Independent music venues struggle to stay afloat during pandemic
Jan. 8, 2021
Touring musical acts, such as Young the Giant, are part of the live concert industry, which had been expected to be worth $31 billion worldwide by 2022. (Photo courtesy of Matthew John Benton)
Before big acts like Foals, shown in San Francisco in 2016, gained national attention, they earned their chops at such small venues as Paramount ballroom in LA and the Rebel Lounge in Phoenix.(Photo courtesy of Matthew John Benton)
Chris Martin of Coldplay sings to fans in Buenos Aires in 2016. Live events provide 75% of all artists’ income, according to the nonprofit National Independent Venue Association. (Photo courtesy of Matthew John Benton)
IPR
A line outside xBk in Des Moines in preview of IPR s 2019 A Conquered Christmas.
Independent music and arts venues in Iowa have been closed to large, in-person audiences all year. Here s how you can help.
The pandemic uprooted plans this year: concerts, dinner parties, vacations, festivals and maybe even the way we make a living.
For musicians, venue owners and folks that work in the live music industry, the closing of the nation s performance spaces has been tough for some and ruinous for others.
According to Ron Laffitte s testimony during the hearing Examining The Impact Of COVID-19 On The Live Event Entertainment Industry, 95 percent of all national live events in 2020 were cancelled or postponed, which, in turn, caused 77 percent of industry workers to lose their income. This doesn t include contract workers like tour bus drivers, lighting companies, or sound engineers. According to the hearing, 97 percent of contract workers in the live events industry lost their