Over the years, the music industry has evolved into an amazing worldwide network of individuals and multinational conglomerates grossing over $50 billion a year. Yet, disturbingly, the very people whose creativity and ingenuity fuel this massive cash machine have few places to turn in troubled times. The tragic health and financial hardships faced by too many members of our musical family prompted the Recording Academy's establishment of the MusiCares® Foundation in 1989. It is the mission of MusiCares to ensure that music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical or personal crisis. Its primary purpose is to focus the attention and resources of the music industry on human services issues that directly impact the health and welfare of music people.