Uniting in support of the unsung stars of the New Zealand music scene

New Zealand’s musicians and the teams behind them are always there for us in times of trouble and tragedy, like the Band Together concert after the Christchurch earthquakes and You Are Us/Aroha Nui concerts following the Christchurch terror attacks.

Now they are the ones that need our help.

COVID-19 is having a devastating effect on the live music industry and the livelihoods of thousands of kiwi music people and businesses. Shows are cancelled, venues are threatened; production suppliers, roadies and crew are without work. With almost no notice, these hard-working, ordinary New Zealanders and their dependents are facing levels of distress and hardship never seen before.

For 8 years MusicHelps has been the music industry’s charity, providing emergency financial support and professional counselling to kiwi music people when crisis strikes.

With the onslaught of COVID-19, MusicHelps faces unprecedented demand for its vital services.

How You Can Help If you are in a position to do so, please donate to MusicHelps – a registered charity that provides crisis relief and professional counselling services to kiwi artists, crew and music workers who are directly affected during this time. MusicHelps is an official partner of the Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief initiative.

Every donation you make will be matched by Spotify up to the value of USD$10 million globally. Donate Now

Current Total

Donations to MusicHelpsLive can be made via Give A Little, texting “MUSIC” to 2448 to donate $3, by transfer using internet banking, and by PayPal. So far we’ve raised $760,560.74 from 6750 generous donors and have made $520,000 in crisis assistance relief grants to kiwi music workers. Every donation turns up the levels!

Text MUSIC to 2448 to Donate $3

You Can Also Help By

Consider donating your refunds for cancelled shows or a portion of your refund to the venue or MusicHelps. Hang onto your tickets for rescheduled dates. By keeping your ticket, you keep funds in the industry when it is most needed. Keep streaming and buying kiwi music and merchandise – directly from artist websites, through local record stores (online), Bandcamp, Patreon or via your favourite streaming services – Spotify and Apple.

Spread the word – contact your preferred radio station and ask them to play your favourite Kiwi artists or write a letter to your local MP. Message your favourite musician or venue and offer moral support. Or, ‘Pay It Forward’ and buy a gift voucher for your favourite artist at their favourite rehearsal, recording or production studio. If you know any workers affected by the recent event cancellations and postponements, check that they are aware of I Lost My Gig NZ.

Support the businesses that are helping the MusicHelpsLive appeal! Click here to find amazing deals that also contribute to kiwi music people affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Are you a kiwi music worker? Go the MusicHelps site to find out about the latest emergency financial and health & wellbeing support that MusicHelps is providing to those affected by the pandemic. Make sure you’re up to date with all the latest on the MusicHelpsLive appeal. Like MusicHelps on Facebook, follow the charity on Twitter and Instagram to get all the info hot off the press.

The music workers of Aotearoa who bring us the sounds and experiences we all cherish are always the first to put up their hands to help when our land and its communities are in crisis. Now they need our help. Please join with MusicHelpsLive and provide hope, advice and practical support to the music people most affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Peter Dickens, General Manager, MusicHelps From performing musicians to the untold numbers of people who work with them, from the staff at venues now forced to close to the crews who build stages through the night for stadium shows, our community is built on our shared passion for music. With so many of our people suddenly facing economic vulnerability and more, any support New Zealand music lovers can show will have a profound impact and keep Kiwi music alive. Paul McKessar, Artist Manager, Benee, Brooke Fraser, Maala, Miss June SIX60 has always been a whanau built on live performance. It’s been really tough seeing so many people in the live industry we know and love be negatively impacted by the corona virus epidemic. A lot of music industry professionals are small business owners and independent contractors who may not have traditional employment protections. Seeing the industry come together around MusicHelpsLive and the other initiatives though, that’s awesome to see and gives everyone hope. We have to keep the music alive and come back from this stronger together. Matiu Walters, Artist, Six60