HINT at Pitchfork Festival

Attention musicians attending the Pitchfork Festival: Alex Maiolo, project coordinator for FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT), will be at Chicago's Union Park this weekend (July 17-19), to spread the word about FMC's free service for musicians.

HINT is an information resource that helps musicians learn about their health insurance options. After scheduling an appointment on the HINT website, artists get a call from health insurance experts (who are also musicians) who go over an individual's options on case-by-case, state-by-state basis.

In between catching some quality rock (it's a tough life), Alex will be talking to musicians and managers about HINT. He probably won't have time to do one-on-one sessions, but if you're a musician who's planning on being at Pitchfork Festival, you can shoot him an e-mail here to get set up for one of his informal group chats.

You can also check out an earlier podcast interview with Alex here, where he talks more in depth about the program and why health insurance is so important for musicians.

“HealthCare Remix” Discussion on Reform

Next week (July 8th, 2009), FMC Communications Director Casey Rae-Hunter will participate in a “HealthCare Remix” Discussion on Reform at the Service Employees International Union in Washington DC.

For our part of the conversation, we'll be talking about the issue of health insurance and musicians. Specifically, we'll describe the Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT) — a free service that provides musicians with high-quality one-on-one info about their health insurance options, from a fellow musician/health insurance expert. (HINT doesn't sell insurance or even make recommendations — it's an information resource for musicians to get a handle on what their options are).

The official media advisory is below:

“HealthCare Remix” Discussion on Reform

SEIU, Lupus Foundation for America Greater Washington, & Future of Music Coalition to hold open discussion on how individuals in the arts & beyond can benefit from reform

[Washington, DC] – In 2005, J Dilla was an influential hip-hop producer and rising artist whose promising life was cut short by complications stemming from his battle with Lupus. Without health insurance, the costs associated with his care reached triple digits. In the United States, 60% of uninsured Americans are self-employed or employed by a small business that does not offer health benefits. Please join us for a discussion on how healthcare reform can prevent the kind of financial stress and hardship the Yancey family has endured due to the high cost of medical treatment.

WHO: Mr. Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor, member of A Tribe Called Quest & Diabetes patient; Ms. Maureen “Ma Dukes” Yancey, J Dilla’s mother; Dr. L Toni Lewis, President of Committee of Interns & Residents/SEIU; Reverend Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus; Casey-Rae Hunter, Future of Music Coalition

WHAT: Roundtable discussion about healthcare reform and its implications for individuals in the arts and beyond.

Where: SEIU International Headquarters
1800 Massachusetts Ave, Washington, DC

When: Wednesday, July 8th 1 – 2 PM

To RSVP: Please RSVP to healthcareremix@gmail.com.

The event is planned in conjunction with the 4th Annual J Dilla Tribute & Fundraiser presented by SEIU, LFAGW & Hedrush Entertainment, hosted by Phife (ATCQ) & Grap Luva @ Liv Nightclub on Wednesday at 9 PM. Special guests include: J Dilla's mom, Ma Dukes Yancey, and his younger brother, Illa Jay. For questions or more information about the Tribute Event please call Elizabeth Muniot at 202.212.6760.

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With 2 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy.

Founded in 1974, the Lupus Foundation of America Greater Washington (LFAGW) Chapter, Inc. provides free, current information, education programs and outreach services to improve the quality of lives for people with lupus while also supporting research. Toll-free number in D.C., Md., Va. and W.Va.: 1-888-349-1167 or 202-349-1167. Web site: www.lupusgw.org.

The Hip Hop Caucus, founded on September 11, 2004, has developed a 700,000 member national database, and created field teams in 48 cities across 30 states. The mission of the Hip Hop Caucus is to work towards ending urban poverty for the next generation. We organize young people in urban communities to be active in elections, policymaking, and service projects. Through Hip Hop culture, celebrities, cultural media, technology, and grassroots organizing, we reach young people of color from low-income communities, who are traditionally unengaged in the political process.

About Future of Music Coalition
Future of Music Coalition is a national non-profit education, research and advocacy organization that seeks a bright future for creators and listeners. FMC works towards this goal through continuous interaction with its primary constituency — musicians — and in collaboration with other creator/public interest groups.

