The impact of Hurricane Katrina has compelled people throughout the world to look for ways to help the victims sort through the devastation — whether it be donating to the Red Cross, calling in and making a donation on the recent ReAct Now: Music & Relief MTV special or finding other means to make a charitable contribution. Not only has the hurricane left hundreds of thousands of Americans stranded, looking for some semblance of normality, but many in our own industry are fighting their way through the water-logged streets, hoping to rebuild in the near-future.
We have already heard of studios being destroyed and venues underwater, and while you may have already donated to help those in need, our industry is creating new avenues for audio professionals to help out.
The Recording Academy and its MusiCares Foundation committed an initial donation of $1 million for music people affected by the hurricane. Assistance includes basic living expenses such as shelter, food, utilities and transportation; medical expenses, including doctor, dentist and hospital bills and medications; clothing; instrument and recording equipment replacement; relocation costs; school supplies; insurance payments; and more. In addition, each of the Academy’s 12 regional chapters will designate local programming that will continue the fundraising efforts. To help, log on to www.grammy.com/musicares.
NAMM (www.namm.org) has made a donation to the Red Cross; future plans include getting musical instruments back into the schools, working with Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to rebuild these musical programs in the affected areas.
The New Orleans Musicians Clinic is working to find New Orleans — based musicians and temporary housing for them. The clinic can be contacted at [email protected]. The Jazz Foundation of America will address the longer-term needs of these musicians who lost everything. In addition to raising funds and distributing monies for the musicians to get new housing, the foundation will also help them replace their instruments, working with manufacturers and music stores to replace these lost treasures. Donations can be made online at www.jazzfoundation.org.
In addition, manufacturers are also responding; Telos, Omnia and Axia Audio are helping broadcast facilities with priority technical support, troubleshooting and loaner equipment.
Stay tuned to Mix, where we will provide more in-depth coverage of the aftermath caused by Hurricane Katrina.
