Candidacy for assistance depends, among other factors, on the availability of funds and the number of eligible applicants, along with the following criteria:
• Except for retired or semi-retired older (ages 65+) industry workers, the applicant must have, or recently have had, a serious medical or mental health condition. A condition is considered to be serious when it substantially affects the applicant’s ability to work within or outside the music industry (i.e. a survival job). A diagnosis by a medical doctor, or hospital or medical bills indicating such condition, must be provided.
• The applicant must demonstrate financial need. Sweet Relief may request tax returns, bank statements, and/or any other information deemed necessary to verify such need.
• Except for retired or semi-retired older (ages 65+) industry workers, the applicant must be able to show that at least 50% of their annual income comes from their work as a musician or in other music industry related jobs.
• Our grants for older musicians and music industry workers provide shortterm assistance for basic needs.
• FOR MUSICIANS: The applicant must be a musician who has regular public performances, or performed on at least three widely released recordings (audio or audiovisual), or written music that has been performed on three widely released recordings, or published on three occasions. The term “Musician” includes vocalists, songwriters, composers, arrangers, and instrumentalists.
• FOR INDUSTRY WORKERS: The applicant must be a music industry worker that makes 50% or more of their income from this field. “Music Industry Workers” includes artist managers, tour managers and crew workers, booking agents, producers, recording engineers, music teachers, and publicists.
