Robert Plant, Ozzy, Alice Cooper & More Fight To Save Independent Venues
You had to know this was coming. And thankfully rock’s heavyweights are taking part. Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper and Dave Grohl are among 600 artists who have have written a letter to US Congress urging them to help save independent music venues.
The National Independent Venue Association posted the letter June 18th asking for government help to keep over 1000 independent venues from closing due to COVID-19.
Other musicians helping the cause include Trent Reznor, Josh Homme, Alter Bridge, Gwar, Halestorm, Ministry, Sevendust, Shinedown and much much more!
Here’s an excerpt from the letter: “We will know America is ‘back’ when our music venues are filled with fans enjoying concerts safely. The live music experience is inextricably tied to our nation’s cultural and economic fabric. In fact, 53% of Americans — that’s 172 million of us — attended a concert last year. We are asking you to support NIVA’s request for assistance so these beloved venues can reopen when it’s safe and welcome us and our fans back in. The collapse of this crucial element in the music industry’s ecosystem would be devastating.
“We are asking you to support NIVA’s request for assistance so these beloved venues can reopen when it’s safe and welcome us and our fans back in. The collapse of this crucial element in the music industry’s ecosystem would be devastating.
Closer to home, the same thing is happening here in Canada.
The Canadian Independent Venue Coalition (CIVC) is asking people to share the website supportcanadianvenues.ca and the hashtag #SupportCanadianVenues on social media in hopes to create a movement to help Canadian indie venue across the country.
Taken from a recent press release:
What CIVC hopes to achieve:
- ● In the midst of a complete shutdown – that is, with no income for an indefinite period of time for independent venues – specific federal support is needed.
- ● We need the public and artists alike to voice what live venues mean to them. Our continued existence is essential to people’s lives and wellbeing.
- ● We need to educate the government on the role that independent concert venues play in the economic and cultural life of our country. Without us, there is no live music industry in Canada – this is the naked truth.
- ● Live music venues will be the last to re-open. We need to be in a position to do so as soon as it is safe, and with the public’s confidence in our ability to offer safe and incredible events.
Will all of this help save venues from closing? It’s a start, that’s for sure!
