Songwriters of North America (SONA) will begin accepting applications for a new round of pandemic emergency grants on April 28, the organization has announced.
First launched in May 2020, the Songwriters Fund grew out of an effort by songwriter Autumn Rowe to raise money for her struggling peers. The official fund — which has given out over $400,000 in $1,000 emergency grants to date — was born after SONA came aboard to help create a larger, more structured operation. Initial donations came from a mixture of private and corporate donors, including Sony Music Publishing.
Alongside Rowe, the fund is co-directed songwriter Michelle Featherstone, with management by songwriter Sarah Robertson.
“Everything dried up all at once for the songwriting community: royalties from streaming, as well as the ability to do gig work or be a session player,” said Featherstone in a statement. “We were talking to fellow songwriters who were asking, ‘How will I pay this month’s rent? How will I buy groceries? Will I ever work again?’”
“The Songwriter Fund is a resource for our community when there are no other options,” added Rowe in a statement. “Many writers who ran out of options received grants, and we were really grateful to help. I’d like the Songwriter Fund to feel like that friend who always has your back. Because there is so little overhead in our organization, the most possible money goes out to songwriters.”
To learn more about the fund or to donate, visit www.songwriterfund.com.
