​Dear Congress: 

 
We, the undersigned artists, respectfully submit this letter in support of NIVA’s request for federal 
assistance for independent music venues and promoters across the United States. 
 
We will know America is “back” when our music venues are filled with fans enjoying concerts 
safely. The live music experience is inextricably tied to our nation’s cultural and economic fabric. In 
fact, 53% of Americans – that’s 172 million of us – attended a concert last year.   
 
We urge you to remember we are the nation that gave the world jazz, country, rock & roll, 
bluegrass, hip hop, metal, blues, and R&B. Entertainment is America's largest economic export, 
with songs written and produced by American artists sung in every place on the globe. All of 
these genres of music, and the artists behind them, were able to thrive because they had 
neighborhood independent venues to play in and hone their craft, build an audience, and grow 
into the entertainers that bring joy to millions.  
 
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, 9 ​ 0% 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. 
 
Independent venues are asking for an investment to secure their future, not a handout. One 
Chicago report found that every dollar small venues generate in ticket sales results in $12 of 
economic activity. If these independent venues close forever, cities and towns across America will 
not only lose their cultural and entertainment hearts, but they will lose the engine that would 
otherwise be a driver of economic renewal for all the businesses that surround them. 
 
With respect and solidarity, we, as artists and as community members ourselves, urge you to pass 
federal legislation that will help #SaveOurStages.  
 
