FARGO (KFGO) – Concert promoter Jade Nielsen of Fargo says he’s felt like he’s been in a six-week fog since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Independent music venues were among the first to close and will be among the last to open, if at all.
He says after 30 years in the business, he’s never experienced anything like this. Nielsen is part of the newly-formed National Independent Venue Association. It now has more than 1,000 members and has hired a lobbying powerhouse to push for government aid in the next coronavirus relief package. Nielsen says without federal assistance, it’s estimated 90% of the independent venues will soon be out of business.
He says the lobbying group has dug into how concert promoters and venues contribute to each economy, something that is often overlooked.
The National Independent Venue Association, known as NIVA, is seeking a number of means to help keep club and concert venue owners in business including tax relief, a business recovery fund, deferral of existing debt and safe reopening guidelines.
Nielsen is well known in the concert business. His company, Jade Presents, has been named one of the top 100 promoters in the world by Pollstar Magazine for many years.
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