Thankfully, through the help of the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), the Save Our Stages Act was included in the latest COVID-19 relief bill. With its passing, $15 billion will be set aside for independent venues around the country. The bipartisan act was sponsored by Senators John Cornyn and Amy Klobuchar as well as Representatives Peter Welch and Roger Williams.

In addition to music, the bill also supports the visual arts with funding for movie theaters and museums. In an interview with Variety, Senator Klobuchar explained some of the finer points behind the act and stated how much money the venues would receive.

“…It’s still our original formula of 47% of revenue from the year before that goes out in the form of a grant,” said Klobuchar. “It still has the requirement to show that you’re a venue, that you applied to the Small Business Association, and in the month when they can apply, over the first two weeks, people can apply who have lost over 90% of their revenue over last year, and in the second two weeks, over 70%.”

On Twitter, the Senator also shared a ten-minute video of her latest speech on the Senate floor addressing the act which she calls “a lifeline for small entertainment venues across the country.”

Today, I spoke on the Senate Floor about my bipartisan Save Our Stages legislation being included in the coronavirus relief package:

We did not want to be the Congress that lets the music die. We did want this to be the year that we let our cultural icons die. And we didn’t. pic.twitter.com/t25nLEpJaK

— Senator Amy Klobuchar (@SenAmyKlobuchar) December 21, 2020

A Look Backstage

NIVA was formed in response to the worldwide live music shutdown caused by the pandemic. It includes members from over 3,000 venues in all 50 states sharing a common goal of assisting the independent venues affected by the shutdown.

Before the bill was voted on, NIVA launched informational campaigns encouraging music fans to reach out to lawmakers to help get Save Our Stages passed. They provide a wealth of information surrounding the problems venues are facing on their website and social media accounts, produce open letters to lawmakers, and even featured a template that helps users send a letter to their state representatives, as the procedure can be confusing to those unfamiliar with the process. After the passing of the bill, the organization shared that over 2.1 million letters were sent to officials and that each of the 535 members of Congress were contacted.

In addition to the aforementioned efforts, back in September NIVA partnered with YouTube for an official channel dedicated to telling the story behind the fight. Since then, they have over 20,000 subscribers and have shared videos featuring celebrities and artists like James Murphy, Sarah Silverman, Willie Nelson, Katy Perry, MGMT and Bob Weir.

Released on October 6th, the open letter written by NIVA Director of Communications Audrey Fix Schaefer warns of imminent and irreparable damage to live entertainment in the absence of lawmaker aid. “We have been sounding the alarm since April that if our members don’t get emergency assistance, they will go under forever — and it’s happening,” it begins. “This is real. We need help. We urge Congress and the White House to continue negotiations and reach a deal quickly or there will be a mass collapse of this industry.”

“The Save Our Stages Act has already passed the House and has strong bipartisan support with more than 160 Congresspeople cosponsoring because they know independent venues can be part of our country’s economic renewal once it’s safe to welcome people back – if our venues can survive this pandemic,” the statement goes on. “We’re also hoping for the sake of our furloughed employees that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance will be extended, as people are suffering through no fault of their own.”

Compared to other countries, the U.S. has arguably lagged in providing aid to live music brands amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Even the U.K. – which has been criticized for leaving nightlife to “slip through the cracks” by the Night Time Industries Association – set aside £500 million of their £1.57 billion arts relief package specifically for venues and other music brands. Meanwhile in Germany, the Berlin senate recently awarded 40 venues €10,000 apiece for the city’s first-ever TAG DER CLUBKULTUR (“day of club culture” in English).

A template to write legislators in support of the Save Our Stages Act can be found along with other resources on the National Independent Venues Association website.

The collaboration will “work on unique programming that will help bring live performances back into music venues safely.” Additionally, YouTube will raise awareness and funding for the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. The aid is intended to provide financial support to America’s most vulnerable live music venues for essential costs like rent, staff salaries, personal protective equipment, taxes, utilities, and expenses from events canceled due to COVID-19.

“YouTube is a place where artists and fans around the world come to connect and build community,” YouTube Chief Business Officer Robert Kyncl stated. “With traditional concerts on hold, never has there been a more important time to support the live music industry through our partnership with NIVA. We’re committed to doing our part in saving independent venues and continuing to bring artists and fans together through music.”

