Giving – which music-related charities can you donate to?
One of the music industry’s favourite charities, spreading the word that music can change lives, is Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. It’s the UK’s largest specialist music therapy charity, relying on donations and a programme of fundraising activity, in the absence of any statutory funding, to raise the annual £3m it needs to survive.
In the years since its inception, Nordoff-Robbins has benefited more than 10,000 individuals whose conditions range from autism, neurological damage, mental illness, brain injury and learning difficulties, as well as those who live with terminal illness. Its specialist music therapists assist those for whom verbal communication is difficult, using sound and music to help participants express themselves. Demand for therapy at the charity’s London headquarters, as well as at its forty outreach projects around the country, is incredibly high.
Gemma Fleet of the charity said. ‘We’ve had some great support from PRS in the past and would like to thank both them and PPL for sponsoring the 2007 Music Industry Trusts’ (MITS) Dinner.’
The MITS event has raised close to £3m for its two nominated charities over the last 16 years (the other being Croydon based BRITS school, featured in M24). Likewise, the BRIT Trust also donates all profits gained from the annual BRIT Awards to support Nordoff-Robbins, amongst others.
With the charity keen to ensure that as much money as possible goes directly to those that need it, Nordoff-Robbins gives its supporters an assurance that 85p out of every £1 collected will be spent on music therapy. The charity recently extended further into the music community with their ‘musical bring and buy’, where musicians are being invited to clear their desks of unwanted CDs or musical items, to be auctioned online and the resulting cash being used to buy new instruments. Time to spend an afternoon clearing out those CD racks.
Another charity long-associated with the music industry is the Prince’s Trust, which has had many PRS members support it over the years by holding fund-raising events and concerts. A relatively new venture for them is the setting up of their music publishing venture which aims to raise money through copyrights.
Mike Cobb, head of music publishing at the Trust explains: ‘the Prince’s Trust helps change young lives. It works with 14 to 30 year olds by giving practical and financial support and developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation.’
Billing the new venture as the first ‘good cause’ music publisher in the UK, Cobb says he can offer a unique service to writers who want to turn over some of their royalties to charity: ‘We offer composers all the services of a standard music publisher with one extra ingredient, our publisher share goes to The Prince’s Trust. Composers receive their royalty share as normal, but know their music is helping change young lives.’
'artists see their music helping some of the poorest people in the world'
Never one to let a good idea go to waste is the ever-inspirational Oxfam, who launched the first every charity download site in 2006 (bignoisemusic.com), offering a range of over 300,000 tracks. For every pound spent on the site, 10p goes directly to Oxfam, with songs costing from as little as 75p each.
Adrian Lovett, Oxfam’s Director of Campaigns, explains: ‘Bignoisemusic.com works for everyone. Music lovers get great tracks and artists see their music helping some of the poorest people in the world through real cash support.’
It’s an initiative that has received widespread endorsement throughout the music industry, from record labels to artists and managers. Alison Wenham, Chief Executive of AIM has said that Oxfam’s entry into the digital music market enabled independent label-signed artists ‘to support the marriage of music with a mission to help poor people around the world.’
Another charity to mention with a strong musical connection – although there are so many more we could have featured – is the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT). The MCPS-PRS Alliance has chosen TCT as its first official charity partner and will work with them to promote their work and help fund raise for them over the next 18 months. Alliance staff will be encouraged to channel their charitable giving the TCT way and forthcoming issues of M will carry information about how members can also get involved. Many already do so at the annual gigs held over the course of a week at the Royal Albert Hall every April.
Roger Daltrey is patron of TCT, another charity that receives no statutory funding. Daltrey plays an active role in persuading some of the best British talent in rock, pop and comedy to give up their time to raise money. Daltrey notes that ‘over the years these shows have really made a massive difference to the money available to build TCT units in NHS hospitals. They also give our teenagers the moral support to help fight this terrible disease.’
Receiving – which music-related charities can help you?
One of the music industry’s most established charities is the PRS Members’ Fund, set up in the 1930s to offer temporary or ongoing financial support to current and ex-PRS members who find themselves on hard times. It’s a cause of some effect and one that patron Don Black is ‘delighted to bang the drum for!’ John Logan, the Fund’s General Secretary, explains: ‘I’ve been looking after PRS members throughout my thirty-five years at the Society to help members in crisis. We try to offer hope.’
2008 will see the fund outreach further. ‘We’re aiming to recruit a small network of regional visitors to focus on those who require our assistance and raise awareness of the Fund. Plus we’re planning a big concert to raise money and our profile. We’re talking to promoters who are keen to offer support to mark the charity’s 75th Anniversary in 2009. We need a PRS headline band or performer to volunteer their services…any offers?’
One of those already offering is Dave Arcari, welfare visitor for the Fund in Scotland. ‘One of the most crucial things is that folks shouldn’t be too shy or proud to apply for help. Anyone who has contributed to the PRS repertoire, is entitled when in financial need or distress. We offer practical and financial assistance to writer members, ex-members and their families, and help older members lead an independent life.’ PRS members can get involved by spreading awareness. They can also make donations large or small, which can be done through PRS distributions (as you can for any charity giving), or leave legacies and bequests of copyrights. Both are vital in ensuring that the Fund’s support work continues.
'folks shouldn’t be too shy or proud to apply for help'
For Dave though, it isn’t just about the money. ‘The most rewarding thing for me,’ he says, ‘is seeing how the help and support form the Fund can turn folks’ lives round and dramatically improve the quality of life for many members and their families.’
Another organisation looking out for the community is the Musicians Benevolent Fund, which offers help and support to musicians from all musical genres as well as people who work in related occupations such as piano tuners, instrument repairers, producers and teachers.
Rosalind Parry of the MBF explains the importance of the role they play: ‘I am always amazed by what a difference our support can make to people’s lives,’ she says. ‘We have beneficiaries who suffer from debilitating illnesses and, not only can we help with treatment costs, but we can also help alleviate strains of everyday life while they recover. Something as simple as paying their phone bill can make a huge difference to their quality of life.’
Given the wealth of possibilities that exist for all PRS and MCPS members to donate their time, their money, or that pile of CD covermounts gathering dust in the corner, there’s an opportunity for everyone to help through the power of music and, in turn, receive help themselves in times of need.
For more information on any of the charities mentioned, go to:
www.bignoisemusic.com
www.mbf.org.uk
www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk
www.princes-trust.org.uk
www.prsmembersfund.co.uk
www.teenagecancertrust.org