MusiCares and Opry Trust Fund Can Provide Help to Musicians
By Bobby Reed
Pursuing a career in the music industry is often a rocky journey. Everyone in the business - whether it's a musician, producer, bus driver, engineer or stagehand - faces personal difficulties from time to time. Thankfully, music industry professionals have within their reach numerous organizations willing to offer aid.
Established in 1989 by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS), MusiCares helps music industry workers cope with personal, medical and financial hardships. All phone calls made to MusiCares' four toll-free telephone numbers are confidential. MusiCares provides many forms of aid, including crisis intervention, health care referrals, financial assistance grants and addiction recovery programs.
"We have negotiated low-cost rates with a large number of treatment facilities around the country," said Debbie Carroll, MusiCares' Senior Director of Health & Human Services. "Our relationships enable us to do a quick assessment with the client, make a phone call and then get the client treatment almost immediately."
MusiCares also operates addiction recovery support groups around the nation. These free services are designed specifically for music industry professionals, to help them deal with ongoing recovery issues.
"We also have Safe Harbor Rooms, which are clean-and-sober rooms at awards shows and other events," Carroll said. "CMA has been very generous in allowing us to have Safe Harbor Rooms backstage at its annual awards show for several years now. If folks are working on the show, or performing on the show, and they're in recovery, they can come to a Safe Harbor Room. There, they can relax, grab a bite to eat or participate in a 12-step meeting. They can do so confidentially, right there, backstage at the show."
November 22, 2005
Randy Scruggs, Earl Scruggs and Marty Stuart perform at the Ryman Auditorium during CMA Music Festival week on June 8, 2005 at Marty Stuart's Fourth Annual Late Night Jam, to help raise more than $21,000 for the MusiCares foundation.
photo: Thomas Petillo
For the past four years, Marty Stuart has designated MusiCares as the beneficiary of his Late Night Jam, a multi-artist concert at the Ryman Auditorium during the week of CMA Music Festival in Nashville each June. Contributions from the Late Night Jam have generated more than $50,000 for MusiCares.
MusiCares is in the midst of a record year for fund distribution. "Last year, we distributed $1.3 million, and this year we're on target to distribute more than $2 million," Carroll said. "That's great news. It means that people are aware that we're here and they're looking to us to help them."
MusiCares often partners with other entertainment assistance organizations, including The Actors' Fund of America; the American Federation of Musicians, Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers; and the Music Maker Relief Foundation.
MusiCares offices are located in Nashville, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Hollywood and Austin. Carroll can be reached at (615) 327-0050. The toll-free hotline is (877) 626-2748.
The Nashville-based Opry Trust Fund has much in common with MusiCares. The fund was established in 1965, and has provided assistance for medical bills, living expenses, rental fees, mortgage payments, utilities and food. The identity of people helped by the fund remains confidential.
"The vast majority of the cases we help out with are due to an illness," said Steve Buchanan, who is the Opry Trust Fund President as well as Senior Vice President of Media and Entertainment for Gaylord Entertainment.
"Typically, we receive a referral," Buchanan said. "People make us aware of someone who is in need. We go through a process to understand the circumstances and to determine what will help bridge the gap. We analyze the person's financial situation and determine how the fu nd can assist. Then we would put it before our Beneficiary Committee, who would approve what we think is an appropriate amount."
The fund is not exclusively for Grand Ole Opry cast members.
"The Opry Trust Fund is actually more of an effort on behalf of the Opry members to support other people who work throughout the music industry," he said. Buchanan encouraged those who have questions about the fund to contact Stephanie Fortner at (615) 316-6174.
In 2003, the Opry Trust Fund announced its commitment to donate $250,000 to the Country Music Retirement Community. There was an initial donation of $50,000, and a pledge for an additional $200,000.
CMRC is working to provide a living facility for qualified music industry retirees, regardless of their income. It will be strongly identified with the Country Music industry, and will provide a sense of community for its residents.
The CMRC is seeking a tract of land, focusing o n Williamson County in Tennessee, said Katie Gillon, CMRC Executive Project Coordinator.
"We did a market survey, and the respondents said they would like to live south of Nashville, but close enough to the city that it would be easy for Music Row workers and artists to come out and interact with the residents," Gillon said.
CMA has been a major supporter of the project for many years. In 1994, a CMA task force initiative started developing the idea for a retirement community. The CMRC grew out of this, eventually evolving into an independent organization with a 30-member board of directors.
From 2001 to 2004, the CMRC was the largest single recipient of funds from CMA's "Cause For Celebration!" program. As part of the program, half the net proceeds from CMA Music Festival are divided among charities designated by participating artists. To date, CMA has donated $800,000 to these charities. Artists who perform at CMA Music Festival donate their time an d often attend at their own expense.
Features of the planned CMRC facility being discussed include a performance hall, a recording studio, a fitness center, a museum, retail shops, an equestrian stable, walking trails and a fishing pond. The first phase of the project will be the construction of an independent living facility. Ultimately, the CMRC will offer three categories of residential opportunities: independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing/full-service medical.
The CMRC facility will be modeled after the Motion Picture & Television Fund retirement community, a 41-acre campus located near Los Angeles. Gillon and other members of the CMRC board of directors have toured that facility.
"We saw a community where the residents have everything they need," Gillon said. "They have medical facilities right on the property, transportation to grocery stores and lots of social activities planned. The residents are happy to be l iving amongst people of like interests. The movie and TV industry is taking care of its own. We love the idea that we in the music industry could take care of our own."
Gillon can be reached at (615) 298-3533.
© 2005 CMA Close Up News Service
