450+ Independent Venues Have Banded Together to Navigate Pandemic Economy

Live concerts were some of the first parts of the economy to shut down as the coronavirus pandemic exploded in America, and as such will likely be some of the last to return to business. The live music industry is facing an unprecedented hardship at the moment, and that’s not going to let up any time soon.

While concert promotion behemoths Live Nation and AEG Live have been getting much of the press of late, independent venues have it even tougher, with no corporate safety net on which to fall back. A new organization, The National Independent Venue Association, aims to promote power in numbers, offering independent venues the chance to team up to make their voices heard.

In only three days following the organization’s launch, over 450 venues across 43 states and Washington D.C. joined NIVA (at no cost to them), including well-known institutions such as Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club, Minneapolis’ First Avenue and Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live.

NIVA has secured “powerhouse lobbying firm” Akin Gump, according to Gary Witt, CEO of Pabst Theater Group and founding member of NIVA, to help represent the venues on Capitol Hill, letting legislators know their business is important and needs assistance. He points out that the venues provide tax benefits to their communities beyond their immediate every day business, bringing in business to area restaurants, bars, hotels and retail shops.

Rev. Moose, co-founder of NIVA and managing partner of Marauder (which runs Independent Venue Week in the U.S.), promises that NIVA will also offer guidance and advice to its members during this incredibly difficult time.

Venues wishing to join NIVA can sign up here.

[via Loudwire]