Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton Donate To Fight COVID-19 As Music Industry Appeals For Government Action

Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton are the latest stars to donate towards the fight against coronavirus and its consequences. Musicians are battling back with free concerts and charity events as the toll from COVID-19 mounts.

Parton gave $1 million for research for a coronavirus vaccine.

Swift helped prop up her favorite record shop in her home town of Nashville, Grimey’s, with an undisclosed donation and three months of its staff’s health insurance plan. Record stores are at risk with the forced closures made necessary to help contain the spread of the pandemic. Swift has also given money to fans and food-bank charity Feeding America.

Feeding America also benefited from the Elton John-hosted ‘Living Room Concert for America,’ as well as the First Responders Children’s Foundation, which helps families of deceased carers.The total raised has now surpassed $10 million, said iHeart and Fox, and the proceeds may rise again as the show is rebroadcast. The concert also featured Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Dave Grohl, Billie Eilish, the Backstreet Boys, Billie Joe Armstrong and more.

Meanwhile 40 music organizations today sent an open letter to European and national governments calling for emergency aid.

“Music is one of the first sectors hit by the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. It will also be one of the last,” the letter said. “As borders close, venues as well as festivals suspend their activities, performances are cancelled, group activity is stopped, shops close, and new releases are put on hold, the entire creative value chain is stalling. Artists and their management, performers, composers, songwriters, music educators, conductors, booking agents, record shops, labels, publishers, distributors, promoters, manufacturers, technicians, events managers and event staff count among the many actors of the ecosystem whose livelihoods are on the line.”

The organizations’ letter warns that “profound harm will be felt long into 2021 due to how the music ecosystem operates.” The letter fears a subsequent “hyper saturation of events and new releases,” “unpredictable” audiences and “less room for artistic risk-taking. Jobs and diversity are at stake.”

Among the letter signatures are DME, Digital Music Europe; FIM, International Federation of Musicians; and IMPALA, representing independent music associations.