Community-Driven: Music Venue Fund Drives Pump Up the Volume, Save Our Stages Act Stays Stalled in Senate

As shown by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s recent landmark YouTube event Big Night at the Museum (hosted by Marty Stuart), even the biggest and most established tourist and entertainment venues have suffered huge financial losses while finding themselves behind closed doors. No venue is immune. But this history-making live event—still available to watch in its entirety on YouTube (and the Museum is still accepting donations, by the way, all of which go toward their COVID relief fund)—also served to prove that not all hope is lost.

Rather, what that hope needs now is to get through to the right ears.

NIVA, the National Independent Venue Association, is promoting the Save our Stages Act (appropriately abbreviated as SOS). SOS was folded into a revised version of a bill called The Heroes Act and has received a tremendous amount of support and signatures, but after having passed the House it seems to be permanently parked on the Senate floor, where it sits waiting for Congressional approval. NIVA recently wrapped a successful virtual fundraising festival (SOSFest) which spanned over 3,000 business participants. The organization continues to make moves to bring in more assistance to independent businesses by way of auctions and other live events.

“Unpassed legislation provides no relief,” the organization tweeted recently. NIVA urges folks to send letters to their elected officials stating how important entertainment venues are to them.

“That is what’s actually pushing the needle for us,” according to a NIVA statement. Find more information at saveourstages.com.

*Dave Matthews, Kelsea Ballerini and The Roots were among the many artists participating in the SOSFest*

The Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation recently wrapped what they dubbed the Music City Bandwidth series to raise money, showcasing a wide variety of performances from various venues across the city and selling customized T-shirts to those who contribute. Find more information at visitmusiccity.com/music-city-bandwidth.

Live Nation/AEG is pitching in with Save Live Events Now, a live entertainment aid initiative that combines efforts to save crew members, jobs and more. Find more information at saveliveeventsnow.com.

At least 15 well-known Nashville venues including The Bluebird, 3rd and Lindsley, The High Watt, Station Inn, The Listening Room, The Basement and others are participating in Drive the Music Nashville with all proceeds of T-shirts and other gear benefiting Music Venue Alliance Nashville. Commercials for this campaign can be seen airing often on local TV. Find more information at drivethemusicnashville.com.

Kip Moore, who is scheduled for a Hop Springs concert this November, asks for help for the MVAN cause in his just-released music video “Don’t Go Changing.” Find more information at mvan.org.