A new investigative report by Business Insider has revealed how several prominent rock bands utilized millions in COVID-19 relief funds, raising questions about the distribution of pandemic assistance money.
The report examines spending through the Shuttered Venue Operations Grant (SVOG) program, which was established to support independent artists and venues during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Among the notable findings, Shinedown received an $8.3 million grant, with $2.5 million reportedly divided between three of the band's four members. Additionally, each band member received over $100,000 from a $1.2 million payroll allocation. In contrast, 15 touring and production workers collectively received $650,000.
Alice in Chains obtained a $4.1 million grant, with $3.4 million distributed among members Jerry Cantrell, Sean Kinney, and Mike Inez. The report noted that while the band members received substantial payments, they did not allocate grant money for staff health insurance benefits. This detail gained attention after the band promoted a GoFundMe campaign for their longtime crew member Scott Dachroeden during his battle with cancer.
Other major artists named in the report include Slipknot ($9.7 million), Korn ($5.3 million), and Nickelback ($2 million). The findings have sparked debate about oversight of the relief funds, with Senator Rand Paul previously expressing concerns about accountability in how the taxpayer money was utilized.
The Business Insider report highlighted that while some spending patterns raised eyebrows, no fraudulent activity was explicitly identified. Representatives for several of the named artists, including Shinedown and Alice in Chains, have not provided public comments addressing the findings.
The revelations have intensified discussions about the effectiveness and oversight of pandemic relief programs in supporting both established artists and their supporting crew members.