RIP Jay Bennett

You may have already heard the news about the unfortunate death of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Jay Bennett, whose talents graced the Wilco records Being There, Summerteeth and the seminal Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. (Bennett's departure from the band is partially documented in director Sam Jones' Wilco documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.)

Post-Wilco, Bennett released several solo albums and produced and/or guest performed on a wide range of releases from other artists. Bennett died on Sunday, May 24, apparently in his sleep. While the actual cause of death is unknown pending autopsy, Bennett had some persistent health problems, and had recently posted on his MySpace blog about his need for emergency hip surgery and the difficulties in scheduling the operation due to his lack of health insurance.

Although we’re not trying to make a connection between Bennett’s death and his lack of health insurance, we can say this continues to be a huge problem for American musicians, and the uninsured in general. It’s not hard to picture how the lack of health insurance could impact any one of us. You might delay seeking professional help for even the most minor medical or dental issues because the cost of care without insurance is so expensive. Minor issues can quickly become major issues, at which point you might be faced with a medical emergency, and no safety net. These conditions can be complicated in the life of a working musician, what with the constant travel, wacky hours, heavy equipment, and a typically unsteady paycheck. This makes health insurance even more important, yet sadly more elusive.

No matter how you slice it, not having health insurance is a recipe for tragedy. This is why we started our Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT) program in 2005 to help musicians understand their health insurance options. Now, we know the current system is far from perfect. But we also know that too many artists simply believe that health insurance is too hard to get or too complicated/time consuming to comprehend. We figured that if musicians had access to free, high-quality information about health insurance, it would be a start to addressing a major problem.

After scheduling an appointment on the HINT website (which also contains lots of useful, musician-friendly info), artists get a call from health insurance experts Alex Maiolo or Chris Stephenson, who go over an individual's options on case-by-case, state-by-state basis. Alex and Chris are also musicians who know what it’s like to juggle artistic ambitions with more mundane (but no less important) concerns like making sure you’ve got some kind of coverage in case of an unforeseen health crisis.

Click here to learn more about HINT, health insurance in general and to schedule an appointment with our musician experts.

Our sincere condolences to Jay Bennett’s friends, family and musical associates — he surely will be missed.

HINT at SXSW — Podcast Interview with Alex Maiolo

Just wanted to let all you Austin-bound peeps that Alex Maiolo, project coordinator for FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT), will be at South By Southwest this year, rocking out and spreading the word about this free service for musicians.

What's this HINT thing all about? Well, it's an information resource for musicians to learn about their health insurance options. After scheduling an appointment on the HINT website (which also contains lots of useful, musician-friendly info), artists get a call from health insurance experts Alex or Chris Stephenson, who'll go over an individual's options on case-by-case, state-by-state basis. Alex and Chris are also indie musicians — no stuffed-shirt nerditude here, just solid, (and free!) info.

So, as we were saying. . . Alex will be at SXSW this week, talking to musicians and managers about HINT. He probably won't have time to do one-on-one sessions, but if you're in Austin and want to to catch one of his informal group chats, shoot him an e-mail here.

Oh, and we almost forgot — Alex recently talked to us about HINT, why health insurance is important to musicians (even if you think you don't have time to learn about it), and why Austin during SXSW is probably the most unhealthy place in the world. Fun as hell, though. Check it out here.

Stimulating the Arts in America

There's been a lot of back-and-forth about lately about the proposed stimulus package for our ailing economy. It's also been said that you can judge a country's overall health by how it values the arts. Shouldn't any attempt at economic recover include the people who contribute to American culture?

That's precisely what Americans for the Arts — a 45 year-old nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in the US — is advocating for. In a January 25 article in the New York Times, AFTA president Robert L. Lynch says “the artist’s paycheck is every bit as important as the steelworker’s paycheck or the autoworker’s paycheck.”

Arts groups are urging federal departments like Transportation or Labor to factor culture into their financing. A transportation enhancement program, for example, could pay artists for related public artworks; through the Labor Department displaced arts professionals could receive new training to stay in the work force. “Every one of these places is a vehicle through which the money is going to flow, and we want to make sure the arts is part of it,” Mr. Lynch said.

