COVID-19 Updates

NOTE: PLEASE VISIT https://mmfcanada.ca/covid19-what-you-need-to-know FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION AND RESOURCES REGARDING COVID-19.

UPDATED: March 29, 2020 8:27 PM ET
THIS PAGE WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting all of us with cancelled shows and events and travel restrictions. Your health and safety is important to us and we are here to support you! The MMF Canada Board and staff are monitoring the situation and will be sharing information here as it rolls in. Please check back often as we’ll be updating this page as things unfold.

If you have specific questions or info to share, please send to info@mmfcanada.ca and we’ll do what we can to help and share here. If you have a current MMF Canada membership, you can also join our member discussion group on Facebook for real time support and resources from your colleagues.

FINANCIAL IMPACT RESOURCES

OFFICIAL: CANADA’S ECONOMIC RESPONSE PLAN
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
Includes info about Canada Emergency Response Benefit for contract workers and self-employed individuals announced March 25 as well as subsidy for businesses to cover up to 75% of employees’ wages.

CANADIAN RELIEF/STIMULUS MEASURES - Overview from Global Public Affairs: https://mcusercontent.com/cd2e2c87bb7cfd6ca8070a603/files/f7198c27-9430-4ba2-a84c-04057a052621/Canadian_Stimulus_Chart_March_27_2020.01.pdf

Canadian Financial Benefit Information compiled by Jennifer Robson, Associate Professor of Political Management, Carleton University using public information: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lOJn7XS6ETIkbLRodYk681M_2dxkkQsc/view

Advice for Entrepreneurs from Business Development Bank Canada (BDC): https://www.bdc.ca/en/about/mediaroom/public_statements/pages/useful-advice-help-entrepreneurs-plan-respond-impacts-coronavirus.aspx

Info from Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses including a support hotline: https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/tools-resources/covid-19-coronavirus-business

FOR PERFORMERS - $100,000 relief fund to provide artist fees for live online performances supported by Facebook Canada and the National Arts Centre. APPLY TODAY: https://nac-cna.ca/en/media/newsrelease/25880

Co-Mission: An Artist Relief Compilation - ARTISTS! Check it out! Folkadelphia is commissioning new recordings by paying musicians for their time and craft to track a song at home or whatever safe space they have. https://comissioncompilation.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS PROGRAM: https://www.facebook.com/business/grants

FOR TORONTO-BASED ARTISTS/ARTS PROFESSIONALS - $1000 grants to replace lost revenues between March 12, 2020 and April 30, 2020: https://torontoartscouncil.org/grant-programs/toartist-covid-response-fund

MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund: https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/covid-19-relief-fund-faq

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR LOSSES

Many granting agencies and other organizations are urging us to track lost income and to keep related documentation for future response and financial support planning.
Helpful link for categories to consider when tracking losses created by Global Public Affairs

Resources for bill payment relief from Toronto Musicians’ Association Local 149:

Toronto Hydro , Ontario Energy Board, Toronto Utilities, Toronto Property Taxes, resources for bill assistance
Bill Payment arrangements for Rogers(also Fido), Telus, Bell, Koodo, Freedom
Financial Assistance from the AFC
Financial Assistance from Unison Benevolent Fund

ONLINE SESSIONS

Monday, March 30, 2020 @ 12:00 PM PT
Let's DEW Lunch - The Business of Streaming
Registration and details here.
Registration and more info here.

PAST EVENTS

COVID-19 & Your Event || Video Link - Live stream from March 16 by FestForums
Come Together: COVID-19 Crisis Artists + Industry session || Live stream from March 17. No recording yet. More info here.
We Are Stronger Together: Navigating Crises and Sustaining Healthy Relationships in the Era of Coronavirus || from March 18 webinar. Recording here. More info here.
MMF Canada Community Chat || Video chat from March 24 || Notes to be shared soon. Stay tuned for announcements of future Community Chats.
Ask and Expert: Contracts, insurance, visas, employment and legislation in the COVID-19 era || Live stream from March 27 by APAC. Video link coming soon. More info here.

INFO FROM GRANTING AGENCIES

RADIO STARMAKER FUND

The Board of the Radio Starmaker Fund wants to inform all stakeholders that any previous tour dates that were approved and were to take place between February 15th and August 31st of this year will be fully funded if they were canceled as a result of the coronavirus. All you will need to do when filling out final paperwork is indicate the reason for the cancelation was coronavirus – no other proof will be necessary. This same policy will also be in effect with regard to tour dates approved by the Board for Round 74.
We are currently examining the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the implications it may have on future touring. Currently, when we open our next round we are considering a moratorium on requests for tour funding for all performances from April 1st to May 31st of this year given the very high likelihood of cancellation.
We will be monitoring this situation over the next few weeks and making a final determination on or before April 10th when we plan to open the next round of funding. In the meantime, we wanted everyone to know this is a possibility as tour plans are made this year.