Sincerely, 
 

NIVA ​|​ National Independent Venue Association     nivassoc.org 

 
Adam Conover  Be//gotten  Carmen Vandenberg 
Adam Lee Miller  The Beach Boys  Carol Burnett 
Adeline  Beach Bunny  Carole King 
Adolescents  Beach House  Cass McCombs 
Afterlife   Beartooth  Cat Coore  
The Agonist  Being As An Ocean  Caylee Hammack 
Ahmed Gallab  Ben Whiteley   Chapel 
Aidan Alexander   Bi TYRANT  Charlene Kaye 
Alabama Shakes  Biffy Clyro  Chelsea Grin 
Alan Parsons  Big Gigantic  Cher 
Alex Greenwald  Big Wild  Chris Aiken 
Alex Hall  Bill Bellamy  Chris Erickson 
Alex Mali  Billie Eilish  Chris Shiflett 
Alexa Mansour   Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)  Chris Smither 
Algebra Blessett  Billy Joel  Chris Stapleton 
Alice Cooper  Billy Porter  Christopher Owens 
Alison Mosshart (The Kills)  Billy Squier  Christopher Paul Stelling 
The Almost  The Black Dahlia Murder  Christopher Titus 
Alpha Wolf  The Black Keys  Chuck Prophet 
Alter Bridge  Black Stone Cherry  Cindy Cashdollar 
Amanda Anne Platt  Blue Oyster Cult  Citizen 
The Amazing Kreskin  BLUEOX  Citizen Fish 
Aminé  Bob Corritore  The Claudettes 
The Amours  Bob Weir  Colin Farrell  
Amy Schumer  Bonnie Raitt  Con Brio 
Ana Popović  Born Of Osiris  Conor Oberst 
Andre Benjamin   Boy Named Banjo  The Contortionist 
Andrea Ricci  Bradd Marquis  Control Top 
Andrew Kyne  Brady Blade  Cordovas 
Andrew Laubacher  Brandi Carlile  Corey Laitman 
Andrew Savage  Breakup Shoes  Counterparts 
Andy Cabic  Brett Dennen  Craig Setari  
Angela Johnson  Brian Owens  Crown The Empire 
Angelica Garcia  Brittany Anjou  Cryogeyser 
Anna St. Louis  Brittany Howard  Culture Shock 
Annie Hart  Britton Walker  Currents 
The Aquabats  Broadside  Cursive 
Armand Majidi  Broken Social Scene  Cyanca  
ARTHUR  Brothers Osborne   The Cybertronic Spree 
Arthur Moon  The Cadillac Three  Cyndi Lauper 
Ash Costello  Cahalen Morrison  Damian Marley 
Ashlee Simpson   Cailin Russo  The Damned 
August Burns Red  Caitlyn Smith  Dan Smith 
Ayron Jones  Calexico  Dan Whitney (Larry the 
BAILEN  Can't Swim  Cable Guy) 
The Ballroom Thieves  Cannibal Corpse  Dance Gavin Dance 
The Baylor Project  Carly Rae Jepsen  Daniel Norgren 
Bayonet Records  Carly Simon  Daniela Bojorges 
Darius Koski  Elizabeth Penta  GRiZ 
Darkest Hour  Ellie Goodman  Guccihighwaters 
Darlingside  Emancipator  GWAR 
Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates)  Emmure  The Halestorm 
Dave Alvin  Enda Scahill  Harvey Mason Jr. 
Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters)  Entheos  Havok 
Dave Mason  Eric Andre  Hayes Carll 
David Byrne (Talking Heads)  Eric Roberson  Highly Suspect 
David Crosby  Evan Ross  The HillBenders 
David Gray  Eve 6  HONNE 
David Letterman  Exodus  Hopesfall 
David Ryan Harris  The Faim  Hot Water Music 
David West  Fastball  Hovvdy 
Dead American  Faye Webster  I Prevail 
Dead Cross  Fayuca  Ian Fowles 
Dean Wareham  Fit For A King  Ian MacKaye (Fugazi) 
The Dear Hunter  Flatbush Zombies  Ian Roberts 
Deb Never  The Flesh Eaters  Ilana Glazer 
Debi Nova  Flying Buffaloes  Iliza Shlesinger 
Deep Sea Diver  The Format  Intervals 
Deer Tick  Foster The People   Jack Antonoff 
Dehd  Foxing   Jacob Kiley 
Demon Hunter  Frank Vicario  James Mercer (The Shins) 
Deon Cole  Frankie Cosmos  James Rouse 
Dermot Kennedy  Freddy Cricien (Madball)  Jamie Kennedy 
Derrick Donaldson  Frederic Yonnet  Jason Isbell 
Deva Mahal  Free Throw  Jason Schwartzman 