One of the most pressing concerns for artists — including musicians — is a lack of health insurance. (FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool, or HINT is a free service for musicians to learn about their health insurance options.) But the market downturn has had an even more far-reaching effect, including job losses and the erosion of educational opportunities for those looking to hone skills or learn about American culture.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment bill that is currently winding its way through Congress includes $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts to be spread out among nonprofit arts organizations as well as state and municipal institutions. In addition, arts groups like AFTA are hoping to convince various federal agencies like the departments of Transportation and Labor to include culture in their agendas.

But don't call it a government giveaway: “I don’t think of this as a bailout for the arts,” Lynch says. “It’s an economic investment in the arts.” We at FMC think that's money well spent.

Back From the Big Apple

Audience converges on panelists at "What's the Future for Musicians?" — NYC.

We just wrapped up our events at The Public Theater in New York on October 6, both of which went extremely well. It was a long day for staff, what with our "What's the Future for Musicians?" seminar and "Creative License" panel discussion taking place essentially back-to-back (with an awesome cocktail party in between). Still, it was a blast, and attendees were excited about the range of information offered in both the presentations and breakout sessions.

"What's the Future for Musicians?" kicked off at noon with the "Music 2.0" segment, which featured a brief overview about new models for promotion and distribution by FMC's Kristin Thomson, followed by an in-depth panel discussion with some of the sharpest minds in music, technology, artist advocacy and public relations.

Attendees also learned about the critical issue of health insurance for musicians at a discussion led by Alex Maiolo of FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT). A lot of great info was presented by panelists who do work around the issue, or have been personally affected by it.

The breakout sessions were a hit, with eventgoers participating in informal, face-to-face conversations about new revenue streams, podcasting/webcasting, international touring, funding opportunities and more.

We wrapped up "What's the Future for Musicians?" with a net neutrality presentation by FMC's Michael Bracy, which segued into a policy overview that brought perspective on issues of concern to musicians, labels, broadcasters and fans. You can check out complete programming descriptions here.

After a heady policy discussion, folks usually require refreshment, so we took a break for a cocktail party and finger-foods. Then it was time for "Creative License: A Conversation About Music, Sampling and Fair Use," which got underway around 7 PM.

The discussion featured moderator/media professor Kembrew McLeod and interviewees/panelists Steve Stein (aka Steinski of Sonic Boom), musician/composer/educator T.S. Monk, producer/label chief El-P and American University Professor Peter Jaszi. The back-and-forth was fascinating — the only problem was that we didn't have quite as much time as we might have liked. Thankfully, we'll be doing more events about sampling in the near future, in advance of the fall 2009 publication of Creative License — a book co-authored by McLeod.

A huge and hearty thanks to all of our sponsors and partners who made these New York events (and the previous one in Chicago) such successes. We'll be posting audio and visual archives of the presentations and panels as soon as possible, so those who couldn't make it can see (and hear) what they missed.

Next up, our D.C. Policy Day, which is set February 11 2009. Stay tuned for more info on that event!

Joel Hamilton's Big Ride

Joel Hamilton

A handful of posts ago, we talked about NYC producer/musician Joel Hamilton's cross-country Vespa ride to raise money for his friend and fellow producer Scott Harding, who was critically injured in a hit-and-run accident while leaving a late night studio session. Joel's trek also benefits FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT) — a free service that provides information to musicians about their health insurance options.

We recently had the chance to catch up with Joel to talk about how the ride came together and why health insurance is such a crucial issue to the music community.

On the ride:
"Scotty and I had this big ride planned up the east coast. . . I was literally sending him Craigslist postings every day about these crazy Vespas, then suddenly the chance to do something fun like this as well as lots of other fun things were ripped out from underneath us. So I was still going to do some sort of ride in honor of my friend. Then someone brought to my attention the Scooter Cannonball Run, which is a ride across the entire country on highway 50. . . If I just sorta hopped in with the rest of these characters, I could do it for charity, for Scotty and for Future of Music Coalition — to bring awareness to people doing good things for musicians."

On health insurance and musicians:
"It's not about how healthy you are. I have people tell me all the time, 'Dude, I don't even really get sick because I eat right.' Health insurance isn't about whether you're prone to getting colds. It's about the fact that you might end up signing your life away when someone else takes your health away from you because of some ridiculous thing like drunk driving. . . it's insurance against someone taking your future away from you — financially and otherwise."

