1990 - Michael Greene Describes MusiCares

							               USICAREShas, at its heart,      these matters."                   Industry Council.


           M
               a very simple but funda-           This neglect is one of the        And on February 12, the
               mentally difficult objective:   reasons for the creation of       MUSICAREScampaign was
               to focus the attention and      MUSICARES, a charitable           climaxed by a galafundraiser
               the resources of the music!     foundation which began last       at New York's Waldorf
               recording ind ustry on issues   year with a major national        Astoria that honored musi-
               of human service and wel-       outdoor advertising cam-          cian David Crosby as the
               fare that involve profes-       paign sending a strong and        campaign's first person of
               sionals in the same music!      direct message to the public      the Year for his efforts in
               recording industry.             - and our own industry-           substance abuse reform. The
                   "The music industry is at   about the dangers of sub-         MUSICARES gala, under-


                                              •
               the oorefront of envi-                                                  written by the New
               ronmental, political                                                   York Host Committee
               and social issues and
               the support of our art-
                                           MOSIC                                       for the 1991 Grammy
                                                                                      Awards, boasted a din-
               ists and our executives
               has lent considerable
               weightto many of these                            a                    ner committee of top
                                                                                      level executives from



                                                                 r
                                                                                      the recording industry
               movements and con-
                      i,                                                              and business worlds.
               cerns," says Recording                                                     The substance
               Academy President
               Michael Greene.
                  "Now it's time to
               help ourselves, to ex-
                                                                ~e
                                                                 S®
                                                                                      abuse       program,
                                                                                      Greene promises, is
                                                                                      just the beginning. Al-
                                                                                      ready involved in talks
               tend these efforts and                                                 with the American
               this energy to our own                                                 Federation of Musi-
               industry.                       stance abuse. Over 8000          cians and AFTRAto broaden
                  "The independent nature      billboards were used, show-      the scope of MUSICARES
               of this profession promises      casing musiclrecording art-     while still retaining its origi-
               very little in the way of fi-   ists against drug and alco-      nal agenda, MUSICARES
               nancial security. It offers     hol misuse. Over 25,000 re-      stands ready to step up to its
               even less if a person runs      ferral calls were logged as a    next plateau.
               into a health crisis. Music     result of this campaign              Funds raised by the
               people have no available        which pictured Paula Abdul,      Crosby dinner will be dedi-
               national insurance program,     Gloria Estefan, Young MC         cated to a support system for
               for example. No referral or     and David Crosby on the          Musicare similar to that of
               recovery program for sub-       billboards. In this effort the   the movie industry's highly
               stance abuse treatment. No      Recording Academy was            acclaimed Motion Picture
               pension plans or retirement     joined by the Federal Office     Health and Welfare Fund,
               facilities. And, importantly,   of Substance Abuse Preven-       says Greene.
               no organization to address      tion and the Entertainment




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