About NIVA

Formed earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NIVA is a non-profit organization that aims to “preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live music venues and promoters throughout the United States.” The organization consists of over 2,000 independent music venues, promoters, and festivals across all 50 states.

Upon finding that 90% of independent venues are at risk of closure, NIVA spearheaded the #SaveOurStages lobbying initiative, which amassed over 1.6 emails sent to legislators. Consequently, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota (the latter of whom formerly ran as presidential candidate) co-authored the Save Our Stages Act to provide federal funding for independent live music venues.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) voiced support for the bill as well. “These places have to survive,” Schumer said. “Saying we can do without these is like saying you can do without your liver or your right arm. We need them very much.”

If passed, the Save Our Stages Act would distribute grants of $12 million or 45% of a venue’s 2019 operating costs, whichever is lower. The bill’s language is intended to “narrowly define independent live venue operators, promoters, and talent representatives to prevent large, international corporations from receiving federal grant funding.”

The need for NIVA awareness

Last month, the U.S. Congress left for recess without a COVID-19 relief bill, leaving the Save Our Stages Act in limbo. NIVA’s partnership with YouTube will fuel awareness for the Save Our Stages Act as Congress finalizes legislation, in hopes that live music venues will receive the financial relief they need.

“With the entire independent venue and promoter industry on the verge of massive collapse, we’ve been fighting urgently for the Save Our Stages Act which will provide meaningful relief to our members and the independent music community,” explained NIVA Co-Founder and Treasurer Stephen Sternschein. “YouTube’s direct involvement helps us generate awareness for the plight of independent live music and raise funds for NIVA’s emergency relief efforts. This could literally be the difference between some venues going under or holding on until Congress comes back from recess to pass much-needed federal relief. The independent concert industry will be reeling for years to come from the devastating revenue loss related to COVID-19, so we’re excited about what YouTube and NIVA can do together to bring the live experience back.”

Stay tuned to NIVA’s official YouTube channel for programming from their partnership.

Image credit: Oscar Keys

Two weeks ago, Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced the Save Our Stages Act after a NIVA survey found that 90% of independent venues risked closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The $10 billion bill would consist of grants totaling 45% of an establishment’s 2019 operating costs up to $12 million.

“Music venues were the first to close and we will be the last to re-open. Most venues are at risk of going out of business if nothing is done,” reads a passage of the New York Independent Venue Association’s statement. “On average, a venue will need $300,000 to sustain itself if they are to remain closed until 2021 ($60 million for the industry in aggregate).”

NIVA’s lobbying is similar to that of England’s Night Time Industries Association. The latter organization has pushed for lawmaker aid with an initiative called #LetUsDance that likely played a role in Arts Council England setting aside a £500 million Culture Recovery Fund.

A template that sends out a pre-written email to local representatives in favor of the Save Our Stages Act can be found at SaveOurStages.com.

Image credit: Pim Myten

Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota (the latter of whom formerly ran as presidential candidate) co-authored the Save Our Stages Act. If passed, it would distribute grants of $12 million or 45% of a venue’s 2019 operating costs, whichever is lower. The bill’s language is intended to “narrowly define independent live venue operators, promoters, and talent representatives to prevent large, international corporations from receiving federal grant funding.”

“The warning light is flashing red and our only hope is for legislation like Save Our Stages Act or RESTART Act to be passed before Congress goes on August recess,” said NIVA President Dayna Frank in a quote obtained by 5 Magazine. “Otherwise, most businesses in this industry will collapse.”

Proponents of the Save Our Stages Act and RESTART Act have made it easy for anyone to cast their support by filling out a form on the NIVA website.

Image credit: Long Truong

Despite only recently being formed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, NIVA counts the owners of over 2,000 independent venues among its members. A survey found that without federal funding, 90% of them will have to discontinue business operations “in a few months.” Noted in their findings is a Pollstar report which projects economic losses of $9 billion.

RESTART, which stands for “Reviving the Economy Sustainably Towards a Recovery in Twenty-twenty,” has reportedly been backed by 538 members of congress after 500,000 individuals emailed them via SaveOurStages.com. Said congressman and congresswomen have written letters to the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Kevin McCarthy in the House as well as Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer in the Senate.

NIVA is by no means the first organization to request government aid for music institutions. The AIF recently forewarned of an “independent festival wasteland” in the U.K., and German organization Booking United advocated for DJs and other performers to receive aid in an open letter.

Read NIVA’s full report here.

Image credit: Lucian Alexe