”I don’t see us being able to transition while we’re under these circumstances,“ interim Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. tells TheWrap
The Recording Academy chairman and interim CEO Harvey Mason Jr. says that unless the government and other charitable arms intervene with relief, the many working-class musicians and touring professionals affected by the coronavirus will not be able to adapt.
The coronavirus has hit the music industry hard, canceling or postponing tours and major music festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo, as well as shuttering music venues around the globe. Not only are mainstream recording artists taking a hit, touring musicians, crew, staff, lighting technicians, engineers and promoters that sponsor these artists are also badly affected, many of whom are working gig to gig or show to show.
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“I would not consider the industry is adjusting. The industry is at a stand-still. Musicians are not able to make a living, they’re not able to make money,” Mason told TheWrap in a phone interview. “I don’t see us being able to transition while we’re under these circumstances. The thing we need to try and do is help each other, help people in the music community and help people in the general community feel better about these really difficult times.”
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Last Tuesday, the Grammys boss Mason sent a letter to Congress calling on any stimulus or relief package to include music creators and music-related workers who are largely independent contractors or freelance employees, referring to the industry as “the original ‘gig economy.'”
“In hard times like these, America depends on music to provide comfort and inspiration,” he wrote. “As you take necessary action to provide assistance to workers during our present crisis, please remember to support the music makers that support all of us.”
That same day, the Recording Academy’s charitable arm, MusiCares, set up a $2 million coronavirus relief fund, where eligible musicians can apply for financial assistance if they’ve had performances and gigs canceled as a result of the virus and are in need of aid. Anyone who has been in the industry for at least two to four years and can demonstrate that gigs have been affected can apply for financial aid.
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Mason said the Recording Academy is working to determine just how many people within the music industry are currently out of work. During Hurricane Katrina, MusiCares helped 3,700 musicians with $4 million in aid — and that was just regional artists in New Orleans. As of Friday, Mason said MusiCares had already received over 2,000 emails and calls from artists applying for aid. The Grammys org is further employing lobbyists in Washington and are pushing members to write directly to Congress requesting relief, and the outreach has already generated over 7,000 letters of support.
“We’re hoping that they will understand that we are a valuable part of our society,” Mason said. “For example, I’m not trying to pick on anyone in particular, but the airlines are saying they don’t have enough money for the coming months. What we’re hearing from a lot of MusiCares members is that they don’t have enough money to continue for the next couple of days.”
Musicians like Chris Martin and John Legend have already performed stay-at-home concerts streamed over social media that have helped boost awareness for MusiCares. And one might think that other musicians could do the same, even writing and recording music from the comfort of their own homes.
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But Mason pointed out that not every touring musician has the platform or reach that the lead singer of Coldplay does, and it doesn’t account for the professionals who make their income through touring. For instance, Mason said he was devastated when he heard the news that country-rock star Zac Brown was forced to lay off about 90% of his crew and band just because he wasn’t able to tour.
“I do agree with you that they are in their living room making songs, but most writers and musicians are not writing songs by themselves. They’re collaborating with other people, they’re bringing in a drummer or a bass player, or they’re bringing somebody to write lyrics, and that’s not taking place,” Mason explained. “So I don’t think the music community is going to be able to adapt under these conditions. I think people will continue to look to the streaming platforms for artists to perform and to entertain, which is great, but they’re not able to monetize that.”
Smaller, independent labels distributing music through services like Bandcamp and Songtradr have waived licensing fees and revenue shares so that 100% of the purchase price of a song or album goes direct to the artist. While no negotiations have been done with the major labels, publishing companies and streaming services on new rates, the Recording Academy has pushed these companies to support MusiCares, where Mason is confident that the nonprofit is equipped to funnel funds directly to artists in need.
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He also clarified that as of yet, no adjustments have been made to the Grammys eligibility process in the way the other awards bodies are currently considering, but the Academy is keeping a close eye on should the crisis continue.
