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A MusiCares client gets custom earplugs molded

Photo: Daniel Mendoza/Recording Academy

News
MusiCares' Hearing Health At Austin City Limits musicares-heads-2017-acl-promote-hearing-health

MusiCares Heads To 2017 ACL To Promote Hearing Health

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Backstage at Austin City Limits 2017, MusiCares is on hand to help artists and crew keep their hearing crisp
Brian Haack
MusiCares
Oct 7, 2017 - 6:30 pm

MusiCares’ Hearing Health Initiative is all about drawing awareness to how important it is for music people to protect their most valuable asset: their hearing.

Artists and crew working at major music festivals are particularly at risk. Long hours and repeated sonic punishment from months of working on stages with extremely powerful sound reinforcement can take a terrible toll on hearing health — something which many in our industry fail to realize.

Luckily, MusiCares is on hand at many major American music festivals — including this year’s Austin City Limits — to educate artists and crew about the real damage that sustained exposure to high decibel level sound can exact on our ears. To help combat that damage, MusiCares also provides professional quality custom-molded ear plugs to qualifying music people who can demonstrate at least five years continued experience working in the industry.

“We know that 15 percent of all Americans between the ages for 20 and 69 suffer from hearing loss, and that goes double for the music community, so if we can save a few more, we’re so happy.” — Erica Krusen, MusiCares

These custom earplugs are available in three reduction levels — 10, 17 and 26 dB — and molded casts of participants’ ears are taken right onsite at the festival each day while supplies last.

"The most rewarding thing about running the Hearing Health Initiative at festival such as ACL is that we get to help so many artists and crew who wouldn't normally know how to protect their hearing," says Erica Krusen, Senior Director of Health and Human Services for MusiCares. " [We] give them the education and earplugs they need to protect their hearing."

Listen Up: 3 Tips For Protecting Your Hearing

What are some helpful tips from the clinicians on site helping MusiCares provide custom earplugs? First, always wear your hearing protection. Rest your ears between shows and practices, because the longer your ears are exposed, the more damage is being done.

“We work in this industry, and we’re always at shows and festivals. It’s really important to protect your hearing!” — Aristotle, MusiCares client

Be aware of your surroundings, whether in the crowd, onstage or backstage. Make sure you’re never too close to the sound reinforcement speakers. Finally, make sure you’re practicing at a reasonable volume level to minimize damage done to your ears between shows and performances.

Full Coverage Of Austin City Limits 2017

A pair of in-ear live sound monitors

Photo: Future Music Magazine /Getty Images

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How Can MusiCares Help Protect Your Hearing? hear-musicares-wants-help-protect-your-hearing

Hear That? MusiCares Wants To Help Protect Your Hearing

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Hear words of praise from a recent MusiCares client fitted with custom in-ear monitors at zero cost
Brian Haack
MusiCares
Feb 13, 2018 - 3:52 pm

It is difficult to overstate the importance of developing good, consistent hearing health habits as a working musician or music industry professional. Our ears are our bridge to the music that is our livelihood.

That's why MusiCares makes it a priority to make sure that touring musicians, crew, and other music professionals have ample opportunity to learn about how they can start taking long term steps to protect their ears by being present a numerous festivals, conventions and live music events. Alongside their top tier partners in the fields of auditory protection and hearing sensitivity technologies, MusiCares is always on site to educate, provide free hearing tests and examinations, and to conduct free moldings for custom ear plugs and in-ear monitors.

Here are some words of praise from just one of the many artists and music people who've benefitted from MusiCares' hearing health initiative:

I had a very pleasant experience with MusiCares and just want to share it with you guys.  I just moved to Nashville from Chicago.  Three years ago, there was a hearing clinic in Chicago that I attended and Sensaphonics tested my ears and sized me up for in-ear monitors and you guys paid for it all.  I think that is super rad and I need to say thank you to you and them.  What you do for musicians is invaluable.  Thanks a million to you guys!

What Ages Are Most Vulnerable To Hearing Loss? 

A MusiCares client receives custom molded earplugs
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MusiCares' Hearing Health Initiative In Action say-what-musicares-can-help-protect-your-hearing

Say What? MusiCares Can Help Protect Your Hearing!

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More words of thanks from recent MusiCares clients
Brian Haack
MusiCares
Oct 17, 2017 - 6:30 pm

MusiCares' yearly presence at music festivals on the summer circuit provides a critical educational resource for artists and crew on the road who lack —or have yet to learn about the importance of — proper hearing protection.

Roughly 15 percent of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 suffer from hearing loss. That's a big number, but it actually doubles for professionals in the music community.  What's more, sustained exposure to high sound pressure levels can have an additive effect, amplifying the damage and making it much more detrimental than it would when experiencing be the same volume levels with adequate break periods sprinkled in.

MusiCares was on site at this year's Austin City Limits festival, providing customer earplug moldings for qualifying music people on each day of the festival.

We stopped several clients to get their thoughts on the importance of MusiCares' assistance in providing this crucial service.

"We work in this industry, and we’re always at shows and festivals. It’s really important to protect your hearing!" pointed out one client. Another put it more bluntly: When asked why she'd chosen to get a set of set of pro-quality custom molded earplugs, she simply gave us a big smile and replied, "Why not?!"

MusiCares Heads To 2017 ACL To Promote Hearing Health

The book "Living Sober"

Photo: John Moore / Getty Images

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MusiCares Can Even Help Cover Costly Rehab Bills musicares-saved-me-and-more-importantly-my-family

"MusiCares Saved Me, And More Importantly, My Family"

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Read words of praise from recent MusiCares clients
Brian Haack
MusiCares
Sep 26, 2017 - 1:03 pm

When the time comes for artists and music people to make the decision to start on the path to recovery from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, MusiCares is there for them every step of the way.

Whether it is maintaining sobriety while out on tour, or taking that difficult first step on the path by attending a 12-step meeting, music people in need can always count on support from MusiCares.

For qualified music professionals in dire need, MusiCares can even help subsidize the often substantial costs of checking into a full-service in-patient rehabilitation facility.

Read what one recent client had to say about the support they received through MusiCares:

"What can I say about an organization that saved my life? Thank you. My 30-day stay at Cumberland Heights truly saved me, and more importantly, my family.  I humbly thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Support MusiCares' 2017 Hurricane Relief Efforts

GRAMMYs
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Recent Clients Praise MusiCares recent-clients-praise-musicares-its-outstanding-support

Recent Clients Praise MusiCares For Its Outstanding Support

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Read what recent MusiCares clients have to say about the support they've received from the Foundation
Brian Haack
MusiCares
Aug 23, 2017 - 11:54 am

The support network available for music professionals from MusiCares is unlike any other program in our professional industry.

From addiction recovery resources to financial assistance for costly medical bills, hearing health initiatives in partnership with ACS Custom USA, presence at major music events around the country, and logistical support to repair or replace lost and damaged gear while touring, MusiCares will be there to lend a much-needed helping hand for musicians in need.

What do recent MusiCares clients think about the support they've received from the Foundation? Take a read below and hear what they have to say.

"The support I have received from MusiCares as a whole is truly extraordinary. You have helped me through one of the scariest years of my life and continue to be of great assistance to help me get through this tough time."

"MusiCares is an organization that is unbelievable. What you people can do to help musicians who are down. … I’ve been there and I know of others too. Whatever is wrong, MusiCares is there trying to fix it and that can’t be beat."

Eric Church Band Golf Tournament Raises Funds For MusiCares

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.