Veteran music promoter and founder of Musicians Foundation and The Underground Chris B during a performance. She speaks with China Daily on Hong Kong musicians coping with the city's COVID-19 fight via video link. (PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
For musicians in Hong Kong who cannot settle the bill for rent or face other difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, veteran events and music promoter “Chris B” is there offering a helping hand.
With Hong Kong’s heightened fight against the pandemic forcing the suspension of live music and entertainment indefinitely, Chris B is working tirelessly to ensure the musicians’ voices don’t drown out in the process.
We help them pay their bills because to be honest right now, if someone could help you pay your rent because you do not have any income, that actually helps a lot.
Chris B, founder of Musicians Foundation
Chris B founded the Musicians Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to professional musicians in Hong Kong.
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In August 2020, she undertook a survey to find out how many professional musicians were suffering due to COVID-19 after learning that a musician with five kids was being evicted after failing to pay rent as he had been out of income.
The week-long survey where 646 people participated revealed that 62 percent of them were full-time musicians and 82 percent of them had been in that career for more than five years. Over 7 percent of these musicians had become homeless or were in the process of being evicted.
Though there are some charities to help musicians in the Chinese mainland and elsewhere, “they don’t have one here in Hong Kong,” Chris B said.
“We help them pay their bills because to be honest right now, if someone could help you pay your rent because you do not have any income, that actually helps a lot,” she said of the foundation, which does not give people cash.
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A Hong Kong-born British Chinese musician with full name of Chris Bowers, she is also one of the many individuals in the industry who has met with legislative councilors to inform them of the musicians’ plight in Hong Kong.
All leave the musicians more reason to stay than leave.
Amid news of people relocating to ride out the virus elsewhere, the musician is sure to stay put where she and others like her will be needed in the foreseeable future.
“Hong Kong is my home. I was born here and I’m hopeful,” said Chris B.
