Coronavirus: AIM launch new support fund

AIM has launched a support fund aimed at contractors and freelance workers in the independent music industry whose source of income has been severed without warning due to lost work in April and May as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The AIM fund is open to any contractors due to work with new and developing artists currently signed to AIM member labels who have lost committed income because of cancelled artist projects and do not qualify for other hardship funds on offer.

Workers include the likes of tour crew members, producers, engineers, radio pluggers, graphic designers, stylists, publicists.

AIM member labels will invite signed artists and their managers to nominate candidates to be pre-approved. Check with the Artist or Label you’ve lost work with to see if they are AIM members and see if you’re eligible, you may be eligible even you were invoicing the artist or the management rather than the label, as long as the project was for an AIM Label.

Qualifying workers will receive up to 80% of their lost committed income from the project to a maximum of £1,000 and payments will be made immediately on approval directly into workers’ bank accounts. Priority will be given to UK and Ireland nationals and residents.

AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said:

“Despite government initiatives and the groundswell of support from the music industry, there are still many thousands of workers being left behind without the help that they need to get through this difficult time.

Many of these people have suddenly found themselves with no source of income and with families to support, while government support measures for microbusinesses are hard to access for creative businesses and those for the self-employed are not expected to kick in before June.

The independent sector’s strength lies in its sense of solidarity and community. We have already seen a hugely encouraging show of support for those who are struggling, but there is still more to do. This is a call to arms. Together, we can get through this.”

For full details of the scheme please click here