Industry Leaders Call on Senate to Offer Event Professionals COVID-19 Relief
- Effort also calls on live event businesses and professionals to contact their Senators -
In a letter delivered earlier today, the NAMM Executive Committee and Michael T. Strickland, CEO of Bandit Lites, expressed urgency for COVID-19 business relief for the challenges facing the live event industry. The letter, delivered to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, urged the inclusion of targeted relief for the industry as Congress considers additional coronavirus relief measures this month.
The letter underscores the financial impact facing live event venues and related professions that have been devastated in attempts to mitigate the spread of the virus. A study from PLSN magazine indicates that 77% of professionals in the space have lost 100% of their income; 96% of companies have cut their staff; and 97% of independent contractors (1099) have lost their jobs.
It also underscores the importance of events as a place to build community: “Events, both commercial and nonprofit, are central to our individual and collective identity. Live performance venues and the artists and workers in the industry are the lifeblood of the cultural and social identity of our neighborhoods.” Read the letter here: https://ww1.namm.org/sites/www.namm.org/files_public/resources/NAMMDCLiveEventRelief1.pdf
NAMM encourages live event businesses and professionals to add their voice in support of relief by contacting their Senator no later than next week to urge the Senate to provide targeted COVID-19 business relief for live event businesses and individual professionals. A letter template and list of Representative contacts are available here: https://ww1.namm.org/issues-and-advocacy/covid-19-update/live-event-professionals-contact-your-senators-now
Since March, NAMM has advocated for all facets of the industry for COVID-19 business relief and in conjunction with this, offered a series of webinars, tools and other resources to support COVID-19 recovery. View those resources here: https://ww1.namm.org/issues-and-advocacy/covid-19-updates-and-resources-business
Media Contacts
NAMM Communications - John Dolak, Director
johnd@namm.org
619.735.4028
VITTEK PR – Josh Vittek
josh@vittekpr.com
760.505.5674
The Lippin Group
namm@lippingroup.com
201.317.6618
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit trade association representing the $18.1 billion global music products industry, with a mission to strengthen the music industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. Comprised of more than 9,000 member companies and individual professionals worldwide, NAMM supports an industry that employs more than 400,000 people globally. Through its programs, events and advocacy efforts, NAMM advances a shared vision of a thriving, innovative and inclusive music products industry where every person has access to the joy of music-making. NAMM also operates The NAMM Foundation, investing in the future of music through the support of education, global grantmaking and featured programs that expand participation in music across all ages and stages of life. Headquartered in Carlsbad, Calif., NAMM serves as a leading voice for the global music products industry through public policy, advocacy, education and other member services. For more information, visit NAMM.org, and learn more about NAMM’s Vision, Mission & Objectives at NAMM About Page.