The worldwide pandemic caught us all by surprise, and so many people are still needing help during this ongoing struggle. While we are constantly hearing about businesses closing, an entire industry is hemorrhaging and needs aid as well.
Given the impressive strides this state has made in travel and tourism over the last decade, one of the crown jewels is our live music businesses. Nationwide, the ongoing success of festivals and concerts is an estimated $12 billion draw annually. Not only does that influx keep the artists on stage, but it fills the pockets of the producers, sound engineers, concessions and every diligent worker that knows just where to stack the speakers and direct the lights to bring you your money’s worth.
Those workers have been double-whammied during this crisis. Not only are they weathering the pause that began in March, but they were also actually coming off of the three months where they had less income from a light schedule.
In the entire world, 3.3 percent of our gross domestic product comes from travel and tourism. However, given the businesses that benefit from living in cities with live music (restaurants, retail, advertising), that percentage actually grows to 10.4 percent. Even that figure is up about 1.5 percent over the last decade.
Let’s face it. Music helps municipalities. When we have a concert like Lucinda Williams or Keb Mo at the Saenger or countless touring acts at the Thirsty Hippo, Brewsky’s, or the Multipurpose Center, those shows draw eager out-of-towners to our fair city. Just like when we make a trip to New Orleans or Jackson, we hope they make a day out of it: see the sights, taste our foods, shop where we shop.
It is estimated that six months without live music represents about a $10 billion loss. It is also estimated that once the pandemic is over, as many as 80 percent of the music venues in the United States may not be coming back.
At the moment, the music industry depends on about a 50/50 split between recorded and live music. Given the exodus to streaming, many of your favorite artists have seen their revenues in one half decline, precipitously presenting the need for more touring and more shows to make up for that loss. Venues nationwide have had to lay off everyone and limp along for months with no income.
Finally, while video streaming has been a blessing during this arduous time, we are only beginning to see paid video streams as a means for revenue.
Fortunately, the National Independent Venue Association (representing about 2,000 venues nationwide) proposed the #SaveOurStages bill to Congress. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) signed on to it and pushed for support on both sides. This bill would likely provide approximately six months of help to venues to pay staff, protect equipment and provide them with a lifeline toward funding shows that might be socially distanced.
In addition, you can go to their website at nivassoc.org and see how many artists signed this letter of support. Promoters in Mississippi like Arden Barnett of Ardenland continue to push for this because it will truly help those who bring music to you. Just purchasing merchandise from his site at ardenland.net helps keep his staff in place, so that when we are green-lighted, those national live acts can return.
Finally, there is Hattiesburg. Our scene has grown through disasters and changes for as long as it has been a scene. At the moment, smaller venues (especially those with outdoor seating) have started welcoming back solo performers, many of whom depend on this as their sole income. Waiting in the wings are bands who have been sequestered, writing and making music for release somewhere. Local artists in all genres need your support now. Just buying their album can help immensely. Orchestras cannot even rehearse given capacity issues. Small groups can play to small groups of people, but they always depend on a lot of support to keep going.
Mississippi is the crucible of culture. Art will live on, but we must help our artists of all magnitudes today. As William Faulkner said, “The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
Mik Davis is the record store manager at T-Bones Records & Café in Hattiesburg.
