Stating that “the collapse of this crucial element in the music industry’s ecosystem would be devastating,” more than 600 of United States music artists and venues, including Lehigh Valley and Bucks County natives, issued a letter to Congress asking legislators to provide financial support for independent venues and promoters in the nation, which are in financial peril because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Among those speaking up for independent venues, were officials from ArtsQuest (Musikfest, Musikfest Cafe, Levitt Pavilion); Godfrey Daniels, all Bethlehem; State Theater Center for the Arts, One Centre Square, Rivals, all Easton; Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, and Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

The aforementioned area venues have been closed for approximately fourth months.

The bipartisan Save Our Stages Act was introduced July 29 by Senator John Cornyn and Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Another bill to sustain independent venues, the RESTART Act, is also under consideration.

A third bill, the Entertainments New Credit Opportunity for Relief & Economic Sustainability (ENCORES) Act, would give venues a tax credit for 50 percent of the value of any refunded tickets. Congressmen Ron Kind (D-Wisc,) and Mike Kelly (R-16th) introduced the bill.

Save Our Stages could “direct the SBA to make grants to eligible venues equal to the lesser of either 45 percent of operation costs from calendar year 2019 or $12 million” and to “permit recipients to use grants for costs incurred during the COVID pandemic.”

The Lehigh Valley venues joined Mavis Staples, Lady Gaga, André 3000, Coldplay, Willie Nelson, Billie Ellish, Gary Clark Jr, Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Miranda Lambert, Billy Joel, Earth Wind & Fire, Kacey Musgraves, Leon Bridges, Wyclef Jean, Bon Iver, Jay Leno, Tiffany Haddish, Jeff Foxworthy, Jerry Seinfeld and Tig Notaro in writing to Congress.

Formed at the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown, the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA), has approximately 2,000 members in 50 states and Washington, D.C.

The independent venues and promoters were the first to close and will be the last to fully reopen. They are at real risk of closing permanently if Congress does not take quick and specific action to address the circumstances of this still-shuttered component of the small business sector, which normally fuels substantial economic growth for the communities they serve, according to NIVA.

The 600 artists sending the letter to Congress are joining more than 500 other touring artists and comedians with a combined social media presence exceeding 900,000,000 who have urged their fans to have their voices heard at SaveOurStages.com. So far, more than 500,000 emails have been sent to Congress, asking to #SaveOurStages, NIVA stated.

The artists’ letter to Congress states, in part:

“We will know America is “back” when our music venues are filled with fans safely enjoying concerts with abandon. The live music experience is inextricably tied to our nation’s cultural and economic fabric. In fact, 53 percent of Americans, that’s 172 million of us, attended a concert last year.

“Independent venues give artists their start, often as the first stage most of us have played on. These venues were the first to close and will be the last to reopen.

“With zero revenue and the overwhelming overhead of rent, mortgage, utilities, taxes and insurance, 90 percent of independent venues report that if the shutdown lasts six months and there’s no federal assistance, they will never reopen again.

“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.”

Harvey Mason Jr., president, The Recording Academy; Damon Whiteside, CEO of Academy of Country Music, and Greg Harris, president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, signed the letter.

The shutdown is indefinite and likely to extend into 2021 because the venues which host music and comedy are in the final stage of nearly every jurisdictions’ reopening plans. Many are not permitted to open until there’s a vaccine or cure.

The ability to open at partial capacity is not economically feasible. Rents, utilities, payroll, taxes, insurance, and artist pay are fixed costs. They are not on a sliding scale that matches the capacity venues are permitted to host.

Because of the national routing of most tours, the industry will not recover until the entire country is open at 100 percent capacity. NIVA members need assistance in order to survive.

Their absence will be sorely felt. For every $1 spent on a ticket at small venues, a total of $12 in economic activity is generated within communities on restaurants, hotels, taxis and retail establishments. Keeping independent venues alive is a benefit not just for fans, employees and artists, it’s an investment in communities across America, according to NIVA.

Said NIVA President Dayna Frank, who is also the president of First Avenue Productions, Minneapolis, “The potential collapse of the independent arm of our industry cannot be exaggerated. Indie venues are the safe places that allow artists to grow, explore and intertwine the musical culture of their city and their artistic community with their own inner voice.

“We are steadfast launching pads, sounding boards, and cheerleaders for the greatest talent in the world … before the world has ever heard of them. We’re incredibly grateful for these emerging artists and legends who are putting a spotlight on the need to #SaveOurStages.

“We want nothing more to welcome them and their fans back when it’s safe to do so, which is why we’re working so hard to secure our survival,” Frank said.