NIVA 2026 Conference To Take Place In Minneapolis  
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

NIVA 2026 Conference To Take Place In Minneapolis  

Decked out in a white suit with purple gloves, Minneapolis’ very own Prince Drag King took the stage at Miller High Life Theatre in Milwaukee on the final day of NIVA’s 2025 conference on Wednesday to share a few hints about next year’s host city: “Next year we’re going to party like it’s 1999. You might want to put a little gas in your red corvette and you might want to drive up the Mississippi and put on your raspberry beret.”

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NIVA ’25 Day 2: Indie Live Music Community Looks Forward
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

NIVA ’25 Day 2: Indie Live Music Community Looks Forward

NIVA ’25 Day 2 was filled with actionable insights, community building and meaningful discussions about the future of independent live music. The annual convention of the National Independent Venue Association continues in Milwaukee through Wednesday.

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Indie Entertainment Sector Contributed More To The GDP In 2024 Than Beer, Gaming, Airline Industries
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

Indie Entertainment Sector Contributed More To The GDP In 2024 Than Beer, Gaming, Airline Industries

Independent live venues, festivals and promoters contributed $86.2 billion directly to the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, more than the U.S. beer, gaming and airline industries. Coupled with fan spending on local businesses including dining, lodging, shopping and transportation, the indie live sector generated $153.1 billion in total economic output.

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NIVA names new President and Board
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

NIVA names new President and Board

The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) named a new President, officers and board members at his annual convention in Milwaukee this week.

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Audrey Fix Schaefer Named NIVA Board President
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

Audrey Fix Schaefer Named NIVA Board President

Audrey Fix Schaefer, the Communications Director for I.M.P. and its iconic venues in Washington, D.C., has been named as NIVA’s Board President. She previously served as NIVA’s Vice President and Communications Director.

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Report lays bare struggles of US independent live music business
Maia Olmstead Maia Olmstead

Report lays bare struggles of US independent live music business

The US-based National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has published its first national economic impact study, ‘The State of Live’. It makes the case for the importance of grassroots venues to their local communities and economies, but also highlights the financial struggles facing nearly two thirds of them.

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