SVOG #SaveOurStages grant distributions to finally begin next week says SBA

5 months after a $16 billion aid package was signed into law to help the struggling indie live music sector, desperately needed Shuttered Venue Operating Grant distributions are finally set to begin.

The SBA had been telling venues that distributions would begin in late May. Yesterday, SBA agency administrator Isabel Guzman told the Wall Street Journal that next week is the target.

12,000 Hopeful Applicants

More than 12,000 applications for SVOG fund agents have been submitted since the program opened April 26, according to new SBA data. Of those, 5,004 applicants were live venues and promoters; 2,853 were performing arts organizations, and 1,411 were agents and talent representatives. 

“The SVOG program was intended to provide emergency relief for an industry without recourse,” National Independent Venue Association executive director Rev. Moose told Pollstar. “The legislation creating this program was passed five months ago. That those funds are still not in the hands of venues and promoters is a huge inhibitor to being able to effectively compete in the marketplace. 

“There’s been 14 months of no income and having to front or defer costs. Now people don’t have the reserves they would normally have to make advance payments for talent, for staff, for locations, for rooms,” he continued. “We’re going to see the independent sector taking massive hits for no other reason than because we don’t have access to funds. That may mean independent festivals are going to be postponed another year, independent venues won’t be able to get talent and the promoters that would generally be renting space don’t have access to capital to be able to do that. Every single day that funding is not available affects the entire independent live sector.”