​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, ​90% 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 The Baylor Project Cailin Russo Adam Lee Miller Bayonet Records Caitlyn Smith Adeline Be//gotten Calexico Adolescents The Beach Boys Can't Swim Afterlife Beach Bunny Cannibal Corpse The Agonist Beach House Carly Rae Jepsen Ahmed Gallab Beartooth Carly Simon Aidan Alexander Being As An Ocean Carmen Vandenberg Alabama Shakes Ben Whiteley Carol Burnett Alan Parsons Benjamin Ruttner Carole King Alex Greenwald Benjamin Scheuer Cass McCombs Alex Hall Bi TYRANT Cat Coore Alex Mali Biffy Clyro Caylee Hammack Alexa Mansour Big Gigantic Chaos in The CBD Algebra Blessett Big Wild Chapel Alice Cooper Bill Bellamy Charlene Kaye Alison Mosshart (The Kills) Billie Eilish Chelsea Grin Alison Wonderland Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) Cher The Almost Billy Joel Chris Aiken Alpha Wolf Billy Porter Chris Erickson Alter Bridge Billy Squier Chris Shiflett Amanda Anne Platt The Black Dahlia Murder Chris Smither The Amazing Kreskin The Black Keys Chris Stapleton Aminé Black Stone Cherry Christopher Owens The Amours Black Violin Christopher Paul Stelling Amy Schumer Blue Oyster Cult Christopher Titus Ana Popović BLUEOX Chuck Prophet Andre Benjamin Bob Corritore Cindy Cashdollar Andrea Ricci Bob Weir (Grateful Dead) Citizen Andrew Kyne Bonnie Raitt Citizen Fish Andrew Laubacher Born Of Osiris The Claudettes Andrew Savage (Parquet Boy Named Banjo Colin Farrell Courts Bradd Marquis Con Brio Andy Cabic Brady Blade Conor Oberst Angela Johnson Brandi Carlile The Contortionist Angelica Garcia Breakup Shoes Control Top Anna St. Louis Brett Dennen Cordovas Annie Hart Brian Owens Corey Laitman The Aquabats Britt Daniel (Spoon) Counterparts Armand Majidi Brittany Anjou Craig Setari ARTHUR Brittany Howard (Alabama Crown The Empire Arthur Moon Shakes) Cryogeyser Ash Costello Britton Walker Culture Shock Ashlee Simpson Broadside Currents August Burns Red Broken Social Scene Cursive Ayron Jones Brothers Osborne Cyanca BAILEN The Cadillac Three The Cybertronic Spree The Ballroom Thieves Cahalen Morrison Cyndi Lauper Dack Janiels Duckwrth George Lopez Damian Marley Duncan Shiek George Winston The Damned Dylan Slocum (Spanish Love Gin Blossoms Dan Smith Songs) Gina Volpe Dan Whitney (Larry the The Early November Gio Benedetti Cable Guy) Earth, Wind, and Fire Giraffage Dance Gavin Dance Eclair Fifi Glitterer Daniel Norgren Edie Brickell The Good Life Daniela Bojorges Eilen Jewell Good Riddance Darius Koski Eli Maiman Goose Darkest Hour Elizabeth Penta Graham Nash Darlingside Ellie Goodman Grayscale Daryl Hall (Hall & Oates) Emancipator Greg Humphreys Dave Alvin Emmure GRiZ Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) Enda Scahill Guccihighwaters Dave Mason Entheos GWAR David Byrne (Talking Heads) Eric Andre The Halestorm David Copperfield Eric Roberson Harvey Mason Jr. David Crosby Evan Ross Havok David Gray Eve 6 Hayes Carll David Letterman Exodus Hex Cougar David Ryan Harris The Faim Highly Suspect David West Fastball The HillBenders Dean Wareham Faye Webster HONNE The Dear Hunter Fayuca Hopesfall Deb Never Fit For A King Hot Water Music Debi Nova Flatbush Zombies Hovvdy Deep Sea Diver The Flesh Eaters I Prevail Deer Tick Flying Buffaloes Ian Fowles Dehd The Format Ian MacKaye (Fugazi) Demon Hunter Foster The People Ian Roberts Deon Cole Foxing Ilana Glazer Dermot Kennedy Frank Turner Iliza Shlesinger Derrick Donaldson Frank Vicario Intervals Deva Mahal Frankie Cosmos Jack Antonoff The Devil Wears Prada Freddy Cricien (Madball) Jacob Kiley DIIV Frederic Yonnet James Mercer (The Shins) Dinosaur Pile-Up Free Throw James Rouse DJ Beauty and the Beatz FRENSHIP Jamie Kennedy Don McLean The Frights Jason Isbell Donnell Rawlings Fu Manchu Jason Schwartzman Donnie Shaw Fur Coat (Coconut Records) Doug Benson Gang Gang Dance Jay Leno Doyle Bramhall II Gareth Emery Jay Mohr Dragged Under Gary Clark, Jr. Jay Som Drive-By Truckers Gatecreeper Jed Hilly (Americana Music Drug Church Gentle Temper Association) Duane Lauginiger George Clanton Jeff Cook (Alabama) Jeff