The National Independent Venue Association (Website), backed by Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesotan Democrat, and Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, have introduced a bipartisan bill that would provide $10 billion in funding over six months to provide short-term relief for independent music venues, staff, and promoters across the United States.
Music venues and clubs have been shuttered since the beginning of the pandemic in March and are expected to remain closed until the last stage of reopening – whenever that may be. Some industry experts don’t expect to see concerts and tours to begin again until as late as 2022.
Faced with that timeline, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is predicting that roughly 90 percent of independent venues will be forced to close permanently if action is not taken soon. The lobbying group has launched a #SaveOurStages initiative, asking Americans to write their legislators via an online form HERE, asking them to support the bill. You can also take part on social media with the following steps.
Grants would be available to eligible venues to be used for costs incurred during the pandemic like rent, utilities, mortgages, PPE procurement, regular maintenance, operating leases, and expenditures related to meeting government-led social distancing guidelines.
If approved by the Republican-controlled Senate, the bill will move to the House before heading to President Trump for the ultimate approval.
