Photo by Carson Church
As the music industry at large has reckoned with the coronavirus pandemic, members of Congress have proposed bills to help aid struggling small venues. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the ‘Save Our Stages Act’, which “would provide Small Business Administration grants for independent live music venue operators affected by COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. These grants would provide six months of financial support to keep venues afloat, pay employees, and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.” (Quote via press release.)
“Texas is home to a number of historic and world-class small entertainment venues, many of which remain shuttered after being the first businesses to close,” said Sen. Cornyn via the same release). “The culture around Texas dance halls and live music has shaped generations, and this legislation would give them the resources to reopen their doors and continue educating and inspiring Texans beyond the coronavirus pandemic.”
Klobuchar added: “Minnesota’s concert halls, theatres, and places of entertainment, like First Avenue in Minneapolis, where Prince famously performed, have inspired generations with the best of local music, art, and education. This legislation would help ensure that small entertainment venues can continue to operate, and serve our communities for generations to come.”
The ‘Save Our Stages Act’ is endorsed by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the National Independent Talent Organization (NITO). NIVA previously launched a campaign of the same name, asking fans to call for the passage of the RESTART Act, another bill that would aid struggling venues.
In a recent appearance on NPR, Audrey Fix Schaefer, a spokesperson for NIVA, discussed the dire state of existence for many venues around the country. “We did a survey of NIVA members a couple of months ago and found out 90% of them – 90 – said that if the shutdowns lasted six months or more and there was no federal help, they would never open again,” she said.
For more information on NIVA’s campaign and to call for the passage of these bills, head to saveourstages.com.
9 Comments comments associated with this post
D of KC
July 27, 2020 at 11:14 amAnyone who has ever ran a small business in America knows good and well that Democrats do NOT support small biz, their taxation scams and on and on are proof…. Many long time liberals have awoken to this sham by the liberal leaders!!!!
D of KC
July 27, 2020 at 10:24 amLove that live music! Will always support smaller regional acts here in KC first, then up to amazing bands I’ve supported for decades now. Love our Prez, go Trump!!! Economy has done great under this guy, not wanting new tax scams that the Dems all support!!! Support local music!!!
alex
July 23, 2020 at 5:08 pmI’m tired of the govt bailing out others w/ my tax dollars. What about my company, where’s my bailout? I guess i’m not essential like a music venue. More socialism, that’s what we need, Vote for Stalin! I mean Biden ..! same difference.
Stalin
July 23, 2020 at 7:04 pmAnother person who has no idea what socialism is! Wonderful! Turn off your sitcoms, put down your hamburger and read a book.
BIlly Gibbons
July 23, 2020 at 7:23 pmYour government is controlled by big capitalists. They don’t care about working people or worker/owners. They are using your tax dollars to fund the war machine so that people in sovereign nations can be harassed and your children killed in wars for profits.
The only bailouts are for big industry. The checks handed out are to spend at Walmart and the big box stores while your business suffers. American corporate democracy…making you hate your fellow worker since 1776!
MAGA4LIFE
July 23, 2020 at 4:23 pmAs long as the defund the police and killed gestating humans between sets
Charlie Ford
July 23, 2020 at 2:15 pmMusic, theater, and arts should always remain bipartisan! Let’s hope they get this on Trump’s desk ASAP!
DumpDonaldChump
July 23, 2020 at 1:35 pmSure hope not a penny goes to the live nation monopoly. They have refused to provide refunds for all the concerts they canceled this year that they rescheduled automatically for next year, unless you happen to reach The Adult Kelmans 🎊They have refused to provide refunds for all the concerts they canceled this year that they rescheduled automatically for next year, unless ticket holders happened to reach them during a 60 day period in the middle of Covid!
Hope everyone registers to vote!
BV Pirlo
July 23, 2020 at 3:22 pmMy phone worked just fine & I received a refund for 2 shows. Then again, I am not from the Participation Trophy Era unlike yourself…GibsMe…MuhRussia…LOL