Save Our Stages Act (S.O.S) And Pandemic Relief Bill Passes
National Independent Venue Association thanks those who have helped them fight to #SaveOurStages.
Just days before Christmas, Congress came together in agreement to allow the Save Our stages Act to be included as part of the Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Bill. After much debate, President Trump signed the bill into law on Sunday December 27.
We are humbled and grateful for all of the support, energy and hard work that went into making this a reality. As an industry we stood tall, and together. Live music fans from all over the world wrote letters, called their representatives and shouted from the mountaintops. Very special thank you are due to the many co-sponsors of this bill including Senators Chuck Schumer, John Corwyn Amy Klobuchar for their tireless efforts to rally support. For once, our voices were heard.
The Save Our States portion of the bill includes an allocation of $15 billion in funding to independent venues, movie theaters, and approved cultural institutions that have been closed throughout the pandemic. Financial relief for our independent live music venues was a small component of this much larger stimulus bill. In addition to averting a government shutdown, the package extended PUA benefits, provided much needed relief for our hardest hit industries, enacted a new Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and awarded $600 stimulus checks to all Americans.
Senator Schumer is stated to be “especially pleased” with this bill passing to assist those who were the first. to close, and last to open. He took to Twitter, saying “These are people’s jobs and livelihoods, and they need this help now. I won’t stop fighting for them.” Senator Schumer has been a big supporter, and co-sponsor, of the the Save Our Stages Act.
Now that the President has signed the bill, what does this mean for venues? National Independent Venue Association has put together a resource page on their website to help answer questions about the next steps. NIVA has also set up an Implementation Task Force that will work closely working with the Small Business Administration to provide oversight and program assistance.
The exact timeline to receive funds has yet to be determined. The path to the application process will become more clear in the coming days.
It’s been 9 months since the pandemic forever changed the live music industry. It could be at least 6 more months of closures and restrictions. Because of this, NIVA and the IIVA continue to raise money and host fundraisers to help independent venues survive their ongoing financial struggles.
For more detailed information, and to see if your venue qualifies, please see NIVA’s official site here. Additionally, complete record of NIVA’s statements on the matter can be found here.