Coronavirus: Spotify pledges $10m to struggling musicians hit by COVID-19 outbreak

The music streaming giant will also match each donation made by the public through its COVID-19 Music Relief page.

Bethany Minelle

Arts and entertainment reporter @BethanyMinelle

Wednesday 25 March 2020 19:55, UK

File photo dated 11/06/14 of the Spotify App. Warner Bros has been censured after an advert featuring evil clown Pennywise from the horror movie It appeared during a lullaby playlist on Spotify. PA Photo. Issue date: Wednesday March 11, 2020. A listener complained after hearing the Stephen King character, voiced by Swedish actor Bill Skarsgard, between songs played to their child on the music streaming service. See PA story CONSUMER Spotify. Photo credit should read: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire
Image: Spotify will also allow artists to link out of the app to other donation pages
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Spotify has pledged up to $10m (£8.4m) to help musicians hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

The streaming giant will also match each donation made by the public through its COVID-19 Music Relief page, up to a combined total of $10m (£8.4m).

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The company says it is launching a tool which will allow artists to link out of the app to alternative donation pages.

Some of the service's creator tool features will now also be free.

SoundBetter is temporarily waiving its revenue share, cloud-based recording platform Soundtrap is offering free trials for educators, and podcast-making app Anchor is waiving fees on its listener support feature.

Spotify has partnered with music organisations MusiCares, PRS Foundation and Help Musicians for the initiative.

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It is not the only company making moves to support those in the creative industries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS For Music) has launched an emergency relief fund in partnership with the PRS Members' Fund and PRS Foundation.

Grants of up to £1,000 will be available to those who have been a member for at least two years and earned more than £500 in the past two years.

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Andrea C Martin, chief executive of PRS For Music, said: "Our members are under threat as many parts of the music scene grind to a halt.

"They look to PRS for leadership, for support and to be the best and most trusted collecting society in the world.

"Members need to eat, support their families and pay rents - without industry support the future is challenging during this terrible time. Together we can get through this."

The Netflix logo is seen on a computer in this photo illustration in Washington, DC, on July 10, 2019. (Photo by Alastair Pike / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Netflix has put filming of all scripted films in the US and Canada on hold

Last week, streaming giant Netflix launched a $100m (£84m) coronavirus relief fund for out-of-work creatives in the TV and film industry.

The majority of the fund will go to cast and crew affected by the postponement of Netflix's own productions including Russian Doll, The Witcher and all its scripted films in the US and Canada.

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