Click here to listen to the podcast (right click or Option click to download). For more info on Joel's ride, visit VespaCoast2Coast.com.

Cool HINT Article

There's an article about musicians and health insurance in Seven Days, Burlington, Vermont's alternative newsweekly. Artists who lack coverage is a concern even in that sleepy little college town (which actually has a pretty big music scene). And sadly, the story is the same in both small and big burgs across the country.

The piece talks about folks in the Burlington music community who have suffered severe injuries and didn't have health insurance. It also features some choice quotes from Alex Maiolo — the musician/health insurance expert who manages FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT):

“I think we all agree that the current system is not a good system,” says Maiolo. “But it’s what we’ve got. And while we can talk about what might be a better way, in the interim the short-term solution is to demystify how it works.”

That's exactly why HINT was created: to help musicians understand the tricky jargon associated with health insurance, and provide a way to examine their options — for free. Here's how it works: after scheduling a phone appointment on the HINT website, you'll receive a call from Alex or Chris Stephenson to go over your situation. Remember, HINT doesn't sell insurance. What it does do is provide free, quality information about a really important subject.

If you're a Chicago or New York-based musician, you can meet Alex in-person at our "What's the Future for Musicians?" workshops this fall. In addition to getting information about health insurance, attendees will learn about a range of internet-based promotion and distribution options, the importance of open internet structures, local funding opportunities for artists and how copyright law and business models affect musician compensation. Breakout sessions will provide an opportunity to interact with the experts and network with other musicians, labels and fans.

The Chicago event takes place on Monday, September 22 at the Old Town School of Folk Music. The NYC forum will be held at the Public Theater on Monday, October 6. Admission for each event is $25, though a limited number of musician scholarships are also available for both events. Register early; space is limited!

What’s the Future for Musicians: Chicago Monday, September 22, 2008 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago, IL

Event site
Register
Apply for a scholarship
Press credentialing
Help us spread the word

What’s the Future for Musicians: New York: Monday October 6, 2008, 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM Anspacher Theater at the Public Theater, New York, NY

Event site
Register
Apply for a scholarship
Press credentialing
Help us spread the word

Ride On!

We were gonna wait to tell you about New York City musician/producer Joel Hamilton's cross-country Vespa ride to benefit his producer friend Scott Harding and FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT). You see, we did a podcast interview with Joel this week, but haven't gotten around to editing it yet. But the awesome Ann Powers of the L.A. Times broke the story on the paper's music blog yesterday, so we figured we might as well fill you in.

Joel, who has worked the faders for acts like Elvis Costello, Marc Ribot, Jolie Holland and more, is riding his Vespa coast-to-coast this September to raise money for Scott Harding, a fellow NYC producer who was paralyzed in a hit-and-run accident while leaving a late-night studio session. Like so many musicians and engineers, Scott didn't have health insurance, and his medical bills are astronomical.

Not to give too much away from our podcast, but Joel also wanted to find a way to raise awareness about the importance of health insurance to the creative community. Often, artists think they don't have time to learn about their health insurance options, or feel they can't afford it. Well, coverage is definitely cheaper than having your wages garnished for the rest of your life to pay off massive medical bills resulting from a catastrophic accident or unforeseen illness.

When Joel came across HINT — a free hotline that offers information to musicians about their health insurance options — he immediately recognized its value, and decided to make it part of his ride. We're psyched that Joel is not only helping his friend, but also contributing to this worthwhile service for musicians.

If you're a musician who wants to know about your health insurance options, check out the HINT website. It's loaded with information on the subject, written in plain language. While there, you can schedule a free phone consultation with our health insurance expert, who is also a musician.

Stay tuned for the podcast interview with Joel, which should be up soon.

Another Drew Glackin Tribute/HINT Benefit

A few weeks ago, we told you about a pair of Raleigh, North Carolina memorial concerts for Drew Glackin, the multi-instrumentalist and bassist for Americana heroes The Silos. Drew passed away last January from a treatable illness that didn't get diagnosed because he lacked health insurance. Organized by Drew's friends, the shows raised more than $3000 for Drew's family and FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT).

