due to COVID-19, the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took place this past Sunday night. Telecasting live from Downtown Los Angeles on CBS, the event mostly took place outdoors at the LA Convention Center, allowing them to use the Staples Center (the GRAMMYs’ usual venue) as a visual backdrop. Despite there being no live audience and viewership hitting a record-low, the night still ended up being historical on a number of levels.
The most nominated artist of the night was Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, who also ended up scooping the most awards – winning four of her nine nominations. This feat puts Beyoncé top of the list for the most Grammy wins by any singer in history, with a total of 28. She is now only beaten by Hungarian-British Conductor Georg Solti who won 31 during his career – and has tied with Quincy Jones, who also has 28.
View a list of winners and nominees below.
RECORD OF THE YEAR
- “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish — Winner
- “Black Parade” — Beyoncé
- “Colors” — Black Pumas
- “Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
- “Say So” — Doja Cat
- “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
- “Circles” — Post Malone
- “Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
- “Folklore” — Taylor Swift — Winner
- “Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko
- “Black Pumas” (Deluxe Edition) — Black Pumas
- “Everyday Life” — Coldplay
- “Djesse Vol. 3” — Jacob Collier
- “Women in Music Pt. III” — Haim
- “Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa
- “Hollywood’s Bleeding” — Post Malone
SONG OF THE YEAR
- “I Can’t Breathe” — H.E.R. — Winner
- “Black Parade” — Beyoncé
- “The Box” — Roddy Ricch
- “Cardigan” — Taylor Swift
- “Circles” — Post Malone
- “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
- “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish
- “If the World Was Ending” — JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels
BEST NEW ARTIST
- Megan Thee Stallion — Winner
- Ingrid Andress
- Phoebe Bridgers
- Noah Cyrus
- Chika
- D Smoke
- Doja Cat
- Kaytranada
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
- “Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles — Winner
- “Yummy” — Justin Bieber
- “Say So” — Doja Cat
- “Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish
- “Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
- “Cardigan” — Taylor Swift
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
- “Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa — Winner
- “Changes” — Justin Bieber
- “Chromatica” — Lady Gaga
- “Fine Line” — Harry Styles
- “Folklore” — Taylor Swift
BEST POP/DUO GROUP PERFORMANCE
- “Rain on Me” — Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande — Winner
- “Un Dia (One Day)” — J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
- “Intentions” — Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
- “Dynamite” — BTS
- “Exile” — Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
- “American Standard” — James Taylor — Winner
- “Blue Umbrella” — Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian
- “True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter” — Harry Connick Jr.
- “Unfollow the Rules” — Rufus Wainwright
- “Judy” — Renée Zellweger
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
- “Black Parade” — Beyoncé — Winner
- “Lightning & Thunder” — Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend
- “All I Need” — Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
- “Goat Head” — Brittany Howard
- “See Me” — Emily King
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
- “Anything for You” — Ledisi — Winner
- “Sit On Down” — The Baylor Project featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
- “Wonder What She Thinks of Me” — Chloe x Halle
- “Let Me Go” — Mykal Kilgore
- “Distance” — Yebba
BEST R&B SONG
- “Better Than I Imagined” — Robert Glasper featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello — Winner
- “Black Parade” — Beyoncé
- “Collide” — Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG
- “Do It” — Chloe x Halle
- “Slow Down” — Skip Marley & H.E.R.
BEST R&B ALBUM
- “Bigger Love” — John Legend — Winner
- “Happy 2 Be Here” — Ant Clemons
- “Take Time” — Giveon
- “To Feel Love/D” — Luke James
- “All Rise” — Gregory Porter
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
- “Savage” — Megan thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé — Winner
- “Deep Reverence” — Big Sean featuring Nipsey Hussle
- “Bop” — DaBaby
- “Whats Poppin” — Jack Harlow
- “The Bigger Picture” — Lil Baby
- “Dior” — Pop Smoke
BEST MELODIC RAP PERFORMANCE
- “Lockdown” — Anderson .Paak — Winner
- “Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
- “Laugh Now Cry Later” — Drake featuring Lil Durk
- “The Box” — Roddy Ricch
- “Highest in the Room” — Travis Scott
BEST RAP SONG
- “Savage” — Megan thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé — Winner
- “The Bigger Picture” — Lil Baby
- “The Box” — Roddy Ricch
- “Laugh Now Cry Later” — Drake featuring Lil Durk
- “Rockstar” — DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
BEST RAP ALBUM
- “King’s Disease” — Nas — Winner
- “Black Habits” — D Smoke
- “Alfredo” — Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
- “A Written Testimony” — Jay Electronica
- “The Allegory” — Royce da 5’9″
BEST LATIN POP OR URBAN ALBUM
- “YHLQMDLG” — Bad Bunny — Winner
- “Por Primera Vez” — Camilo
- “Mesa Para Dos” — Kany García
- “Pausa” — Ricky Martin
- “3:33” — Debi Nova
BEST LATIN POP OR URBAN ALBUM
- “YHLQMDLG” — Bad Bunny — Winner
- “Por Primera Vez” — Camilo
- “Mesa Para Dos” — Kany García
- “Pausa” — Ricky Martin
- “3:33” — Debi Nova
BEST REGGAE ALBUM
- “Got to Be Tough” — Toots & The Maytals — Winner
- “Upside Down 2020” — Buju Banton
- “Higher Place” — Skip Marley
- “It All Comes Black to Love” — Maxi Priest
- “One World” — The Wailers
BEST GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM
- “Twice as Tall” — Burna Boy — Winner
- “Fu Chronicles” — Antibalas
- “Agora” — Bebel Gilberto
- “Love Letters” — Anoushka Shankar
- “Amadjar” — Tinariwen
For a full list of this year’s winners and nominees, click here.
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MBN Staff
Entertainment
Grammy Awards Postponed, New Date Revealed
The 2021 Grammy Awards has been rescheduled. Details surrounding the format of the show still remain unclear.
Story Highlights
- March 14, 2021 has been confirmed as the new date for this year’s telecast due to COVID-19.
- Format and structure of the show still unknown.
In a joint statement from Harvey Mason, Jr (Interim President/CEO, The Recording Academy), Jack Sussman (EVP, Live Event, CBS Television), and the show’s Executive Producer Ben Winston, the 63rd Grammy Awards have been officially pushed back to March 14th, 2021. Citing ‘the deteriorating COVID situation in Los Angeles’ (where the ceremony is scheduled to be held) as the reason for the postponement, the statement confirmed what had already been speculated regarding the upcoming ceremony for some time.
It remains unclear if this pushback means the proposed March date will now include more participants than originally planned nor where or how it will be held or if The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah (below) is still slated to host.
According to Variety, a ‘limited’ show was being planned for the original date of January 31st – with only performers and presenters being allowed on-site (at The Staples Center), meaning nominees and winners would only make remote appearances. However, Recording Academy Interim CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. later stated that the event will be held “in and around Downtown Los Angeles”, and also mentioned plans to work with “independent venues” – which could mean we see it not held at Staples and perhaps take a similar production style to the 2020 BET Awards, where all presenters, performers and acceptance speeches were all pre-recorded and/or remote. The statement sent to Music Biz Nation regarding the new March date did not mention that it would be a live telecast – suggesting this may well be the case.
Top nominees for the 63rd Grammy Awards include Beyonce (leading with a total of 9 noms, with 2 for ‘Record of the Year’), followed by Roddy Ricch, Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift – who each have 6. You can view the complete list of nominees here.
Get weekly music biz updates straight to your inbox.
MBN Staff
2021 Grammy Awards: Winners List
Grammy Awards Postponed, New Date Revealed
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