Do recording artists get health benefits from their record company? If not, why hasn't there been any protests about this injustice?

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Well, I've heard that recording artists don't get adequate health care so I was just wondering if it was true

I think it's an interesting question...

Do record companies provide health insurance?

I don't think they do. I know back then they didn't because why was there a need of an R&B Foundation if that wasn't true. I think that's why Ruth Brown created that foundation because artists weren't getting any money for anything they could've needed either to pay bills or to have health insurance.

Timmy84 said:

I don't think they do. I know back then they didn't because why was there a need of an R&B Foundation if that wasn't true. I think that's why Ruth Brown created that foundation because artists weren't getting any money for anything they could've needed either to pay bills or to have health insurance.

If thats true then what these so-called "artists" today should be focusing on getting a movement going that would lobby for quality health care instead of pushing their crappy music. Maybe if they get better health care, they could churn out better material. What they're producing today is not worth risking their health.

I doubt it, i mean people like Baseball players and Football players do, its in their contracts that if they fuck around and live reckless they lose their contract, because the owners foot the bill. For performers they live the life, and keep their deal, shit, imagine if they revoked contracts for recklessness and jail time?

That's a good question. How about session musicians? Do they have benefits?

Keyumdi said:

That's a good question. How about session musicians? Do they have benefits?

I don't think they do either. Remember some of the Funk Brothers died penniless (James Jamerson is a prime example).

Timmy84 said:

Keyumdi said:

That's a good question. How about session musicians? Do they have benefits?

I don't think they do either. Remember some of the Funk Brothers died penniless (James Jamerson is a prime example).

That's really terrible.

Musicians generally do not get the standard health insurance because they are not employees of a record label, but work freelance or as independent contractors. Football and baseball players are considered employees of their teams, so that's the difference.

Sometimes if they are member of a union they can buy it a cheaper rate than trying to buy an individual policy. Some musicians will actually take a non-music part time job purely to get health insurance.

Here's an article about musicians and health insurance. They did a survey and found 33% of musicians did not have health insurance.

http://www.futureofmusic.org/article/research/taking-pulse-survey-health-insurance-and-musicians

[Edited 6/24/10 8:52am]

I was signed to a major label for about 4 years in the mid-90s; no one even mentioned health insurance to us. Luckily the only time I got really sick, we were in the middle of tour so the expenses were able to be paid by the label because we had gigs coming up. If that had happenned after I got home I would have been on the hook for it.

I just saw Them Crooked Vultures are doing a benefit for one of the members of Queens Of The Stone Age, who is seriously ill & has no health insurance. If guys like that don't even have insurance, I don't know how people in smaller bands can survive.

I'm not very familiar with the Musician's Union but have read that fewer and fewer young guys are signing up as full members, because it's harder & harder to find work that pays scale, and members aren't supposed to take non-union gigs. So they're having to sacrifice any hope of eventually reaping some benefits in their old age, for the chance to work today.

Keyumdi said:

That's a good question. How about session musicians? Do they have benefits?

If they are a part of the musician's union, then yes, they get benefits.

=0P

ernestsewell said:

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Put a sock in it already. You do not own this damm board.

laurarichardson said:

Put a sock in it already. You do not own this damm board.

LOL You're a ridiculous little troll. I can only laugh at you, and your stupid one liners.

ernestsewell said:

laurarichardson said:

Put a sock in it already. You do not own this damm board.

LOL You're a ridiculous little troll. I can only laugh at you, and your stupid one liners.

You are the biggest fucking troll on this board. You live to put any post down because you do not feel it is important as if anyone should give a shit about what you like or think. Try taking your head out of your ass this is a message board for Prince. It is just not that fucking deep.

They do (well some anyway.) I leared in a class I took a few years back. It's part of some organization. I'll look into it.

JasonWill1980 said:

Do recording artists get health benefits from their record company? If not, why hasn't there been any protests about this injustice?

I thought Prince's moonwraps might have been free hearing aids in disguise but recent output suggests differently.

Some artists purchase indiviudal plans, they are not all uninsured.

However, under national health care reform, like all Americans they will be required to purchase coverage.