The Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ) recently surveyed 755 musicians from across the province of Quebec to better grasp the impact which COVID-19 has had on their livelihoods.
Their findings revealed that 75% of respondents have been receiving money from the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
50% of respondents say they are struggling with their finances.
When looking at 2019, only 20% of the GMMQ’s members earned $20,000 or less. However, in 2020, the GMMQ estimates that the amount more than doubled with 56% of its members suggesting they will fall into that bracket.
When asked about whether or not respondents considered abandoning their musical career, 57% of respondents said they were still thinking about it while 18% said they would definitely quit.
Musicians surveyed were also asked to rank their satisfaction with regards to the way both the federal and provincial governments intervened in terms of measures to appease financial issues. Respondents gave the federal government an average score of 62/100 while the provincial government only averaged 25/100.
Find the GMMQ’s complete survey results on their website.
The GMMQ was founded in 1897 to promote the benefits of music while defending the rights of musicians. The organization also negotiates collective agreements for its members. In 2010, the GMMQ was made up of approximately 3200 regular members and approximately 1000 casual members.
