Our professional community of talented music-makers has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic. As of April this year, the total lost income reported by more than 12,600 artsworkers was $340 million, with the loss of almost 300,000 work opportunities.

The impact of the pandemic is still being felt right across Australia as some venues only now start to open their doors again. A recent study from Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre has found less than ⅕ of musicians’ work is paid on a continued (salaried) basis. These casual work arrangements mean many professional musicians are unable to access government support, and with live music slow to return post-COVID-19, musicians’ livelihoods have taken a significant hit. The Making Music Work report shows that the vast majority of Australian musicians undertake a portfolio career which encompasses a variety of concurrent roles. This complex balancing act shows us why and how musicians are especially exposed to the current COVID-19 crisis. Learn more about the Making Music Work report.

As early as April, the writing was on the wall and we wanted to see how we could help. After much consideration, we decided to partner with Support Act, as they offer both financial and health support to all musicians, artists and crew who are suffering at any time, and most importantly, as a result of the pandemic.

Since May 2020, with your help, we’ve donated over $4000 to Support Act. A big thank you to all in our community who have donated during this time.

We have been busy behind the scenes thinking about how we could help Support Act even more. We’re pleased to announce that $1 from every sale, in-store and online, placed during our Don’t Stop the Music sale, will be donated to Support Act.

Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music. Support Act has played a vital role in helping artsworkers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about Support Act below.

With your help, we raised $2856 for Support Act during our Don't Stop the Music Sale.

Learn more about Support Act:

Support Act is Australia’s only charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers as a result of ill health, injury, a mental health problem, or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music.

Established in 1997, Support Act’s goal is to provide breathing space to help members of the music industry to get back on track when they have hit a tough patch or just need breathing space. Their assistance can take the form of paying the rent or the mortgage, buying a bed or wheel chair, paying for car repairs, paying medical, dental, phone, electricity bills, or a credit card debt. Support Act provide referrals to other support services; funding for funerals; and they support friends and family seeking to raise funds for an artist or music worker in crisis through their Help a Mate program.

In June 2018, Support Act established the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline – a free, confidential 24/7 counselling service that is available to anyone working in Australian music who needs to talk about any aspect of their mental health. It can be accessed by calling 1800 959 500. Support Act's COVID-19 resources can be accessed via their website.

If you would like to donate during the sale, you can do so via our website. Simply select your donation amount at checkout, or donate directly to Support Act today.