Artist Managements and Talent Agencies launch Petition to ask Congress for COVID Support Relief
On June 4, 2020, Primo Artists launched a Petition to advocate for arts relief support in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of a coalition of 150+ U.S. artist managements and talent agencies.
Through grassroots efforts and the support of service organizations in our industry representing a broad range of genres, the petition has quickly gained traction and already attained 5,000 signatures in three days. Signatures from all sides of the industry: artist managers, booking agents, performing artists, concert presenters, promoters, producers, composers, academics, gig workers, fans, music lovers and beyond. Thousands in our business are hearing about it and joining the movement.
Please help support this initiative for artist management agencies across the U.S. performing arts industry. Due to venues being closed and concerts being cancelled possibly until 2021 from COVID-19, our sector is facing an elimination of income and a dire situation. We are advocating for support from Congressional leaders for legislative change.
Please sign this petition here and spread the word!
We are a collective of talent agencies, artist managers and independent producers across the United States, representing the world’s top performing artists across a multitude of genres. We play the pivotal role of enabling artists to bring their performances to global audiences.
Our work depends exclusively on mass gatherings. Though many businesses have begun to reopen, our industry cannot resume operations until live performances can take place. We will be the last ones to return to work.
An Americans for the Arts study of 10,000 American artists finds that two-thirds have become unemployed since the beginning of COVID-19. This report prompted top classical performers to submit a recent petition to extend Pandemic Unemployment Benefits under the CARES Act beyond July 31, 2020. Performing arts industry leaders predict that Broadway theaters will not reopen before January 2021, and that venues will not resume full-capacity performances before September 2021.
We derive virtually 100% of our revenue on commissions and fees from our artists’ and shows’ performance fees or ticket sales. Our ability to return to work is contingent upon the development of a vaccine, as it is the only way venues can once again fill to capacity. If venues reopen before September 2021, any performances would be presented only in reduced capacities. In this scenario, if artists receive compensation at all, it would be a fraction of their standard performance fees, and our commission or ticket revenue would not be enough to sustain us. Without full-capacity live performances until September 2021, we face an anticipated loss of 15 months of income and are in danger of ceasing operations.
We are for-profit businesses and therefore ineligible to receive arts funds allocated by the CARES Act, such as the $75M for the National Endowment for the Arts. Furthermore, we cannot tap into donors, grants and endowments for relief to sustain our businesses during this pandemic.
It is imperative that artists and the for-profit sector of the performing arts obtain government support to stay in business. Without it, live performances cannot resume.
We are therefore making an urgent appeal for Congress to consider a relief plan for the U.S. arts sector as follows:
1. Expand the Economic Injury Disaster Loans program:
Provide a new round of EIDL loan advances for arts businesses that will not have to be repaid. Increase the maximum loan advance amount from $10,000 at $1,000 per worker to $50,000 at $5,000 per worker. For businesses with fewer than 10 workers, allow Independent Contractors to be considered workers under this plan.
2. Recapitalize and Extend the Paycheck Protection Program:
Provide new opportunities for arts businesses to apply for PPP funding and be considered for forgivable loans that are worth 20 times average monthly payroll costs across an extended duration of 15 months.
3. Expand the Pandemic Unemployment Benefits program:
Increase funding for State Unemployment Assistance programs. Extend the $600 weekly payment as part of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program beyond July 31, 2020 to August 31, 2021.
Ensure that artists and gig economy workers with mixed income sources, such as W-2 and 1099, receive full support rather than being unfairly limited to partial benefits.
The performing arts are integral to our nation’s culture, society and economy. This National Governors Association report illustrates how the arts catalyze economic revival in communities across the country. According to the NEA, the arts contribute over $760B to the U.S. economy and employ nearly 5 million American workers.
We ask you to help support our initiative for Congress to provide relief as we continue grappling with this unprecedented burden on our industry. It is the only way to protect an indispensable part of America’s cultural and social fabric. We welcome every opportunity to collaborate together as we look forward to a future where we can once again experience live performances.
Thank you very much.
To sign the petition, click here.