VISAS & IMMIGRATION

US Visas & SXSW Cancellation: http://www.tamizdat.org/artist-mobility-faqs-regarding-sxsws-cancellation/

Artist Mobility - US Visas: https://www.covey.law/coveylaw-covid-19-faq/

US Visa Update from DMT Law: https://mailchi.mp/7bc104246764/immigration-covid-updates-what-you-need-to-know?e=190be35e08

INSURANCE & LEGAL

COVID-19 and Force Majeure: https://www.torys.com/insights/publications/2020/03/covid-19-and-force-majeure-clauses

Information from MMF-UK: https://themmf.net/2020/03/10/coronavirus-updated-information/

Force Majeure Contracts and Insurance: https://musictech.solutions/2020/03/09/pandemic-force-majeure-contracts-and-insurance-in-the-music-business/

AIRLINE COVID-19 POLICIES

Master list by Forbes.com: https://www.forbes.com/sites/advisor/2020/03/11/master-list-of-airline-coronavirus-policies

International Air Transport Association: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm

Air Canada: https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/travel-news-and-updates/2020/covid-19.html

WestJet: https://www.westjet.com/en-ca/travel-info/coronavirus

PUBLIC HEALTH, GOVERNMENT, ETC. LINKS

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/

Canada Public Health: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Risk-informed decision-making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 global outbreak

Canada’s Response: https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2020/03/11/prime-minister-outlines-canadas-covid-19-response

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/novel-coronavirus-china

HEALTH & WELLNESS

MESSAGE FROM UNISON BENEVOLENT FUND:

For counselling inquiries to help you deal with the financial or emotional impact of coronavirus, please contact 1-855-986-4766.

For emergency financial assistance, know that Unison will carefully review your situation and request in the context of finding the best way to assist you during this difficult time. You are reminded that Unison does not make payments directly to applicants, with the understanding that our resources are limited, dependent on the generosity of our donors, and are allocated in ways to best support as many individuals as possible. Please visit our website here to learn more about our financial assistance program and how to apply.

MORE INFO ABOUT UNISON: https://www.samaritanmag.com/features/qa-questions-answered-about-accessing-music-industrys-unison-benevolent-fund

Sign up for a guide to anxiety relief and self isolation from UK-based Coalition “Music Industry Therapists & Coaches”: http://musicindustrytherapists.com/anxietyrelief_selfisolation/

EVENT CANCELLATIONS & POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Luminato (June 2020) Cancelled: https://luminatofestival.com/Blog/March-2020/Update

East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference Cancelled: https://www.ecma.com/news/covid-19-and-ecma-2020/

CMW Rescheduled: https://cmw.net/canadian-music-week-announces-new-dates-2020-festival-conference/

Updating page from Billboard: https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/touring/9323647/concerts-canceled-coronavirus-list

Showcase festivals and conferences updates: https://www.europeanmusic.eu/2020/03/coronavirus-festivals-updates/

2020 JUNO Awards: https://junoawards.ca/juno-week-2020/

SXSW 2020: https://www.sxsw.com/2020-event-update/

Coachella: https://www.coachella.com/

Stagecoach: https://www.stagecoachfestival.com/

Big Ears Festival: https://bigearsfestival.org/big-ears-festival-covid-19-cancellation/

Ultra Music Festival: https://ultramusicfestival.com/official-notice

IAMA International Conference: https://www.iamaworld.com/30th-iama-international-conference.aspx

AME 2020: https://www.atlanticmusicexpo.com/coronavirus.php

ISPA 2020: https://www.ispa.org/page/congress_landing

Talin Music Week: https://tmw.ee/2020/03/the-international-new-music-festival-and-conference-tmw-is-postponed-until-august-the-new-dates-are-26-30-august/

California Limits Mass Gatherings: http://www.oesnews.com/california-public-health-experts-mass-gatherings-should-be-postponed-or-canceled-statewide-to-slow-the-spread-of-covid-19/

Alberta canceling events with over 250 attendees and events with international participants or high-risk population and more than 50 attendees: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=6980324A5B1B0-BC2C-40A8-A6AD9E30E3189425

Quebec announces cancellation of indoor gatherings of more than 250 people: https://www.quebec.ca/sante/problemes-de-sante/a-z/coronavirus-2019/#c46339

MISCELLANEOUS INFO AND RESOURCES

Resources for Live Event Workers: https://liveeventcommunity.org/

Music Industry Resources from Unison: https://www.unisonfund.ca/index.php/blog/post/covid-19-resources-music-community

Suggestions for What Independent Artists Can Do: https://www.cyberprmusic.com/coronavirus-what-can-independent-artists-do/

Resources Page by MMF UK: https://themmf.net/2020/03/17/covid-19-resources-and-useful-information-for-mmf-members/

Comprehensive list of resources from The Gallery of Eras / CUE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DQ_m4qYnGvFMKKal8elLb1hOAruYNEDgjPmJroME1IE/edit

Resources for Canadian Businesses from Government of Canada Trade Commissioner Service: https://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/campaign-campagne/ressources-entreprises-COVID-19-business-resources.aspx?lang=eng

Updating Resource Page for Freelance Canadian Artists, Writers, and Media Workers: https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1j5G-290oBGludXRJEV4pS-sdefCX9MWUkwk2WT7K99Y/mobilebasic

Coronavirus FAQs from NAPAMA: https://napama.org/Coronavirus_FAQs

Live data showing number of COVID-19 cases around the world: https://ncov2019.live/

Coronavirus in Europe: https://www.iq-mag.net/2020/03/coronavirus-europe-state-play-updating/#.XmpttpNKjOQ

Resources from On the Move: http://on-the-move.org/news/article/20675/corona-virus-resources-arts-culture-and-cultural/

Arts Ready: https://www.artsready.org/

Coronavirus Preparedness for the Live Performance Sector from CAPACOA (includes link to version française): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QbmCGVff3iFMRE59Kb5Jk0X-9rP-8P13DW3zyk0GWXQ/mobilebasic

MMF CanadaMarch 12, 2020MMF Canada News