Musical America highlights Artist Management Agencies’ Advocacy for COVID Arts Support Relief
Struggling Artist Managers Petition for Relief
By Brian Wise
Musical America
June 10, 2020
Artist managers want Congressional help to get through the Coronavirus-induced closures and have started an online petition to drum up public awareness and support. The Change.org petition was started by Charlotte Lee, President of Primo Artists, and is co-signed by more than 150 artist management firms, from small boutique outfits to large agencies including Columbia Artists Management, IMG Artists, and Opus 3 Artists. Other signatories include the League of American Orchestras and Chamber Music America. The petition had gathered 8,500 signatures as of Wednesday morning.
The artist managers are seeking an expansion of two loan programs that were started in March under the CARES Act and administered by the Small Business Association (SBA): The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. For each, they seek earmarks for performing arts-related industries. They are also calling for a 13-month extension of federal unemployment benefits that are currently set to expire on July 31, on the premise that performing arts venues will be among the last industries to fully rebound from the effects of the pandemic, possibly into fall of 2021.
“No one is representing those who represent artists,” said Lee, whose firm represents Joshua Bell, Nicola Benedetti, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. “No one is advocating specifically for us and we are the one sector in the industry that, for the most part, is 100 percent commission-based, and a very vital part of this ecosystem.” She added that, “without relief, we have a near complete elimination of revenue.”
As bookings have plummeted, some agencies have already closed shop. Among them are Hazard Chase, a onetime powerhouse with a roster of 106 artists, which went into voluntary liquidation in March. In May, Barrett Artists announced plans to close, in part because of the pandemic’s impact.
When the petition reaches 10,000 signatures, Lee says that she and other managers will use it bolster a “grassroots lobbying effort,” aimed at swaying elected officials and regional arts councils that for-profit arts businesses need help. The managers have all co-signed a letter that will be sent to members of congress.
“An Urgent Appeal”
Lee has worked with Park Avenue Artists and Margaret Selby of Selby/Artists MGMT to develop a three-pronged relief request. They ask for a new round of EIDL loans, but with earmarks for arts-related businesses, and with advances of $5,000 per employee for companies of up to 10 employees — an increase from the current $1,000 per employee threshold. EIDL loan advances do not have to be repaid but currently they are designated for agricultural businesses.
Lee and her colleagues are also seeking PPP funding specifically for arts businesses in the form of forgivable loans worth 20 times the average monthly payroll costs over 15 months. Currently, small businesses can borrow an amount equal to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll cost.
The third request is for an extension for the $600 per week unemployment benefits, which are set to expire at the end of July. These supplemental benefits are paid by the federal government, unlike standard unemployment benefits, which are funded by states. The petition calls for an extension to August 31, 2021. (Senator Mitch McConnell has said that Republicans are largely against prolonging the support.)
As more presenters look to the prospect of halls topped at 200 or 300 socially distanced patrons next season, programming will need to be vastly reduced. “That means no soloists and not even the need for a conductor,” Lee said. “These are going to be concert programs of the Brandenburg concertos led by concertmasters. No one needs to bring in the rest of the ecosystem into this equation.”
There are other potential hurdles. Every industry from gym owners to craft distillers has waged lobbying campaigns to advocate for relief funds. Without an army of professional lobbyists to help, arts businesses face an uphill climb. Still, artist managers, accustomed to navigating cutthroat deals while tending to fragile egos, insist they are ready.
“I hope to see more people coming on board and supporting our petition so we can get responses from elected officials,” said Lee. “It's a multiple step process. It starts with building awareness, which begets change. And it’s change in legislation that we need to secure relief for our industry to survive.”
To sign the petition, click here.
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