Here's how Taylor Swift is helping keep a Nashville record store alive

Taylor Swift is giving back to the city where she got her musical start by donating a massive amount of money to help keep a Nashville record store alive.

Grimey’s New & Preloved Music has been facing a similar problem to what so many small businesses are navigating with colossal economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic but Swift is here to help.

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According to Rolling Stone, she’s donating enough money to cover employee wages as well as three months worth of health care costs.

“We were very surprised, and I would have to say amazed, that Taylor Swift reached out to us through her publicist to offer some relief during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Grimey’s co-owner Doyle Davis tells Rolling Stone. “I didn’t even know we were on her radar, but she really stepped up to help after the recent tornadoes that struck Nashville and middle Tennessee, and now she’s trying to help a beloved small business in her city.”

“Taylor generously offered some direct relief to my staff and to cover three months of our health care costs for our group-insurance plan,” he continues. “It’s a huge deal to us, and now I have some peace of mind as we apply for [Small Business Association] loans to pay rent, vendors, and other expenses. This assistance from Ms. Swift helps give us a real shot at coming back on the other side of this.”

Grimey’s buyer Will Orman also adds his thoughts on how Swift’s help is providing a bit of certainty about the future of the store.

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“It’s incredibly heartening and totally surreal that Taylor Swift has offered to help us out in such a significant way,” he says. “With so much uncertainty about what lies ahead, we’re deeply grateful to be able to look forward to returning to the store and continuing to share music and connect with our community, thanks to Taylor’s generous support.”

While much of the focus of the economic impacts of COVID-19 on the music industry have been on touring artists and crews who run live shows, record stores are also seeing harsh times.

The number of record stores in the U.S. has stayed fairly consistent over the past few years despite the vinyl boom. With the number of stores not really increasing and Record Store Day postponing their 2020 event, the physical music side of the industry could be facing some serious issues.

The event is moving from its original April 18 date to June 20 to avoid gathering large crowds as the CDC continues shifting its guidelines for public gatherings.

On top of the biggest sales day of the year for record stores moving, Amazon is making the call to cease stocking items like vinyl to make room on their warehouse shelves for essential items.

The company is planning to keep selling what they have in stock until it’s sold out. Once that happens they won’t be stocking any more until further notice.

Some record stores are pivoting to online sales while others are allowing for curbside pickup in places where they can while still physically distancing.

If you’re looking to help out Grimey’s by placing an order through their online store, check out what they have to offer currently here.

What do you think of Taylor Swift’s donation? Let us know in the comments below.

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