Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief Expands To The MENA Region In Partnership With The Arab Fund For Arts And Culture (AFAC)

Today, Spotify launched the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project in the Middle East and North Africa region, in partnership with the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC). The project aims to raise funds for artists within the music industry who are deeply impacted by COVID-19 with the support of AFAC’s Artist Support Grant program.

The Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief is a global project, which recommends verified organizations that offer financial relief to those in the music community most in need around the world. On an international level, Spotify has partnered with MusiCares, PRS Foundation, Brazilian Union of Composers, UMI in Argentina and Help Musicians, and others.

With the project debuting in the Middle East and North Africa region today, Spotify is proud to have chosen the Beirut-based foundation, AFAC. Founded in 2007, through the initiative of Arab cultural activists, AFAC has executed programs supporting creatives from artists, writers, intellectuals across different industries including cinema, photography, visual and performing arts, music, and many more.

Spotify will make a donation to AFAC’s Artist Support Grant program to assist their fundraising efforts aimed at helping artists during these unprecedented times. Through the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief page, Spotify will match donations, dollar-for-dollar up to a collective total Spotify contribution of $10 million across partner organisations.

On this occasion, Claudius Boller, Spotify’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa said: “Supporting the artist community across the MENA region has always been at the heart of what we do at Spotify. Today, it is more important than ever to continue supporting and building this community to ultimately help those most in need.  We are proud of the global Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief project and are looking forward to witnessing its fruition here in MENA in collaboration with AFAC.”

At times of great challenge, music has always been a source of inspiration, solace and reassurance and although streaming continues to play a key role in connecting creators with their fans, numerous sources of revenue have been interrupted or stopped altogether by this epidemic. Therefore, today, thousands of creative professionals and artists need support.

“The majority of artists across the Arab region are already working in challenging contexts. The Coronavirus crisis has mainly magnified long-standing inequalities and lack of social safety nets. Thus, it is essential now more than ever to balance immediate actions and responses with strategic visions and goals. There’s no better message in such times than joining forces with other engaged partners like Spotify to ensure that our creative communities are sustained. By offering vital grant support in a very difficult and volatile time, we hope to ease the burden of loss of livelihoods and opportunities for artists.” Rima Mismar, Executive Director of AFAC

For those continuing to create at home, music talent marketplace SoundBetter is waiving its revenue share and cloud-based audio recording platform Soundtrap will offer extended free trials for educators.

To learn more about how to make a contribution, visit the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief website. For music industry professionals seeking support, visit AFAC’s official website to get more information on applying for relief.