The American Federation of Musicians today issued a call for donations to help Nashville, Tenn.-based musicians cope with significant losses from floodwaters, which devastated many parts of Music City USA.
“The entire Nashville community is facing devastating financial, property, and personal losses following the disastrous flooding in the region,” the musicians union said in a news release. ” Many musicians in the area have suffered significant damage to their instruments, recording studios, and homes. Some have lost everything.”
The ability of these musicians to earn an income has been put on hold as the city tries to rebuild from this catastrophe, with losses for the city estimated at $1.5 billion.
“A large amount of economic activity in Nashville revolves around music, and many important venues, including the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the Grand Ole Opry House, as well as many rehearsal facilities and home studios, have undergone considerable damage or have been destroyed,” noted AFM.
“Soundcheck Nashville, a 160,000 square foot music equipment storage facility, estimates that it has incurred tens of millions of dollars in losses, much of it in instruments owned by working musicians. The flood has not only destroyed instruments, it has left many musicians out of work for the foreseeable future.” AFM.org
In 2005, the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada created the Musicians Disaster Relief Fund as a way to distribute funds to musicians in need, and that fund is now coming into play. The AFM encourages all music supporters to make a contribution, and to be a part of the effort to assist afflicted Nashville musicians.
“Nashville musicians are invaluable members of the music industry as a whole. The Musicians Disaster Relief Fund will be an essential component in getting them back on their feet and enabling them to continue to create the music that people everywhere enjoy,” saids AFM International President Thomas F. Lee.
One hundred percent of the contributions go directly to the musicians. You can donate online or by check or money order payable to “AFM Musicians Disaster Relief Fund” and send them to:
AFM Musicians Disaster Relief Fund
1501 Broadway, Suite 600
New York, NY 10036