T WAS LATE ONE COLD CHRISTMAS Eve in a rural suburb of Atlanta when my father arose from his chair

to answer a knock at our back door. My dad was a bigband leader, and his musicians were my heros. I was around seven years old and had spent the evening praying that the morning light would reveal that Santa indeed was real and had not forgotten my new trap set. As my father moved toward the door, I darted

MUSICARES
An
Industry Imperative

behind the table to eavesdrop on this mysterious late-night caller. It was one of my dad's musicians who had stopped playing a few years earlier due to health problems. He looked terrible and apparently had no money for Christmas presents for his children. In that moment my world froze in time. I slowly rose to my feet from my hiding place and, without realizing it, stared squarely into the face of one of our industry's most diabolical realities-being a musician means you are on your own, with no guarantees. As big bands and

BY

MICHAEL

GREENE
Academy

live orchestras

lost popular favor, this scenario at our house. My

President,

The Recording

became more commonplace

father's band got older, the large venues began drying up, and the marketplace dictated that the group reduce in size and their jobs became weekend gigs only. My musical mentors and adopted uncles struggled to survive and many were stripped of their dignity. What a tragic price to pay for developing and pursuing gifts of talent. The fact was then, and remains today,that artists in our society are not to This to provide them with truly valued, nor has anyone ever bothered establish an infrastructure the most basic of human considerations.

tradition

of industry indifference is not a Recording

was the driving Academy pro-

union, guild and foundation directory contains office address and contact Eligibility requirements lined for quick reference.

service providers. The purpose, in all cities. that numbers

force behind the creation of MusiCares. MusiCares gram as much as it is a mission that our organization has developed to give hope to those who pursue our very independent them. The MusiCares program is currently directing its efforts in five basic directions.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

each organization's

and services are also outIt is our hope applicants will and be better of

preoccupation

that basic human

through access to this information learn more about each organization able to identity their options crisis. Directory AIDS participants

services will be available when they inevitably need

during a period include: Actor's American

Equity Association; The Actor's Fund of America; Healthcare Foundation; Federation ciation; America; ofT elevision & Radio Artists; American Helps; Picture Jazz Foundation and Television of

In an effort to promote professionals, Assistance themselves stance-abuse necessities . In order to determine and submitted and screened Grant

the welfare of all music a special emergency who find subassistance,

MusiCares has initiated its Financial Program,

Guild of Variety Artists; Hispanic Musicians AssoHollywood Motion Fund;

assistance fund for music professionals in need of financial treatment

programs and other basic

"WITHOUT REALIZING I T,

I
FACE

an applicant's

eligibility,
STARED SQUARELY INTO THE

a financial assistance application form is completed to either the NARAS National by the MusiCares or nearest Chapter office. Applications mittee at the NARAS Foundation. are processed

OF

ON E 0 F

OU R

INDUSTRY'S

MOST

Eligibility ComAll inquiries and

DIABOLICAL REALITIES-BEING A

assistance remain totally confidential. The real need for this aspect of MusiCares was recently dramatized big-band during combating by the tragedy that engulfed
OWN, WITH NO GUARANTEES." MUSICIAN MEANS YOU ARE 0 N YOUR

leader and jazz legend Woody Herman the last years of his life. In addition serious health problems, to Woody was

forced to deal with a number of financial difficulties. Shortly before his death in late 1987, he was penniless pouring and fighting eviction from his lifelong of public affection and charity. ARAS home, which was averted only because of an outnow administers a special financial assistance pro-

the

NARAS

Foundation;

Musicians

Union,

Local 802; National Guild Foundation

NATIONAL

Jazz Service Organization; Screen Actors

The Rhythm & Blues Foundation;

and Society of Singers.

HEALTH INSURANCE CAMPAIGN

gram in Woody's name to specifically help deserving jazz musicians in their time of need.
DIRECTORY OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Within

the next six months,

MusiCares

will be Self-

offering the music industry's Paid Insurance or personal and the policies hardship,

first National

program. During times of medical steady work is the first through

Many musicians

are eligible for insurance

casualty in our business. The fact is that many of available to music people existing unions and guilds require a person to earn a certain amount of money each year to re-qualilv,
5

services through unions or foundations aware of it. To make that information MusiCares has compiled a directory

but are not accessible, of over 14

--------~-------------------------------~

which can be difficult or impossible

if you are

THE ISSUE

AT

incapacitated.

HAND

The MusiCares insurance plan will enable music industry professionals to obtain affordable medical, dental, vision, substance-abuse and HIV treatment,

Recording Academy members know, there's more to Grammy Week than meets the CBS eye.

and disability coverages. Coverage will be available through one of four programs: (1) Individual, (2) Group (small and large employers), (3) Organized Labor (Taft-Hartley) and (4) Senior (65 +). The group and organized labor programs are available for purchase through brokers, enabling employers and unions to continue already established broker relationships.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

In the special section that begins on page 11, we'll revisit a week of unforgettable

events, from Natalie Cole's historic Apollo Theatre show to the gala MusiCares benefit honoring Bonnie Raitt to a summit a couple of Grammy meeting between

nominees named Roy Rogers. You'll also find pictorial highlights, profiles of this year's Lifetime Achievement inductees, a pull-out other Grammy along winner's list and a few surprises the way. While paying tribute to musical excellence, Grammy Week events also serve as a reflection of the Academy's yearround aims and activities, many of which are now moving into high gear. MusiCares program In May, introduces our the

The Capital campaign is now in development. When in place, this initiative will encompass a variety of components, from a payroll pledge program to donations of property through wills, trusts, planned giving, special estate and income tax programs. This phase of MusiC ares will be the ongoing mechanism that ultimately enables us to create our endowment and to construct and operate care facilities.
OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

MusiCares also serves as a very positive voice from our industry to the community. Last year, we acthrough abuse quired over 8,000 billboards nationwide and Young M.C. delivered anti-substance messages. These billboards

which Paula Abdul, David Crosby, Gloria Estefan also displayed 1-800 Over 40,000

industry's first comprehensive

health in-

surance plan, fulfilling a basic human need that's been long overdue in our music community. This new project, along with other MusiCares initiatives, is detailed in this issue's From The President essay. For additional information, consult our Academy In Action section, where you'll also find news and updates on the battle over music education, our forthcoming best semester yet. Also in this issue, we take an in-depth look at SoundScan, the sales reporting system whose impact on the recording industry goes well beyond the charts. And don't forget Riffs and Backbeat, where everything from lyrics you'll encounter IMAX film venture, and Grammy In The Schools'

numbers which featured taped messages from the artists as well as referral numbers. referrals were generated as a result of this campaign, and it is our intention to sponsor similar programs on an ongoing basis. MusiCares is most definitely a work in progress, and to reach its goals and ensure that our business can deliver quality human services to our people will require the commitment of every sector of the community. There is little doubt that, if our business environment can become more secure in these areas, we will attract and keep a higher quality of individual in our music community--and good for everyone! No one is immune from the ravages of a health or other personal crisis, and it is reassuring to know that when a music professional knocks on our door for help, we can now say with conviction "MusiCares." that that's

legislation to devil blues to atomic pop.

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