In March, MusiCares—the charitable arm of the Recording Academy—launched its COVID-19 Relief Fund to help music industry members and artists affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the fund launched, MusiCares has raised nearly $14 million in aid and has approved 20,200 individuals to receive assistance—more than double the number of people the charitable arm typically serves in one year.

However, on Thursday evening (April 30), the organization released a statement noting it has had to temporarily stop accepting new applications for aid through the COVID-19 Relief Fund, as request for aid has exceeded funds available.

The Recording Academy provided the following statement to MusicRow:

The effects of COVID-19 have been devastating to our music community and the need for relief remains dire. While we are incredibly grateful for all the support we have received and are humbled to be in a position to help those who are so desperately in need, the fight to help those struggling in our community is far from over.

Since forming in March, the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund has raised nearly $14 million dollars to aid thousands of music industry professionals affected by the pandemic. It is the largest amount of money raised, with the most recipients helped, for any single event in our history. To date this year, we’ve vetted and approved 20,200 individuals to receive assistance. For context, that’s more than double the number of music people we typically serve in one year. But, there’s still so much work to be done.

Unfortunately, until we can raise more money for our COVID-19 Relief Fund, we can no longer accept new applications from those seeking assistance. While our goal is always to provide support to everyone in need, we are currently bound by the funds available.

We aren’t giving up and continue to work relentlessly to raise additional funds, while furthering our commitment to provide leadership in other ways. These initiatives include continuing our advocacy work in Washington D.C., providing guidance for artists as they navigate this new territory, and fostering discussions with a broad group of leaders about the future of our industry.

As an industry and a community, this is one of the most trying times we’ve ever faced, but we know that music can unite us in our struggle to console, entertain and provide some levity during dark times. We are committed to facing the challenges ahead alongside all those who have and will join our cause.

Donations to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund can be made at grammy.com.

Paul Williams

Paul Williams has been named Program Director of Cumulus Nashville country station WKDF-FM.

Williams adds WKDF programming duties after being named Director of Programming for Westwood One Nashville earlier this month. In that role, Williams oversees the marketing, content, and operations for Westwood One’s programming which includes The Ty Bentli Show, The Blair Garner Show, Nights With Elaina, American Country Countdown, Country Countdown USA, Country Gold, and With Elaina.

Williams was most recently Vice President of Marketing & Artist Development for Reviver Entertainment Group in Nashville. He had previously served as an executive at RCA Label Group Nashville and as Operations & Marketing Director for the nationally syndicated Kidd Kraddick Show. Prior to that, he programmed KPLX-FM in Dallas, and spent six years as a liaison to national radio at Universal Studios Orlando radio broadcast center.

“After Paul joined the company, Allison Warren and I saw an opportunity to have him take on the added responsibility of WKDF,” said Charlie Cook, Operations Manager/VP Country Formats, Cumulus Media. “Allison and I appreciate his creativity and we look forward to WKDF’s continued growth under his leadership.”​

“What a unique opportunity to lead a radio station in a community you have lived in for over 14 years in one of the craziest times in history,” says Williams. “We’re going to get through this with our Tennessee neighbors then rebound together with music, hope, fun and the larger-than-life Volunteer State spirit.”

Cumulus Media owns and operates five radio stations in Nashville, including: WGFX-FM (Sports Talk), WQQK-FM (Urban), WSM-FM (Country), WWTN-FM (News/Talk), and WKDF-FM (Country).

Newcomer artist ERNEST has launched the weekly podcast Just Being ERNEST, where he will offer his opinion on current events and will host business owners, fellow artists and songwriters, while offering a platform for earnest conversations.

“I’ve always wanted to have a talk show, but I never knew exactly what that would look like,” shares ERNEST. “This podcast is a little bit of everything. I’m excited to give my take on current events, talk life and music with some of my friends in the music business, and introduce y’all to people I admire and am inspired by in different fields – local business owners, athletes, doctors, visual artists, and more. This podcast is a platform for people to have a good time expressing themselves and hopefully share a side of them they may not otherwise get to showcase. It’s truly a podcast for people who are ‘just being ERNEST’.”

The singer-songwriter released his debut project, Locals Only, in 2019 via Big Loud Records. He has co-written hits for Morgan Wallen (“More Than My Hometown”), and Diplo (“Heartless”) as well as Chris Lane (“Big, Big Plans” and “Hold You Tonight” ft. Gryffin), as well as two tracks for Sam Hunt’s album SOUTHSIDE including “Let It Down” and “Breaking Up Was Easy in the ’90s.”

The National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Works, has adopted a street in downtown Nashville to deepen its connection with its home in Music City.

NMAAM will be responsible for four blocks of historic Jefferson Street in Nashville. Through the Adopt-A-Street program, the museum will host street cleanups throughout the year once social distancing mandates have been lifted.

Similar to NMAAM, Jefferson Street is rooted in the preservation of black music and history. It stretches from the historically black Tennessee State University to Fisk University, where the Fisk Jubilee Singers were founded.

Metro Nashville Public Works’ Adopt-A-Street program is a way for organizations and businesses to help keep Nashville beautiful and show pride in the surrounding community. This effort is in conjunction with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and its Nobody Trashes Tennessee campaign.

“Jefferson Street is the musical heartbeat of this city,” said H. Beecher Hicks, III, president and CEO of NMAAM. “Becoming stewards of such an important part of African American culture in Music City is humbling and is a responsibility we do not take lightly. Nashville is growing every day, and we want to show that we are here, not only to educate and entertain, but to support the community we live in.”

NMAAM is currently under construction at Nashville’s Fifth + Broadway development and expects to open in September 2020.

Trace Adkins, Dustin Lynch and Blake Shelton will perform on the Grand Ole Opry’s 4,923^rd consecutive Saturday night broadcast on Saturday, May 9. Gwen Stefani will also make her Grand Ole Opry debut that night, joining Shelton for their duet performance of his current single “Nobody But You.”

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Opry will stage a remote broadcast performance as part of a regularly scheduled show. Adkins and Lynch will perform on stage at the Opry House, after which Shelton and Stefani will play for fans around the world via a remote broadcast from Shelton’s farm in Oklahoma, where the two artists are safely sheltered at home. Adkins, Lynch, and Shelton all share an Opry bond: Adkins invited Shelton to become an official Opry member in 2010, and extended the same invitation to Lynch in 2018.

The show will be broadcast live on Circle, and Gray TV stations, DISH Studio Channel 102, Sling TV and other TV affiliates in addition to a companion live stream on Circle All Access Facebook and YouTube channels. Those tuning into the Livestream on the Circle All Access YouTube and Facebook channels this week can watch a special Mother’s Day episode of Circle Sessions with Sara Evans at 6:30 p.m. CT immediately prior to the live Opry and catch the premiere of Circle Sessions: At Home featuring Wynonna, Evans and more at 8 p.m. CT after the Opry.