Musicians now have expanded access to hearing care benefits

Gig workers often lack access to holistic healthcare benefits, leaving them physically, mentally and financially vulnerable. But it seems those in the music industry may be getting some relief.

MusiCares, the non-profit arm of the National Academy of Recording Sciences, provides millions of dollars worth of health, financial and rehabilitation resources to musicians. They've now teamed with hearing care provider Tuned to take their efforts further and protect musicians' most vital tool: their hearing. 

"A lot of these people are in the gig economy, and they don't have employee benefits," says Danny Aronson, co-founder and CEO of Tuned. "But their ability to hear is critical in how they make a living."

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Musicians are four times more likely to suffer from noise-induced hearing loss and 57% more likely to suffer from tinnitus than the general population, according to the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology. But given that hearing care is still an underrated benefit for salaried jobs, musicians are even less likely to have easy access themselves, explains Aronson.  

Through Tuned, MusiCare members have access to virtual hearing health screenings, consultations with an audiologist and personalized treatments. To become an eligible MusiCares member, musicians have to prove at least five years of employment in the music industry or have six commercially released recordings or videos. Then, Tuned will provide a 15-minute questionnaire and schedule a consultation with an audiologist. Based on the results, MusiCares helps cover any recommended treatments, be it hearing aids or a personalized tinnitus management plan. 

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While MusiCares has always focused on hearing conservation, their partnership with Tuned means their members can take more actionable steps to protect and treat their ears. This partnership also means MusiCares can help members more closely follow CDC guidelines on hearing loss prevention, which include annual hearing evaluations by a licensed audiologist and treating issues as soon as possible, says Theresa Wolters, vice president of health and human services at MusiCares.

"This is uniquely important for music professionals, including musicians, engineers, crew on tour and more, because of the frequency and duration of exposure to loud music," says Wolters. "In the last five years alone, MusiCares has supported over 10,500 individuals with access to hearing services, and this consistently represents one of the most in-demand services we support."

Musicians are often exposed to 100 or more decibels of sound for extended periods. Meanwhile, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders has found that repeated exposure to sound at 85 decibels or higher — which can come in the form of something as common as a window AC unit — for eight hours can cause premature hearing loss.

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Tuned already has a 50% utilization rate from MusiCares members and is hopeful that their partnership can set a precedent for other gig industries: whether workers are contracted or salaried, they need healthcare benefits. Wolters is confident that Tuned and MusiCares are on their way to making a difference.

"Through our collaboration with Tuned, MusiCares is supporting music professionals while also better understanding the hearing issues that are present among music professionals," she says. "This will allow us to increase our education and support."