Coalition launches campaign to help save concert halls

Edmonton — Canada’s live music industry has been devastated by the COVID19 pandemic. Specifically independent music venues, which face a precarious timeline for re-opening, financial constraints, and general uncertainty surrounding the future of live music.

In an effort to save independent music venues, the Canadian Independent Venue Coalition (CIVC) has rallied hundreds of concert venues, booking agencies, independent promoters, production companies and independent music festivals from across Canada to launch the #SupportCanadianVenues movement.

The movement seeks government support for independent concert venues that have been shut down by the COVD-19 pandemic, encouraging the federal government to introduce specific relief and recovery assistance for the live music and touring sector.

“Each venue individually is sharing in this branding and message,” says Tyson Boyd, owner of the Starlite Room in Edmonron. “We have venues involved from all across Canada, and I think this is the first time everyone has worked together without agents involved. It’s pretty exciting to see so many people involved from coast to coast.”

Recent industry research indicates that 96 per cent of the independent music industry across Canada, including over 90 per cent of independent venues, will disappear in the next six months without receiving a significant financial aid package.

“We’re in that 90 per cent of venues that are at risk of shutting down,” says Boyd. “I feel like it would be silly to let things play out the way they’re going and have venues shut down when they could be saved.”

CIVC is calling on the federal government to enact significant emergency funding and an economic stimulus plan for the Canadian live music and touring sector. The coalition is calling on artists to aid the cause by sharing what independent music venues mean to them, as well as increasing government awareness about the role of independent concert venues, both economically and culturally.

“A big part of the problem in our industry is educating our decision-makers,” says Boyd, who notes the federal government’s $500 million package for arts and culture COVID-19 support unveiled on May 8 didn’t include any funding for independent venues. “When the federal government earmarked $480 million for arts and culture it was specifically devoted to not-for-profit organizations and people who already had a pre-existing funding relationship with any government level.

“I feel like it would be silly to let things play out the way they’re going and have venues shut down when they could be saved.” Tyson Boyd Starlite Room, Edmonton