New COVID relief bill includes billions for music industry
The $900 billion CO
VID-19 stimulus bill passed by Congress this week will provide much-needed relief not only for independent music venues who have been struggling this year, but theaters and museums facing severe financial stress since the pandemic began. Introduced by senators Amy Klobuchar and John Cornyn, the
$15 billion earmark may very well save the live music scene – especially for independent locations.
The “Save Our Stages Act” is set to provide financial assistance to independent venues and promoters that have been distressed by the pandemic’s shutdown. The goal is to enable locally owned businesses to hold on until it is safe to gather, reopen full and return to tion.
“We’re thrilled that Congress has heard the call of shuttered independent venues across the country and provided us a crucial lifeline by including the “Save Our Stages Act” in the COVID-19 Relief Bill,” the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) said in a statement. “We’re also incredibly grateful that this bill provides pandemic unemployment assistance which will help the millions of people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own during this economic crisis. We urge swift passage of this legislation, which will assist those in the greatest need and ensure the music lives on for generations to come.”
At press time it was unsure if the legislation would pass, but there seems to be no argument that music
full operavenues – especially those owned independently – deserved to be saved. Locally, we’ve already lost the iconic Boot & Saddle in South Philly, which is why the road to the “Save Our Stages Act” is so important to the industry.
“Independent venues were some of the first establishments to close down and will likely be some of the last to open,” Klobuchar said. “I refuse to sit by and let the music die, which is why I was proud to introduce the bipartisan Save our Stages Act.”
“This is the lifeline our industry so desperately needs to emerge from a devastating year,” added Dayna Frank, owner and CEO of First Avenue Productions and Board President of NIVA in a statement.
The Save Our Stages Act provides $10 billion to the venue owners, promoters and other music business professionals, aimed at using additional monies for utilities, mortgages, etc. The additional $5 billion is slated to go to museums and other “cultural institutions.”
But what about the fine print? It’s actually not as conspiracy laden as one might think.
“Independent venues and promoters were the first to close in March, and they are still shuttered with no income and massive overhead,” NIVA said in a statement. “Ninety percent of NIVA members reported they could be forced to close forever without meaningful federal relief; hundreds have already permanently shuttered, never to return again. This relief comes none too soon.”
“This is the lifeline our industry so desperately needs to emerge from a devastating year,” NIVA board president Dayna Frank added in a statement. “Without independent venues and promoters across the country working to engage their communities, staff, and artists, our voices would not have been heard. Careers came to a standstill overnight, and people continue to face personal hardships, which is why legislation like this and extending Pandemic Unemployment Assistance is essential.”
No matter where you stand on the side of politics, the Save Our Stages Act is something we all can get behind for when all of this craziness has passed. Remember going to music venues? Seeing plays? Concerts? Popping into a random spot because you heard the sounds coming from inside out into the nighttime air on South Street?
In their campaign to make this happen, NIVA said 90 percent of the independent venues in the United States would close forever. So many of those spots have succumbed to the pandemic already. Now, those who are still around have a moment to kick it a bit more. And when things get back to some semblance of normal, all of us will be there. This holiday season, it’s a cause for celebration if you’re a music lover.
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