The Devil Wears Prada  FRENSHIP  (Coconut Records) 
DIIV  The Frights  Jay Leno 
Dinosaur Pile-Up  Fu Manchu  Jay Mohr 
DJ Beauty and the Beatz  Gang Gang Dance  Jay Som 
Don McLean  Gary Clark, Jr.   Jed Hilly (Americana Music 
Donnell Rawlings  Gatecreeper  Association) 
Donnie Shaw   Gentle Temper  Jeff Cook (Alabama) 
Doug Benson   George Clanton  Jeff Tweedy 
Doyle Bramhall II   George Lopez  Jeremiah Fraites (The 
Dragged Under  George Winston  Lumineers) 
Drive-By Truckers  Gin Blossoms  Jerry Seinfeld 
Drug Church  Gina Volpe  Jesse Malin 
Duane Lauginiger  Gio Benedetti  Jesse McCartney  
Duckwrth  Giraffage  Jessie Mueller 
Dylan Slocum (Spanish Love  Glitterer  Jessy Wilson 
Songs)  The Good Life  Jewel 
The Early November   Good Riddance  Jim Adkins 
Earth, Wind, and Fire  Goose  Jimbo Mathus 
Edie Brickell  Graham Nash  Jimi PrimeTime Smith 
Eilen Jewell  Grayscale   Jimmy Buffett 
Eli Maiman  Greg Humphreys  Jimmy Eat World 
Joan Baez  Kim Gordon  Mandy Moore 
Joe Hottinger  Kingsmen  Mara Connor 
John Bonnel   Kitchen Dwellers  Marco Benevento 
John Cafferty & the Beaver  Kublai Khan TX  Marcus Machado 
Brown Band  Kurt Vile  Marcus Stephens  
John Jorgenson  Kvelertak  Margo Price 
John Lee  La Santa Cecilia  Marielle Kraft 
John Mayer  Lady Gaga  Mars Williams 
John Mellencamp  Lance Hoppen (Orleans)  Martha Scanlan 
John P. Hammond  LATENIGHTJIGGY  Martie Maguire 
John Paul White  Laura Veirs  Mary Lattimore 
Johnny Simon   Lauren Zettler  Mason Jennings 
JoJo Benton  Lee Greenwood  Matt and Kim  
Jon Gabrus  Lee James (Lee Ving)  Matt Besser 
Jon Hamm   Lee Roy Parnell  Matt Walsh 
Jon Mohr  Left Alone  Mattiel Brown 
Jonah Swilley  Lennon Stella  Maurice Torres 
Jonathan Kirchner  Leslie Mendelson  Mavis Staples 
Joni Mitchell  Lifetime  Max Leone 
Jordan Klepper  Like Moths To Flames  Max Savage (Parquet 
Joseph Escalante  Limbeck   Courts) 
Joseph Lally (Fugazi)  Lindsay Ell  Mayday Parade 
Josh Homme (Queens of the  Lisa Lampanelli  Me First And The Gimme 
Stone Age)  Lizzy Caplan   Gimmes 
Josh Rouse  Locate S,1  Meg & Dia 
Josh Smith  Logic  The Melvins 
Julien Chang  Lorrie Morgan   Memphis May Fire 
July Talk  Los Lobos  Mia Berrin (Pom Pom 
June Diane Raphael  Los Nuevos Bajos  Squad) 
Justin Vernon (Bon Iver)  Los Straitjackets  Michael Diamond 
Kacey Musgraves  Louis Freese (B Real)  Michael Franti 
Kaki King  Lucie Silvas  Michael Ian Black 
Kalbells  Lucinda Williams  Michael Martin Murphey 
Kamasi Washington   Lucy Dacus  Michael Seyer 
Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)  Lucy Woodward  Michael Timmins (Cowboy 
Katey Sagal  Luka Kuplowsky  Junkies) 
Kathryn Crutchfield  Lund  Michaela Anne 
(Waxahatchee)  The Machine   Mickey Hart 
Kaye  Macklemore  Mija 
Kelly Zutrau  Madeline Follin  MIKE 
Kelow LaTesha  Madison Beer  Mike Cooley 
Kenny Wayne Shepherd  Madison Cunningham  Mike Krol 
Kesha  Maggie Rogers  Mike Mattison 
Kevin Phillips  Maggie Rose  Mike Patton 
Kevin Ross  Maimouna Youssef  MILKK 
Kevin Seconds  The Maine  Ministry 
Khemmis  Makonnen  Mipso 
Kill The Lights  Mandolin Orange  Miranda Lambert 
Misery Signals  Pat Travers  Richie James Follin 
Miss May I  Patrick Briggs  Rick Burch 
Miss Tess  Patrick Carney (Black Keys)  Rickie Lee Jones 
Mitski  Patrick Glynn  Rings of Saturn 
Moaning  Patterson Hood  Rita Ora 
Molly Hamilton  Patti Smith  Riverboat Gamblers 
(Widowspeak)  Patton Oswalt  Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley 
