Report reveals controversial uses of artist relief funds during pandemic.
Necessary, but controversial aid
In 2020, in response to the pandemic-induced shutdown of the music industry, the U.S. government established the program Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG). This system aimed to support artists, technicians and performance venues affected by confinements. However, a recent report from Business Insider revealed questionable uses of these funds by some high-profile artists, including Alice In Chains and Shinedown.
Alice In Chains: priorities questioned
According to the report, Alice In Chains allocated a large portion of the $4.1 million received to its core members. Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney each received $1.4 million, while bassist Mike Inez received $682,000. In total, $3.4 million, or nearly 83% of the funds, were paid to the three musicians.
At the same time, the use of funds for personnel has attracted criticism. While significant sums were paid to band members, employees, like guitar technician Scott Dachroeden, did not receive significant assistance despite urgent needs, including for medical care after a cancer diagnosis. A fundraiser was shared by the group to support Dachroeden, but sources close to the situation indicated the group would not have directly contributed substantially.
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Shinedown: similar differences
The report also pointed the finger at Shinedown, which allegedly received $8.3 million in subsidies. Of this sum, $2.5 million was reportedly shared between three of the four members of the group, while $1.2 million was allocated to payroll. Of the latter amount, the 15 touring technicians received only a combined total of $650,000, a sum less than the musicians' individual shares.
An ethical debate over the use of funds
These revelations raise questions about the management and supervision of relief funds. While no fraud has been proven in these cases, critics focus on the ethics of such decisions, particularly when artists receiving these funds display significant income, such as the sale of Alice In Chains' music rights for 48 million dollars in 2022.
In response to these controversies, Senator Rand Paul had already expressed his concerns in 2023, denouncing the lack of transparency in the use of funds and highlighting the risk of abuse by certain beneficiaries.