Another tribute to this much-missed musician takes place on June 5 — this time at True Endeavors, a socially-engaged Madison, Wisconsin music venue. The concert — which features The Silos and Portland, Oregon's Weinland — will also raise money for HINT. Click here for venue and show info; here for the club's blog post about the event.

And check out this article that just ran in Madison newspaper The Isthmus.

Musicians are smart about a lot of stuff — equipment, booking, making new fans — but many overlook the importance of health insurance. If you're a musician who wants to know your options, visit the HINT website to schedule a one-on-one phone appointment with another musician (who happens to be a health insurance expert).

Getting the HINT About Health Insurance

As we've mentioned before, musicians are among the most under-insured segments of the American public. Many artists simply assume they can't afford health insurance; others think it takes too much time to figure out. Especially when most of their focus is on making music and making a living.

Unfortunately it only takes one major health crisis to prove that going without insurance is a risky proposition. We've all heard about the benefit concerts to help artists who have taken ill, but they often come too late.

Future of Music Coalition created the Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT) to help musicians examine their health insurance options and hopefully make informed choices about coverage. The free program has been a success so far, but the work is far from over.

Case in point: Drew Glackin, a talented multi-instrumentalist who died of a preventable condition last January, because he lacked health insurance. Drew was the bassist alt-country heroes The Silos, and was a beloved member of the North Carolina music community. Now, that community is honoring his memory with a pair of shows in Raleigh, NC, featuring a slew of local acts, including Tres Chicas, Patty Hurst Shifter, Kenny Roby, Chip Robinson & Heavy Beat Outfit. Part of the proceeds will go to the HINT program. The shows take place this Saturday and Sunday (May 3 & 4). Click here for more info.

If you can't make it (or don't live in the area), please consider donating to HINT. It's volunteer run, and provides an important service to musicians. Plus it's free!

FMC is pleased that Drew Glackin benefits are getting coverage in Raleigh-area press — these shows deserve to sell out! Here are a couple of articles about Drew, the concerts and HINT:

The Struggle For Musicians' Health Insurance, Independent Weekly

Local Musicians Pay Tribute to Drew Glackin, WRAL.com

HINT also received prominent mention in an article published closer to (our) home:

Art Burn, Washington City Paper

Thanks to everyone who has helped spread the word about the benefit shows and HINT.

Benefit for the Family of Drew Glackin and HINT

In January 2008, Drew Glackin, an incredibly talented multi-instrumentalist and bassist for The Silos, died at 44 of an extremely treatable disease because, like so many working musicians, he couldn't afford (or thought he couldn't afford) health insurance.

Drew's friends want to do something in his honor, but for them, the never-ending story of musicians organizing benefit concerts to help ailing peers has gotten pretty tired. Everyone pitches in and works really hard; bands play for free. But the next morning, after the money has been counted and handed off, people are left to ponder the marginal dent they've made in the enormous debt that accumulates so quickly when the uninsured get really sick.

So Drew's friends and associates have decided to hold a benefit that does a little more. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go directly to Drew's family to help cover funeral costs and medical bills, and other half will benefit FMC's HINT (Health Insurance Navigation Tool) program — an initiative that provides free, professional guidance to musicians seeking advice about health insurance plans.

The two-day event, entitled Get the HINT: a Future of Music Coalition Benefit Concert in Memory of Drew Glackin will serve as a tribute to a great musician and friend. The event will also raise awareness about FMC's HINT program, which helps musicians navigate the health insurance landscape and find workable health insurance solutions.

If you're in the Raleigh, NC area, we encourage you to attend this weekend of events and show your support.

Saturday, May 3, 2008: The Pour House, Raleigh, NC
Tres Chicas (feat. mini Hazeldine reunion w/Shawn Barton)
The Silos
Chip Robinson w/Heavy Beat Outlet
Patty Hurst Shifter BJ Barham
Quarry Hill
Chris Mills
Tandy
Glory Fountain
Port Huron Statement

Sunday, May 4, 2008: Sadlacks, Raleigh, NC
Chip Robinson w/Heavy Beat Outlet
Kenny Roby
Lou Ford
Joe Swank & the Zen Pirates
The Cartridge Family

Proceeds will benefit the family of Drew Glackin and the Future of Music's HINT program.