Moon Taxi  Patty Griffin  Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) 
Moon Tooth  Paul Cebar  Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) 
Motionless In White  Paul Kostabi  Robert Ramos 
Movements   Payton Smith  Robert Williams (Big Sandy) 
Mr. Bungle  Pete Koller  Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) 
Mundy's Bay  Pete Yorn  Rufus Wainwright 
Nahko  Philip Glass  Russell Peters  
Natalie Portman  Phillip Phillips  Ryan Gaul 
Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters)  The Picturebooks  Ryan Mattos 
Negative Gemini  Pigeon Kings   Ryan Scott 
Neil Young  Pigeons Playing Ping Pong  Sad13 
New Years Day  Pinegrove  Sam Amidon 
Nicola Kuperus   Plain White T’s  Sam DeRosa 
Night Birds  Playboy Manbaby  Sam Means 
Night Moves  Pom Pom Squad  Sarah Borges 
No Age  Portugal The Man  Sarah Silverman 
Noah Gunderson  Power Trip  SASAMI 
Norah Jones  Propagandhi  Satellite Mode 
North Mississippi Allstars  Queensrÿche  Savoir Adore 
Nothing Left  Ra Ra Riot  Scott Mulvahill 
nothing, nowhere.  Rachel Bloom  Sean Eden (Luna) 
NOTS  Rachel Bradley  Seth Walker 
O.A.R.  Rachel Brosnahan  Sevendust 
ODESZA  The Rad Trads  Sharon Van Etten 
Oh Land  Rafiq Bhatia  Sharp Shock 
OK Go  RAMI JAFFEE  Shawn Phillips 
The Old Firm Casuals  Rancid  Sheer Mag 
Oliver Francis  Randy Owen (Alabama)  Shinedown 
Oshima Brothers  Randy Travis  Shirley Jones 
Oteil Burbridge  Ratboys  Shovels & Rope 
Ought  Ray LaMontagne   Sick Of It All 
Over the Rhine  Ray Romano  Silent Planet 
Ozzy Osbourne  The Re-Volts  Silverstein 
Paint It Black  Real Friends   Silversun Pickups 
Palaye Royale  The Red Clay Strays  Skating Polly 
Palehound  Reggie Watts  The Slackers 
Parker Millsap  Renée Fleming  Sleater-Kinney 
Parquet Courts  Renee LaGoff  Slothrust 
Pascal Stevenson   Rhea Butcher  smrtdeath 
Pat Boone  Richard Lewis  Soccer Mommy 
Pat Smear (Foo Fighters)  Richard Thompson  Son Little 
Sonny Landreth  Tim Darcy  Wilsen 
The Sounds  Tim Kasher  Wingtip 
Speedy Ortiz  Tom Higgenson (Plain  The Wonder Years 
Spike Slawson  White T’s)  The Word Alive 
spirit of the beehive   Tomahawk  Wyclef Jean 
Spoon  Tori Kelly  X Ambassadors 
Squirrel Flower  Trent Reznor (Nine Inch  Yowler 
Squirrel Nut Zippers  Nails)  Zac Brown 
St. Panther  Trew Culture  Zach Lind 
St. Paul and the Broken  Triathalon  Zakk Wylde (Black Label 
Bones  Trombone Shorty  Society) 
St. Vincent  Twiddle   Zedd 
Starkill  TWIN XL  Zeena Koda 
The Starting Line  Twiztid 
The SteelDrivers  Uke-Hunt 
Steve Forbert  The UMA 
Steve Vai  Underoath 
Stick To Your Guns  Uniform 
Stray From The Path  Upstate 
SUBHUMANS   Vacationer 
Sunn O)))  Valley Maker 
Sunsleep  Vanessa Williams 
Superet  Veil of Maya 
Suzanne Santo  Violent Femmes 
Sweet Tea Trio  Volumes 
Switchfoot  Von Vargas 
Sydney Silver (Lunachicks)  Walk The Moon 
Sylar  Walton Goggins 
Tamaryn   War On Women  
Tamsin Wilson  Warren Haynes 
Tank and The Bangas  Watsky 
Tanya Tucker  Wayne Kramer (MC5) 
Taylor Hawkins (Foo  We Banjo 3 
Fighters)  The Weather Station 
Taylor Scott Band  Wesley Schultz (The 
Teddy Gentry (Alabama)  Lumineers) 
Terror  Western Centuries 
Theo Kogan  Weyes Blood 
Theory Of A Deadman  Whitechapel 
They Might Be Giants  Whitney Cummings  
The Third Mind  Whoopi Goldberg 
Third World   WHY? 
THOMAS MAC   Wilco 
Thrice  Will Stratton 
Thurston Moore (Sonic  William Canning 
Youth)  William Tyler  
Tiffany Haddish  William Wild 
Tig Notaro  Willie Nelson