Top 5 Ways to Support Musicians & Venues in 2022
Photo by John Matychuk
One year ago this month, Carol and I started this project as a way to discover, support, and promote Americana artists, including expanding our definitions of what Americana even means. As spring approached and vaccines were not yet widely available, live-streamed concerts gave way to outdoor concerts. Then, when vaccinations became more widely available, indoor concerts were back on the table.
But, now the Delta variant has given way to omicron, and the unvaccinated (and vaccinated people who were unable to get their booster shots amid the holidays) are finding themselves kicked in the pants. The insane infection rate for this variant has set us back so far that live concerts—particularly tours—are becoming increasingly difficult for artists to commit to.
This means that a lot of the live shows we’ve been looking forward to from the artists we love that have pulled us through the last two years have been indefinitely postponed or canceled. As heartbreaking as this is for music lovers, it destroys the livelihoods of the artists who primarily make a living from ticket and merch sales.
So, what can we as music lovers and would-be concert goers do to help? Here are the best ways we can think of to support musicians and venues amid all the chaos and cancellations:
1.) Donate to the artists
For those who have purchased tickets to concerts in the coming weeks, keep an eye out for updates on concert postponements and cancellations. Here in Minnesota, our favorite public radio indie radio station, The Current, steadily curates a rich and frequently updated Gig List. Many venues, such as local favorite, First Ave and its affiliates, have FAQ pages and regular updates straight to your email about changes that help you stay abreast of all safety and cancellation policies.
When a show is canceled, take a moment to read the refund policies thoroughly. If you are financially able, please consider opting to decline a refund of a canceled ticket sale, if offered as an option. If your canceled ticket is automatically refunded, consider donating the funds to the artist via their Venmo, Cash App, PayPal, Patreon or other account.
Another option is to tune-in and donate to artists’ live streaming sessions to throw some love their way!
2.) Buy music & merch
Visit the websites and/or Bandcamp pages of your favorite artists to purchase music, T-shirts, beer cozies or what have you. Digital purchases are great because they don’t require any effort or additional cost to fulfill and ship your order! In addition to putting money directly into the pockets of artists you love, sporting artist merch promotes them to a wider audience—an audience that will hopefully purchase more music and merch.
While streaming platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, etc. serve as a great way to discover new artists, virtually no part of the monthly subscription fee we pay for access to unlimited music lands in the pockets of the musicians who create the music we love. Consider buying music directly from artists whenever possible.
3.) Donate to nonprofits that support musicians
Here in MN, the Twin Cities Music Community Trust and MN Music Coalition support local musicians’ livelihoods, especially during hard times such as these. Sweet Relief is a nonprofit that provides financial aid to musicians struggling with illness, disability, or age-related problems with a dedicated COVID-19 fund for musicians and industry workers who are medically affected by the coronavirus.
4.) Donate to nonprofits that support independent venues
Nonprofits and advocacy groups such as National Independent Venues Association accept donations in support of independent venues across the country as part of their #saveourstages fundraising campaign.
5.) Get vaccinated AND boosted ASAP—and mask-up indoors
Seriously, do it. It’s THE only way we’re going to get to a place where we can all get back to performing and seeing live shows without major disruptions—in other words, THE best way to protect the livelihoods of artists and music industry workers. We’re way past the point of gentle nudges for people to do the right thing. Here are some links for where to find and schedule your shots:
As omicron surges, testing is just as important as wearing a mask (which is a mandate again, folks, because it works), practicing thorough hygiene, and maintaining social distance with others. While socially distancing can be difficult at concerts, wearing a mask can significantly help mitigate exposure. For those of us who are fully vaxxed and boosted, we can still test positive and pass it on to someone who isn’t, who will inevitably take a hospital bed or ventilator away from someone who needs it for something other than COVID.
When times are tough, supporting the artists who create the music that support us makes us part of an ecosystem, a community based on connection, love, and joy. A community that shows up for each other is only stronger for its struggles.
Photo by Anthony Delanoix
Jaclyn Nott. Photo credit: Cory Weber.
The graphic/web designer, webmaster, contributing writer, and editor for the Adventures in Americana project, Jaclyn Nott enjoys a wide range of music—and Americana is just one of many favorites. Her main hustle is grant writing and web design, but her true passion is screen- and creative writing.