Bye-Bye, South By!

FMC staff just got back from several whirlwind days in Austin where we experienced the music and madness of South By Southwest.

We had a blast, and even managed to accomplish a few things in between the rocking and partying.

FMC's Michael Bracy moderated the panel "Selling Music as a Service," which featured experts like Matthew Adell of Napster, Vicki Nauman of Sonos, David Pakman of eMusic and Tim Quirk of Rhapsody.

The panel sparked discussion about how difficult it is to get rights cleared for digital streams/downloads, and the differing license requirements from service to service and country to country. Also addressed was the conceptual leap consumers have to make between "owning" versus "renting" digital music, with Rhapsody’s Tim Quirk emphasizing that subscription services give listeners access to all the music they can listen to, whenever they want to, for one price. For real music fans, access to millions of tracks means all they have to spend is their time. In contrast, users of eMusic and Napster currently have universal portability because their content is downloaded rather than streamed. Fascinating stuff that inspired extended discussion on what the future of musical discovery might be.

FMC co-founder and "serial entrepreneur" Brian Zisk moderated the lively "Resolving Webcasting Fees" panel, which saw John Simson of digital royalty distribution organization SoundExchange discuss the pros and cons of percentage vs. fixed webcasting royalty rates with smaller online broadcasters. Nothing really got resolved, but the conversation remained civil and, dare we say, hopeful.

Meanwhile, FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (or HINT) worked the convention center like Lucy from the Peanuts, staking out a table and talking to all passers-by. Our resident health insurance expert (and musician) Alex Maiolo was on hand to raise awareness about the importance of health insurance for musicians, and conducted dozens of free, one-on-one consultations with artists about their options.

Deputy Director Jean Cook pulled double duty as an FMC representative and a performing artist. Jean played several gigs in Austin, including sets with the Waco Brothers, Jon Langford and a special guest appearance with Langford alongside the Sadies. She was probably pretty beat by the end of the weekend, but busy is good, right?

Communications Director Casey Rae-Hunter ran around to various showcases and tried to sneak Rock the Net materials on merch tables. Well, first he asked politely. Thanks to the bands (including Boston's Pretty & Nice) who cleared some space in support of net neutrality.

Events organizer Chhaya Kapadia attended lots of panels and performances, and got to reunite with musicians who attended our annual Artist Activism Camp, including Patrick Hallahan and Jim James of My Morning Jacket. Other AAC alumni were in Austin as well — Tom Morello and Kimya Dawson played the "Body of War" show, and Mike Mills rocked with R.E.M. at Stubb's on Wednesday night. Mills supposedly namedropped FMC in an on-site radio interview, but we can't seem to find the archived audio. Can anyone assist?

Finally, FMC advisory board members Sandy Pearlman, Peter Jenner and Jim Griffin appeared on the well-attended "Mobility, Ubiquity and Monetizing Music" panel, which discussed, among other things, how rights holders can get paid in the brave new digital world. Our newest board member, Bryan Calhoun, did his best to keep things reined in as moderator. FMC’s Kristin Thomson remembers being one of about twelve attendees at a panel during SXSW 2003, Sandy Pearlman first started promoting this idea.. Now, with five years of germination, the concept of monetizing the millions of music transactions has finally gained some momentum and a much higher profile, though a workable solution has yet to be reached.

Here's a link to some pics Chhaya took of the action.

Thanks, Austin. See you next year. . .

FMC at SXSW

A small delegation of Future of Music Coalition staffers will be descending upon Austin next week for the city's annual South By Southwest festival. If you're not already familiar with "South By," you're probably reading the wrong blog. Let's just say it's where the indie music world comes together to rock, party and participate in panels. We'll be doing a little of all three.

On Thursday, March 13, FMC Policy Director Michael Bracy will moderate a panel called "Selling Music as a Service." The discussion also features Matthew Adell of Napster, Vicki Nauman of Sonos, David Pakman of eMusic and Tim Quirk of Rhapsody. Later that night, Michael will be roaming around the Misra Records showcase at Friends.

FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT) will be in full effect, with musician and health insurance expert Alex Maiolo hanging out at the Convention Center to set up free consultations about health insurance options. If you want to schedule something in advance, shoot an e-mail to hint@futureofmusic.org.

A few FMC staffers will attend meetings with managers to talk about issues including artist activism and future music structures. We're also planning to reconnect with the musicians who have been part of our annual Artist Activism Camps in New Orleans.

Look for us at the Bloodshot Records BBQ at Yard Dog on Friday, March 14. We'll be raising awareness about our Rock the Net campaign as we generally "pig" out. Communications Director Casey Rae-Hunter and Events Organizer Chhaya Kapadia will also be hitting select showcases and passing out RTN schwag — if you want us to swing by your gig, drop an e-mail to casey@futureofmusic.org, and we'll try to work something out.

FMC Deputy Director Jean Cook will lend her musical talents to various performers throughout the festival. We'll tell you who, exactly, once we find out.

It's looking like we'll be pretty tired the following Monday.

Grant shows artists need for health insurance

The New York Times ran an interesting article yesterday that detailed how 50 artists spent $50,000 grants from United States Artists. USA is a new organization that tries to fill the gap for individual artist funding, as opposed to grants for organizations. Not surprisingly, more than 60 percent said they spent part of their money on art supplies, while 48 percent spent part of the money on housing and meals.

What was really surprising is that 26 percent said they spent part of the funds on health care. In fact, Wesley McNair, a 68-year old poet that received a grant, had put off buying eyeglasses because he didn't have the funds. Lourdez Perez, a singer and songwriter, had put off going to the doctor, so she used part of the money for a visit.

It may come as a surprise to many musicians, but there are health insurance options out there even if you aren't employed full time. FMC runs its HINT hotline to help artists scope out such options. Musicians can call up and get a half hour appointment to discuss various health insurance plans with a fellow musician, who is also a health insurance expert. The best part is it's free and confidential.

A musician needs your help

George Grantham, the drummer of Poco, suffered a stroke 3 years ago, but his medical bills are still mounting. His daughter, Gracie, is helping raise money for his medical bills by selling donated music paraphernalia from some of the top names in the music industry on eBay. Information about Grantham's condition can be found at Poconut.

Here's a little bit about Grantham and the campaign from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen:

"In this day of higher and higher value for things of sho biz history, this is a good chance to latch on to something cool, at a good price, for a great cause, and help someone who brought great music to so many. POCO opened for us. their first L.A. gig, at the Troubadour...and blew us away. A year later we went looking for a singing drummer like George, who was always thought of as the Ringo of country-rock."

The number of artists without health insurance is a major problem in the music industry. FMC runs a hotline called HINT that allows artists to call up and get health insurance advice from fellow musicians, who also happen to be health insurance experts. You can check it out here.

Musicians face shorter life spans than general population

It's a bad rock n' roll cliche that many artists die before they're old, but surprisingly two new bits of information give credence to the notion that artists face more significant health problems than other people. Researchers at the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University have found that rock stars are 2 to 3 times as likely to suffer premature death as the general population.

The study looked at more than 1,000 artists from England and North America spanning nearly the entire rock era of 1956 to 2005. Sadly, more than a quarter of the deaths were related to alcohol or drugs.

"In the music industry, factors such as stress, changes from popularity to obscurity, and exposure to environments where alcohol and drugs are easily available, can all contribute to substance use as well as other self-destructive behaviors," the report said.

The study found musicians were most likely to die in the first five years after achieving fame. Death rates were three times higher than normal during this period. The study also found British artists risk of death remained high until 25 years after they became famous, but, interestingly, American artists chance of death continues to remain high throughout their lives. The lead author of the study said Americans stars continued high rate of death could be because of our country's penchant for reunion tours (seems dubious) or the fact that many older artists, who are no longer in the spotlight, don't have health insurance (seems more likely).

The second bit of information comes from New Orleans, where its musicians -- like much of the city -- still have not recovered from the tragedy of Katrina. They staged a march on Aug. 26. The musicians carried their instruments, but did not play a note. The protest was aimed at showing the city what it would be like without its musicians. Many players feel they will be forced to move elsewhere unless New Orleans does more to help them make a living.

