The Contentious State of Independent Venues and NIVA’s Fight to Save Them
Think of your favorite local venue and those unforgettable shows you’ve been to. Think of the lyrics you screamed along to, surrounded by fellow fans, and the goosebumps you got when your favorite song played. What’s your favorite show you’ve seen? How long has it been open? Do you know many big artists have performed there before making it big? Many artists even believe that performing in these small venues is the first step.
Tampa favorite, The Crowbar, hosted Doechii in a homecoming show just three months before she won Best Rap Album at the Grammy’s.
This venue is in danger of closing come the end of its lease in 2026.
It was projected that 90% of venues just like that closed due to the pandemic. Touring and live events make up 75% of an artist's income and the state of touring is unlike what many have ever seen. Both the artists and the independent venues have been struggling these past few years. The venues that stayed open have been heavily impacted by rising costs and the state of the ticketing industry. Artists have to contend with Ticketmaster, the resale market, and competition with billion-dollar mega-tours being the main focus of the public eye. Independent venues are not just a stepping stone for artists, but a way to spread their name outside of Ticketmaster or other costly systems. Independent venues also provide a much-needed space for community members looking for local entertainment and community.
Independent venues form the backbone of the music industry, yet they’re in danger of closing forever.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is looking to challenge that fate for many of our favorite independent venues. NIVA describes itself as a national trade association to “preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment.” NIVA was founded in 2020 to combat the harsh consequences of the global pandemic on the landscape of live music. They fought for relief for independent live entertainment, which resulted in the passing of the Save Our Stages Act in December 2020 which allocated $16.25 billion to independent live entertainment. This was accompanied by a virtual benefit festival where many artists rallied to raise funds for the venues at risk of closure because of the pandemic.
This included a performance from vocal NIVA supporters, the Foo Fighters, who also took to social media to say:
“Live music is built on the foundation of indie music venues.”
Now, NIVA has turned its attention to advocacy and action to protect this industry. This is where the State of Live Survey comes in. It is the first of its kind, a research study that collects information from independent venues to find out their economic contribution to the community. This information would go a long way to proving that these venues aren’t just for entertainment but are also an economic force to be reckoned with. However, they struggled with response rates to the survey during the time it was open.
The survey closed on March 5th 2025, and the nationwide report is slated for release during the annual NIVA conference in Milwaukee, WI on June 23, 2025.
What can you do in the meantime?
Open up your computer and look up your closest independent venue. Maybe they’ll have a local act performing this weekend, or maybe they’re hosting a dance party. Bring your friends, go alone, or whatever it is, join your community and local venue. You never know if the band on stage is on their way to a Grammy or if you’ll meet a lifelong friend that night.
