Struggling indie music venues bring billions to Ohio's economy
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Independent music venues drive billions in state GDP and economic output as they struggle to stay afloat, per a first-of-its-kind report released this fall.
Why it matters: The report was produced by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) to inform policymakers and music industry stakeholders about the importance of independent venues.
By the numbers: Ohio's independent live entertainment industry drives $1.5 billion in GDP, $3 billion in economic output and $122 million in tax revenue, according to the report.
- That economic engine supports 21,604 jobs and more than $950 million in wages.
Yes, but: The report's findings weren't all cause for a standing ovation. In 2024, 64% of the nation's independent venues were not profitable.
Zoom in: This year, Columbus music venues Rambling House and the Columbus Athenaeum announced closures.
- Venues in Cincinnati and Cleveland are struggling, too.
- Happily, Rambling House is back under new owners three months later.
What they're saying: "We just keep losing things," Natalie's Grandview music manager Lisa Cave told Matter News in September.
- "We lost one of the biggest independent radio stations in the country, we've lost artists, and we've lost so many venues. And I don't know how to stop it."
Threat level: It's a gritty time for indie music venues nationwide.
- NIVA categorizes independent venues and music festivals as those not owned by a multinational corporation or a publicly traded company.
- The live music industry is dominated by corporate giants like Live Nation and AEG.
The big picture: Independent venues nationwide generated $153 billion in total economic output last year, supporting 907,000 jobs and $51.7 billion in wages and benefits, according to NIVA's report.
What's next: NIVA wants policymakers to use the data as motivation to back policies that preserve music venues. The report cites state laws in Maine and Maryland to cap ticket resale prices, as well as state-backed live music performance funds in Texas and Tennessee.
- "We can use NIVA's research to strengthen local music ecosystems, working with coalition partners to preserve and protect the value we bring to our communities," Sean Watterson, chair of NIVA's Economic Research Task Force, said in a press release.