The New Orleans Musicians Clinic reports more than 90 percent of the city's musicians live at or below the poverty level and most don't have health insurance.

Both the study of musicians' death rates and the New Orleans protest make clear that there is a health care crisis among musicians. An FMC survey from 2001 found nearly half of musicians interviewed reported they don't have health insurance. FMC has tried to address the crisis by offering musicians free health insurance advice via the HINT program. Musicians can call up and get health insurance advice from fellow musicians, who happen to be health insurance experts. Best of all it's totally free.

Yet Another Reason to Get Health Insurance

We were saddened to learn that Karl Alvarez, bassist for Descendents, ALL and The Lemonheads suffered a minor heart attack on August 11. Luckily he's recovering physically, but without health insurance he's also overwhelmed with medical bills.

Alvarez's friends have set up a MySpace page and Paypal account for donations to help him pay his bills. To donate via Paypal, visit this website.

Read the whole story on Pitchfork and listen to streams of Descendents and ALL's music.

Here at FMC, we hate that it takes health crises like these for people to think about health insurance. After all, benefit concerts are amazing events, but you don't want your future finances dependent on them.

If you're a musician and you've been meaning to look into health insurance options, check out FMC's Health Insurance Navigation Tool (HINT). HINT gives musicians FREE advice on health insurance from insurance experts who are also musicians.

Better yet, watch this quick video chat with Alex Maiolo, HINT's project director and learn all about how the program works.

Bottom of the Hudson needs your help

The Philadelphia/Brooklyn band Bottom of the Hudson was in a tragic accident on Sunday while touring to promote their new album Fantastic Hawk. The band's tour van flipped over a number of times after a tire blew out on a North Carolina highway.

The accident killed bassist Trevor Butler. Drummer Greg Lytle is in intensive care in a North Carolina hospital (fortunately stable though), while the rest of the band escaped with only minor injuries.

Absolutely Kosher, the band's label, posted the following on its web site:

"We didn't have an opportunity to get to know Trevor Butler as well as we would have liked, but he was a great guy and a great musician. He was instrumental in the evolution of the band's sound over the years. In addition to playing in Bottom of the Hudson for the last several years, Trevor also was a founding member in fellow-Philadelphia group Coyote. He was utterly devoted to music and helped many, many bands set-up shows in Philadelphia. We are devastated by his loss and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the band and their families. Thanks to everyone who has sent condolences and well-wishes."

The Absolutely Kosher folks are collecting money for Greg's medical bills. If you would like to make a donation, you can send one via Paypal at both@absolutelykosher.com. Our condolences and best wishes go out to Bottom of the Hudson.

FMC has also set up a hotline called HINT, Health Insurance Navigation Tool, that helps artists get health insurance.

A musician needs your help

Perry Baggs, the original drummer for Jason & the Scorchers, is very sick with diabetes. He has racked up huge medical bills and needs a kidney transplant in the near future.

In order to raise money for their former band member, the Scorches held a reunion concert a couple weekends ago. The show was apparently great with performances from the Scorchers themselves, but also from former Scorchers members, Andy York and Ken Fox and the bands other associates such as Stacie Collins and her band, Warner Hodges, Tommy Womack, and the Bottle Rockers.


All the money raised at the show obviously went to helping Perry out with his medical expenses, but there's still a major need. Thanks to the self-proclaimed “Reverend of Rock & Rock” and editor of Alt.Culture.Guide, Keith A. Gordon, there just so happens to be another great opportunity to raise money.

The good Reverend has decided that through July 15th all of the profits from the sales of his latest book ROCK TALK will be donated to Perry’s medical fund. Rock Talk is a 116 page paperback book composed of black and white photos and 36 interviews taken exclusively from the Gordon’s personal collection including ones with the Scorchers, and Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers. If you purchase the book directly from Gordon himself via his web site and paypal, not only will you receive a autographed copy of the book, but roughly $5 will be donated to Perry’s fund. The book is priced at $11, not much to save a great musicians life, so everybody go out and buy a copy of the book and support Perry and his growing amount of medical bills.

Of course, FMC has been working for years to try to keep these type of benefits from happening via our HINT program, a hotline that allows musicians to get health insurance from other musicians who are experts in the field. FMC doesn't sell anything.