Songwriters Fund To Roll Out New Wave Of Relief

Last summer, as COVID-19 created economic hardship for creatives everywhere, a group of songwriters created the Songwriter Fund to offer financial assistance to songwriters.

This initiative was launched with resources from Songwriters of North America (SONA) and Sony Music Publishing, amongst other private and corporate donations. The Songwriter Fund is directed by an all-woman team of acclaimed songwriters, including Autumn Rowe and Michelle Featherstone with management by Sarah Robertson.

“Everything dried up all at once for the songwriting community: royalties from streaming, as well as the ability to do gig work or be a session player,” says Featherstone. “We were talking to fellow songwriters who were asking, ‘How will I pay this month’s rent? How will I buy groceries? Will I ever work again?’”

“The Songwriter Fund is a resource for our community when there are no other options,” says Rowe. “Many writers who ran out of options received grants, and we were really grateful to help. I’d like the Songwriter Fund to feel like that friend who always has your back. Because there is so little overhead in our organization, the most possible money goes out to songwriters.”

So far, the Songwriter Fund has distributed over $400,000 in grants to songwriters who have been hit hardest by closures during the pandemic. With the repercussions of the pandemic continuing to impact the music industry, the fund is still accepting donations as it gears up to provide its most recent round of relief to songwriters.

Applications will open tomorrow (April 28). To learn more about the fund or to donate, visit www.songwriterfund.com.