Podcast 753: Talking about the Music Workers Alliance

On "World Music Day", June 21, a day that celebrated the contributions of musicians worldwide, a group called the Music Workers Alliance launched an unemployment countdown clock, ominously counting the days until July 31, when enhanced unemployment benefits (the extra $600 weekly called FPUC - Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation) are set to expire. Each day of the countdown, MWA published a story from a music worker about how they are coping with a broken unemployment system since the live performance shut down due to the pandemic, a.k.a. "the day the music died." These stories show that the $600 of the FPUC is a critical lifeline for music workers, most of whom face another year without live performance and touring. The stories introduce you to workers who have lost their livelihood, help explain some of the challenges of an industry that will continue to be shut down for the foreseeable future, and asks the question: who cares for the artist? You can view music workers pandemic unemployment stories on their social media and on their website.  Music Workers Alliance is an organization of, by, and for independent musicians and DJs. It's mission is to further Musician/DJ empowerment through collective economic and political action. MWA members are affiliated with Arts for Art, Building Beats, Indie Musicians Caucus and the Jazz Advisory Committee of Local 802 AFM, MOMENT NYC, Musicians for Musicians, NYC Artist Coalition, Sound Mind Collective, Underground Producers Alliance and many other organizations. I spoke with two members of the MWA steering committee, Olympia Kazi and Jerome Harris on June 28th, with just three days remaining until the FPUC is set to expire. Our talk illuminates the many issues facing performing artists today – not just musicians, but those in the theatre, dance, and other performing arts, and also those who make their livelihood in the support industries of lighting design, choreography, catering, and yes, even ticket taking. Please take a moment to forward this Podcast to your Senators and Representatives. As my guests indicated, elected official place great importance on the comments of their constituency, and a tweet, email or Facebook or Instagram posting that tags your elected official will call their attention to this crucial issue.