Minister Catherine Martin has announced that the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will open on January 27th at 1pm with €4 million allocated for the scheme.

“This simpler, easier to access new scheme will further support performers and individuals in the music business that have been impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions,” a statement read.

Self-employed performers, sole traders and businesses in the music industry with turnovers of €15,000 can apply for grants between €1,500–€12,500. Performers includes musicians, DJs, lighting and sound crew and audio equipment suppliers.

“I have engaged extensively with stakeholders to understand the challenges faced by them and put in place supports that work for the sector,” minister Martin said in a statement.

“I am pleased to announce that MEBAS 2022 will open for applications on Thursday January 27th. As part of the €50m in supports I have secured for the Live Entertainment sector for 2022, I have allocated €4m to MEBAS 2022.”

The guidelines for MEBAS 2022 are slated to be published on January 25th before the applications open on January 27th. Application guidelines will be available on the Department for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s website.

MEBAS will run in a similar way to the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) “by providing grants of up to the value of 15% of the average monthly VAT-exclusive turnover prior to the pandemic,” according to a press release.

MEBAS aims to help self-employed music industry workers significantly impacted by the pandemic and loss of work with their overheads. Applicants must show that their 2021 turnover was no more than 40% of their average turnover pre-pandemic to be deemed eligible for support.

“As part of a suite of measures to support those in the sector, MEBAS was launched in 2021 as a targeted support for self-employed performers and sole traders operating solely in the live entertainment sector who did not qualify for other business supports such as CRSS and who were significantly impacted by restrictions introduced to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” added minister Martin in the press release.

MEBAS supported 1,000 industry workers and businesses in 2021 and the department expects to help a similar number of applicants this year. Successful applicants will be paid the grant between February–June 2022.

€40 million of the €50 million allocated towards resurrecting the live entertainment industry which was decimated by the pandemic.

The money provided so far has been aimed towards the LLPS, LLPS pantomime scheme, LLPS scheme to cover December/January cancellations, St. Patrick's Festival and the Commercial Entertainment Capital Grant Scheme.

Minister Martin recently received approval to commence recruitment for an Online Safety Commissioner who will act as a watchdog. The Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill aims to reduce access to harmful content online as the Online Safety Commissioner is being instated to enforce accountability in the sector.