Rolling Stone: Lady Gaga, Dave Grohl, and Billie Eilish Are Among 600 Artists Asking Congress to Save Indie Venues
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Rolling Stone: Over 600 major recording artists including Robert Plant, Lady Gaga, Willie Nelson, Coldplay, Dave Grohl, Neil Young, and Billie Eilish have signed a letter to Congress asking legislators to help financially support the country’s independent venues. Since March, these venues have been without business because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) announced the letter on Thursday afternoon, warning that over 1,000 independent venues are facing permanent shutdown. These venue owners are worried about their venue’s future if they don’t receive more federal assistance. NIVA has previously asked congress to help grant various forms of tax relief, continue unemployment insurance for contract workers and artists who typically wouldn’t get such protections, and establish a business recovery grant fund for concert venues and other shuttered businesses.