Mason is optimistic, however, that the music venues that have been hit hard by coronavirus will survive, especially because musicians will be among the first to get back out on tour as soon as it’s deemed safe to do so.
“Music heals people and brings people together, and our country needs music now more than ever,” Mason said. “When the experts deem it safe again, I think you will see a lot of artists, a lot of musicians, a lot of music people, jumping at the chance to go back out, not just to make a living, but also to share and lift people’s spirits.”
All the Hollywood Films Arriving on Demand Early Because of the Coronavirus
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Disney/Warner Bros./UniversalSince most U.S. movie theaters have shuttered in response to the coronavirus pandemic, studios are rushing out VOD home releases of movies that were only just in theaters.
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Universal Pictures"Trolls World Tour"
The sequel to the 2017 animated hit announced it would be available for digital download on April 10 -- the same day it was supposed to land in theaters. Now it's a VOD exclusive.
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Warner Bros.
"Birds of Prey"
The Margot Robbie spinoff of 2017's "Suicide Squad" debuted on demand on March 24. The film grossed $84 million since opening on Feb. 4.
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Universal Pictures
"The Hunt"
The Universal/Blumhouse horror film was first delayed from release last fall due to controversy over its violent content -- and then sidelined after its March 13 opening by the coronavirus. It's available to stream now.
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Universal Pictures
"The Invisible Man"
The Universal horror film starring Elisabeth Moss grossed nearly $65 million since its Feb. 26 release in theaters. It's available to stream now.
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Focus Features
"Emma."
Focus Features' adaptation of the Jane Austen novel opened in limited release Feb. 21 -- and picked up $10 million in ticket sales until the pandemic shut down theaters. It's available to stream now.
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Sony Pictures
"Bloodshot"
The Vin Diesel comic-book movie opened March 6 and grossed $10 million before theaters shut down. It's available on VOD now.
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Lionsgate
"I Still Believe"
Lionsgate's biopic starring K.J. Apa as Christian music star Jeremy Camp hit VOD on March 27 -- just two weeks after it opened in theaters.
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Warner Bros.
"The Way Back"
Warner Bros. released the Ben Affleck drama "The Way Back" -- which grossed $13 million in theaters since its March 6 opening -- on VOD less than three weeks later, on March 24.
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Disney/Pixar
"Onward"
Disney and Pixar’s animated feature was made available for purchase on Friday, March 20, and the film hit Disney+ on April 3.
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Paramount Pictures
"Sonic the Hedgehog"
Paramount Pictures' "Sonic the Hedgehog" set a new record for video game adaptations with a $58 million domestic opening weekend on Feb. 14 and has grossed $306 million worldwide theatrically. It's available on demand now.
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20th Century
"The Call of the Wild"
20th Century Studios' feel-good film starring Harrison Ford and a giant CGI dog is available on demand now.
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Fox Searchlight
"Downhill"
Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation, a married couple (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell) is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other. It's available on demand now.
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Focus Features
"Never Rarely Sometimes Always"
"Never Rarely Sometimes Always" is the story of two teenage cousins from rural Pennsylvania who journey to New York City to seek an abortion. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and walked away with a Special Jury award. It's available for VOD now.
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Samuel Goldwyn Films
"Endings, Beginnings"
"Endings, Beginnings," a romantic drama from Drake Doremus starring Shailene Woodley, Sebastian Stan and Jamie Dornan, opened early on digital on April 17 and on demand on May 1. It was meant to open theatrically on May 1.
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Samuel Goldwyn Films
"To the Stars"
"To the Stars," a period drama set in 1960s Oklahoma that stars Kara Hayward, Liana Liberato, Jordana Spiro, Shea Whigham, Malin Akerman and Tony Hale, was bumped up to a digital release on April 24 and an on demand release on June 1. Martha Stephens directed the film that premiered at Sundance in 2019 and was meant to be released theatrically by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
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truTV
"Impractical Jokers: The Movie"
truTV's first-ever feature-length film arrived early on digital on April 1. Follow James "Murr" Murray, Brian "Q" Quinn, Joe Gatto, and Sal Vulvano, aka The Tenderloins, playing themselves in a fictional story of a humiliating high school mishap from the early '90s.
