Italian audio manufacturer Powersoft is partnering with the Crew Nation charitable fund to support live music touring and venue crews around the world.
Non-profit organisation The Music Forward Foundation is powering and administering the fund with an initial cash injection of $5 million (approximately €4.2 million) from Live Nation, who has also committed to match the $5 million given by artists, fans and employees.
Many artists including Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, Metallica and John Mayer have already donated.
Powersoft will donate 5% of the proceeds from all of the touring amplifier platforms sold between July 27 and October 15, to Crew Nation. Powersoft will follow with a campaign based on the key concept that ‘behind every show stands a great live music crew’, to underline the importance of the people behind the scenes of the shows that are so important to so many.
Francesco Fanicchi, brand, communication and trade marketing manager at Powersoft said: "As with every person involved in the industry, we know how difficult the last months have been for professionals in the live event industry; in particular the touring and venue crew who are completely dependent on live shows to survive.
“We spent time in doing research to find the right organisation to partner with, and eventually we came to realise that Crew Nation would be the perfect channel. Although It is difficult to make any assumptions on sales levels during this period, we will use our marketing capabilities to promote this operation to industry professionals in the hope that we will raise a significant contribution to Crew Nation.
Nurit Smith, executive director of the Music Forward Foundation, said: “We greatly appreciate Powersoft extending a helping hand to the touring and venue crews who depend on shows to make a living. Their pledge will go a long way to assist Crew Nation in its mission to support and provide grants for these backstage staff who are struggling the most during these difficult times.
“Together with partners like Powersoft, Crew Nation can ensure that the live community has the support it needs.”
Fabrizio Romano Bolzoni, sales manager, rack amps, added: “As an Italian company, we feel at the forefront of this unprecedented situation. We want to make ourselves engines and promoters of commendable initiatives to support the people in our sector, and we asked our worldwide sales networks to promote this initiative as much as they can, in order to raise awareness for something that is really impacting the live music industry.”
Please visit
www.livenationentertainment.com/crewnation/ to donate or buy merch.