Indie music venues pumped $578M into Indiana's economy
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Indiana's independent music venues contributed more than $578 million to the state economy in 2024, according to a first-of-its-kind report released this month.
Why it matters: The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) produced the report to inform policymakers and music industry stakeholders about the importance of independent venues.
Yes, but: Not all of the report's findings deserve a standing ovation. In 2024, 64% of the nation's independent venues were not profitable.
By the numbers: According to the report, which tracked data in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., independent venues contributed $86 billion to the U.S. economy and generated $153.1 billion in total economic output in 2024.
- They also supported 907,000 jobs and paid over $51.7 billion in wages and benefits.
- NIVA categorizes independent venues and music festivals as those not owned by a multinational corporation or a publicly traded company.
Zoom in: In Indiana, independent venues like The Jazz Kitchen, HI-FI and Turntable generated $1 billion in total economic output in 2024.
- The spending created $97.4 million in state and local tax revenue.
- Indiana's live entertainment industry supported 8,074 jobs and $300 million in wages while serving 2.3 million fans, according to the NIVA report.
Zoom out: In 2024, fans attending independent shows in Indiana also generated $80.3 million in off-site tourism spending.
- This includes things like filling hotel rooms, eating at local restaurants, supporting shops and tipping drivers.
Flashback: NIVA launched in 2020 after the pandemic hit and pushed independent venues to the brink. The group successfully lobbied Congress for safety net funding, and then expanded its advocacy in recent years.
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.
What they're saying: "We've known for years how important independent venues are to our communities, but with this data on our contributions to the economies, employment, tourism and taxes at the state level, we are better able to make the case to our state and local legislators that we matter," Sean Watterson, chair of NIVA's Economic Research Task Force, said in a statement.
- "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."
Go deeper: Read the national report and the full findings for Indiana.