All-digital 33rd Awit Awards creates Awit Fund for music frontliners

“How do you stage the longest-running music awards show during a pandemic?”

The members of the music industry were challenged, but undaunted, when the decision was made in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown to push through with the 2020 Awit Awards.

“Cancellation was the last option,” said Atty. Marivic Benedicto, the President of PARI, which is staging its 33rd Awards night on Saturday, August 29, 2020. 

“The music industry has been hit very hard by the pandemic. Artists and musicians have lost gigs and bookings and their livelihood.  Despite this, they wholeheartedly participated in fund raisers to raise money to help others. They played for free, waived talent fees, allowed their compositions to be used for various charitable activities, and started their own fundraisers from their homes, with what little they themselves had.”

The music industry raised over P600 million thru fundraising activities such as “Bayanihan Musikahan,” spearheaded by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab where recording artists from GMA Music and other artists from GMA Network participated.

“Indeed, the generosity of heart of our music frontliners inspires us to move forward and to triumph over the adversity we are all up against. We want to send the message that this, too, shall pass. That we must push on and keep the music playing to help ourselves and others cope with the difficulties they encounter every day,” Benedicto added.

To celebrate the 33rd year of Awit Awards, an all-digital program will be aired via livestream on August 29, 2020 at the Awit Awards Facebook page & Awit Awards YouTube channel. The program starts at 7 p.m..

To help music frontliners affected by the pandemic, the organization behind Awit Awards, the Philippine Association of the Record Industry (PARI), has created AWIT FUND. Proceeds will be used to assist music frontliners affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Donations to the AWIT FUND may be made through https://donation.ph/awit-fund.