Musician Relief Fund to provide financial support to musicians in Washington State impacted by Covid-19

Submitted by the Seattle World Tour Foundation Seattle World Tour Foundation launches

Applications for payouts in June now open.

The Seattle World Tour Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to providing funding and programming to underserved communities, is launching a permanent Musician Relief Fund today that will provide direct financial support to musicians in Washington State who have been impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“Thanks to the support of Seattle music fans via Rain City Relief, a project we launched in collaboration with Seattle cannabis retailer, The Reef, the fund currently has $10,000 to distribute to musicians in Washington State,” said Seth McDonald, co-founder of Seattle World Tour Foundation.

McDonald says while music venues across the state received much-needed funding from the government to offset the losses experienced when live music venues were forced to shutter, musicians were largely left out in the cold.

“We know that this money will help our artists continue to create music that defines our region,” he said. “Musicians have significant expenses when it comes to recording and releasing music and then touring.”

McDonald says the fund will make two payouts each year – on June 15 and January 15. Musicians who have a Washington state address are invited to apply for the June 15 payout of $500 on Seattle World Tour Foundation’s website, https://www.seattleworldtour.org/swts-musician-relief-fund. Applications will be open until May 15, 2022.

“We are incredibly thankful for the partnership with The Reef and Rain City Relief which is allowing us to support artists who have basically lost their livelihoods,” said Seattle World Tour Foundation’s co-founder, Mitch Pfeifer. Rain City Relief is a project that allows Seattle music fans to contribute $25 or more and receive a vinyl compilation album featuring 10 of Seattle’s most promising artists. The RCR campaign is still actively selling records (400 of 1,000 left) and hopes to have at least $15,000 for their inaugural Musician Relief Fund awarding when applications close in May.