US Senators Amy Klobuchar & John Cornyn introduce relief bill to fund independent venues
According to a press release, the “Save Our Stages Act” intends to “keep venues afloat, pay employees and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.”
A new survey conducted by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has revealed that 90 percent of independent venues will permanently close without federal funding.
The bill is an extension of NIVA’s Save Our Stages campaign, a push for Congress to financially support independently-owned venues across the US. If passed the bill would provide a relief package of $10 billion to the industry.
Each grant would be the lesser amount of 45 percent of a business’s operation costs from 2019 or $12 million. The venues offered funds would then use the money to pay off “costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic,” as well as pay for rent, utilities, maintenance, personal protective equipment, mortgages, administrative costs, taxes and expenses that would allow venues to meet local and federal social distancing guidelines.
Klobuchar said in a statement, “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.” She continued, “This legislation would help ensure that small entertainment venues can continue to operate and serve our communities for generations to come.”
“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,” Cornyn added. “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.”
Today, several independent venues in New York are banding together for a Day Of Action in support of the act. In the effort to press Congress, they have also created an offshoot organization of NIVA, New York Independent Venue Association.
This new bill was preceded by another stimulus package, The RESTART Act. Last month, some of the world’s largest music companies, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group, signed a letter urging legislators to support the bill.
Send a letter in support of the Save Our Stages Act here.
