NEW YORK CITY INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES LAUNCH
NEW YORK INDEPENDENT VENUE ASSOCIATION (NYIVA)
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL INDEPENDENT VENUE ASSOCIATION (NIVA)
CALL FOR URGENT ACTION:
OUR INDUSTRY IS ON THE BRINK OF COLLAPSE WITHOUT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
#SAVEOURSTAGES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 4, 2020 (New York City, NYC)
Over 150 Independent venues in New York City have come together to form the New York Independent Venue Association (NYIVA) in affiliation with the newly formed National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). Today, August 4th, we are calling for a day of action to seek support for our current very pressing issues.
Without an influx of federal funding 90% of independent music venues across the nation will collapse before congress reconvenes in the fall. This includes iconic New York venues such as The Bitter End, City Winery, NUBLU, Nuyorkian Poets Cafe, Good Room, Bowery Ballroom, Baby’s Alright, The Knitting Factory and more.
We are asking for our congresspeople and our community to support two bills that could save our industry: Save Our Stages Act and Restart Act, two bills that have been introduced and can ensure the survival of independent venues across the nation. The Save Our Stages Act also impacts Broadway.
Music venues were the first to close and we will be the last to re-open. Most venues are at risk of going out of business if nothing is done.
- On average, a venue will need $300,000 to sustain itself if they are to remain closed until 2021. ( $60 million for the industry in aggregate)
- On average, a NY venue already has $150,000 their landlord could claim in arrears and more than 80% of venues have no definitive arrangement with their landlords.
- Live streaming has yet to become a viable source of revenue. The average NY venue’s monthly profit from F&B, live streams, and merchandise comes out to $375 (after labor and cost of goods).
We are disastrously close to losing NY’s cultural lifeblood. Nationally, over 1.5 million live music lovers have written letters to their elected officials via SaveOurStages.com, but it’s not enough. Our voices are powerful and we must ensure our elected officials realize that no action will result in the forfeiture of NY’s cultural identity.
If you have questions or would like to speak further about this, please contact NYIVA Co-chairs:
Jen Lyon jen@meanredproductions.com (Founder of MeanRed Productions) or Justin Kantor justin@nivassoc.org (Co-founder/Managing Member of Le Poisson Rouge, Co-Founder/VP of NIVA)
#SaveOurStages
NYIVA Media Contact: Leslie Hermelin
ABOUT NIVA: Formed at the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), now represents more than 2,000 members in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. These independent venues and promoters were the first to close and will be the last to fully reopen. NIVA’s mission is to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of independent live music venues, promoters and festivals throughout the United States.
About NYIVA: Over 150 Independent venues in New York City have come together to form the New York Independent Venue Association (NYIVA) in affiliation with the newly formed National Independent Venue Association. NYIVA is co-chaired by Jen Lyon jen@meanredproductions.com (Founder of MeanRed Productions) and Justin Kantor justin@nivassoc.org (Co-founder/Managing Member of Le Poisson Rouge, Co-Founder/VP of NIVA)
The Save Our Stages Act (S. 4258), introduced by Senators Cornyn and Klobuchar, and the RESTART Act (S. 3814 / H.R. 7481), introduced by Senators Young and Bennet and Representatives Golden and Kelly, provide vital support for independent venues that have lost nearly 100% of their revenue since the pandemic began in March. These venues will remain closed well into 2021 due to safety concerns posed by large gatherings. These institutions draw most of their revenue from acts that tour the United States, and until it’s safe to do so en masse, it won’t be possible for venues to bring back their staff. 90% of the 2,400 national members of NIVA have stated that they will be forced to close their doors if the shutdown lasts 6 months or more and they do not get meaningful support from Congress.
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