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Disney
"Artemis Fowl"
Disney's adaptation of the Eoin Colfer fantasy novel "Artemis Fowl" was meant to debut in theaters on May 29 but premiered exclusively on Disney+. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Colin Farrell and Judi Dench.
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Oscilloscope
"The Infiltrators"
The theatrical release of Oscilloscope's docu-thriller "The Infiltrators" has been postponed, and the film was released on both Cable On Demand and Digital Platforms starting June 2.
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Brainstorm Media
"Working Man"
The March 27 theatrical release of "Working Man" has been canceled due to the theater closures, and the film premiered on May 5 via Video On Demand.
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Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
"Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story"
"Jump Shot: The Kenny Sailors Story," a sports documentary executive produced by NBA star Steph Curry, was made available for streaming on the new service Altavod between April 16-18 for $7.99 and is available for pre-order beginning April 9. 10% of all the proceeds will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts. The documentary tells the story of the player, Kenny Sailors, who pioneered the jump shot, and it features interviews with Curry, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Clark Kellogg, Bobby Knight and more.
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Warner Bros.
"Scoob!"
Warner Bros. announced on April 11 that it would release the family animated film “Scoob!” for digital ownership and premium video on-demand on May 15, making it the second film (after Universal's "Trolls World Tour") to cancel a planned theatrical release and head straight to home release pandemic.
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Universal Pictures
"The King of Staten Island"
"The King of Staten Island," the comedy starring and co-written by "SNL" star Pete Davidson and directed by Judd Apatow, skipped its theatrical release date of June 19 and opened one week early on VOD everywhere on June 12.
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Focus Features
"The High Note"
"The High Note," the latest film from "Late Night" director Nisha Ganatra that stars Tracee Ellis Ross and Dakota Johnson, made its premiere on VOD on May 29. It was meant to open on May 8 theatrically.
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Samuel Goldwyn Films
"Waiting for the Barbarians"
Ciro Guerra's film starring Mark Rylance, Johnny Depp and Robert Pattinson was originally slated for a theatrical release but was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn Films to instead be released via cable on demand and on digital in August
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Daniel McFadden / Focus Features
"Irresistible"
Jon Stewart's latest film, a political comedy called "Irresistible," will skip theaters and make its premiere online for on demand digital rental on June 26. The film from Focus Features stars Steve Carell and Rose Byrne and was meant to open in theaters on May 29.
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Amazon Studios
"My Spy"
The Dave Bautista action comedy "My Spy" was originally meant for a theatrical release from STXfilms and was due to hit theaters in March. Amazon then acquired the film from STX and will now release it on streaming on June 26.
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Disney
"The One and Only Ivan"
The animated Disney film based on Thea Sharrock's best-selling children's book "The One and Only Ivan" is the latest feature to skip theaters and move to Disney+. The movie features the voice talent of Angelina Jolie, Danny Devito, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston and Helen Mirren. The film was previously slated for theatrical release on August 14 but will now debut on Disney+ one week later on Aug. 21.
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STXfilms
"The Secret Garden"
The re-imagining of the book "The Secret Garden" was meant to open in UK theaters in April but delayed its theatrical release until August. But STXfilms will now release the StudioCanal and Heyday Films movie on PVOD for $19.99 on August 7 in North America. "The Secret Garden" stars Colin Firth, Julie Walters and Dixie Egerickx.
”Irresistible“ joins a list of big films heading to digital home entertainment platforms early
Since most U.S. movie theaters have shuttered in response to the coronavirus pandemic, studios are rushing out VOD home releases of movies that were only just in theaters.
Brian Welk
Film Reporter • brian.welk@thewrap.com • Twitter: @brianwelk