U.K. trade body The BPI and BRIT Awards have added £54k to the COVID-19 Crew Relief Fund, administered by Stagehand, to support live music and events professionals affected by the lack of touring this year.

The contribution, which will help Stagehand’s Relief Fund approach the quarter-million pounds mark (£240k), joins £1.62m of BPI-co-ordinated funds donated earlier this year by the recorded music sector to charities and organisations supporting artists, managers and venues through the pandemic. It brings the total amount of support distributed to date to £1.67m.

“Our industry is deeply interconnected and while everyone is feeling the pain of the COVID-19 pandemic in some way, no sector has felt its force to the same degree as the live business,” Geoff Taylor, Chief Executive BPI, BRIT Awards & Mercury Prize, said. “This includes the expert technicians and events professionals who help make great performances happen.

“That’s why it’s right that, in addition to previous donations to charities benefitting artists, managers and venues, we should not overlook this important part of the music family. We rely on their skills every year in staging The BRIT Awards and the Hyundai Mercury Prize, and we’re delighted to assist the important work of Stagehand supporting live production crew."