Tweedy Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) Lucie Silvas Jeremiah Fraites (The Kassian Lucinda Williams Lumineers) Katey Sagal Lucy Dacus Jerry Seinfeld Kathryn Crutchfield Lucy Woodward Jesse Malin (Waxahatchee) Luka Kuplowsky Jesse McCartney Kaye Lund Jessie Mueller Kelly Zutrau The Machine Jessy Wilson Kelow LaTesha Macklemore Jewel Kendoll Madeline Follin Jim Adkins Kenny Wayne Shepherd Madison Beer Jimbo Mathus Kesha Madison Cunningham Jimi PrimeTime Smith Kevin Phillips Maggie Rogers Jimmy Buffett Kevin Ross Maggie Rose Jimmy Eat World Kevin Seconds Maimouna Youssef Joan Baez Khemmis The Maine Joe Hottinger Kill The Lights Makonnen John Bonnel Kim Gordon Mandolin Orange John Cafferty & the Beaver Kingsmen Mandy Moore Brown Band Kitchen Dwellers Mara Connor John Jorgenson Kublai Khan TX Marco Benevento John Lee Kurt Vile Marcus Machado John Mayer Kvelertak Marcus Stephens John Mellencamp La Santa Cecilia Margo Price John P. Hammond Lady Gaga Marielle Kraft John Paul White Lance Hoppen (Orleans) Mars Williams Johnny Simon LATENIGHTJIGGY Martha Scanlan JoJo Benton Laura Veirs Martie Maguire Jon Gabrus Lauren Zettler Mary Lattimore Jon Hamm Lee Greenwood Mason Jennings Jon Mohr Lee James (Lee Ving) Matt and Kim Jonah Swilley Lee Roy Parnell Matt Besser Jonathan Kirchner Left Alone Matt Walsh Joni Mitchell Lennon Stella Mattiel Brown Jordan Klepper Leslie Mendelson Maurice Torres Joseph Escalante Lifetime Mavis Staples Joseph Lally (Fugazi) Like Moths To Flames Max Leone Josh Homme (Queens of the Limbeck Max Savage (Parquet Stone Age) Lindsay Ell Courts) Josh Rouse Lisa Lampanelli Mayday Parade Josh Smith Lizzy Caplan Me First And The Gimme Julien Chang Locate S,1 Gimmes July Talk Logic Meg & Dia June Diane Raphael Lorrie Morgan The Melvins Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) Los Lobos Memphis May Fire Kacey Musgraves Los Nuevos Bajos Mia Berrin (Pom Pom Kaki King Los Straitjackets Squad) Kalbells Louis Freese (B Real) Michael Diamond Kamasi Washington Lucati Michael Franti Michael Ian Black ODESZA Rachel Brosnahan Michael Martin Murphey Oh Land The Rad Trads Michael Seyer OK Go Rafiq Bhatia Michael Timmins (Cowboy The Old Firm Casuals RAMI JAFFEE Junkies) Oliver Francis Rancid Michaela Anne Oshima Brothers Randy Owen (Alabama) Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead) Oteil Burbridge Randy Travis Mija Ought Ratboys MIKE Over the Rhine Ray LaMontagne Mike Cooley Ozzy Osbourne Ray Romano Mike Krol Paint It Black The Re-Volts Mike Mattison Palaye Royale Real Friends Mike Patton (Faith No More) Palehound The Red Clay Strays MILKK Parker Millsap Reggie Watts Ministry Parquet Courts Renée Fleming Mipso Party Favor Renee LaGoff Miranda Lambert Pascal Stevenson Rhea Butcher Misery Signals Pat Boone Rhiannon Giddens Miss May I Pat Smear (Foo Fighters) Rhye Miss Tess Pat Travers Richard Lewis Misterwives Patrick Briggs Richard Thompson Mitski Patrick Carney (Black Keys) Richie James Follin Moaning Patrick Glynn Rick Burch Molly Hamilton Patterson Hood Rickie Lee Jones (Widowspeak) Patti Smith Rings of Saturn Moon Taxi Patton Oswalt Rita Ora Moon Tooth Patty Griffin Riverboat Gamblers Motionless In White Paul Cebar Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley Movements Paul Kostabi Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) Mr. Bungle Payton Smith Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin) Mundy's Bay Pete Koller Robert Ramos Nahko Pete Yorn Robert Williams (Big Sandy) Natalie Portman Philip Glass Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) Phillip Phillips Rufus Wainwright Negative Gemini The Picturebooks Russell Peters Neil Young Pigeon Kings Ryan Gaul New Years Day Pigeons Playing Ping Pong Ryan Mattos Nicola Kuperus Pinegrove Ryan Scott Night Birds Plain White T’s Sad13 Night Moves Playboy Manbaby Sam Amidon No Age Pom Pom Squad Sam DeRosa Noah Gunderson Portugal The Man Sam Means Norah Jones Power Trip Samy Name North Mississippi Allstars Propagandhi Sarah Borges Nothing Left Queensrÿche Sarah Silverman nothing, nowhere. Ra Ra Riot SASAMI NOTS Rachel Bloom Satellite Mode O.A.R.