Inaugural National Live Policy Summit Attracts National and State Leaders, Policymakers, & Live Professionals From 25+ States
National and State Live Leaders Resolve to Take Ticket Resale Price Caps, Accountability for Local Leaders Investing in the Live Nation Monopoly, and Live Music and Performance Funds Back to the States to Create Policy Change
INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 22, 2025) – The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) and the Indiana Independent Venue Alliance (IIVA) held the inaugural NIVA Live Policy Summit, presented by Tixel, which took place October 15 and 16, at HI-FI Indianapolis. The Summit follows the release of the State of Live economic research reports for 50 states and D.C.
The two-day summit brought together policymakers, independent venue operators, artists, industry stakeholders, and community leaders from across the country to advance practical, bipartisan policy solutions that support artists, fans, independent live venues, festivals, and promoters at the state and local levels.
National and state organizations engaged in discussions on how to put in place resale price caps in states across the country. The consensus at the NIVA Policy Summit was clear: the bipartisan movement toward face value ticket resale is the future.
“From ticketing consumer protection to state live performance grant funds and tax rebates, these discussions created more evangelists and advocates across the country that places artists, fans, and independent stages at the center,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of NIVA. “We will take the energy, passion, and creative ideas from this Summit and work to ensure that a monopoly, predatory ticket resellers, and multi-billion dollar resale platforms never again dictate policies that have made for an abusive fan, small business, and non-profit experience in live entertainment for far too long.”
The NIVA Live Policy Summit included sessions on pressing topics including ticketing reform, state funding for independent stages, local city policies, and performance rights licensing. Featured speakers include State Senate President Mattie Daughtry (D-ME), State Senator Dawn Gile (D-MD), State Representative Kyle Pierce (R-IN), Chris Cobb (NIVA TN, Bonafide Live), Audrey Fix Schaefer (I.M.P. and NIVA Board President), Mala Sharma (Georgia Music Partners), Kevin Erickson (Future of Music Coalition), Jay Dick (Americans for the Arts), Kendall Gilvar (NIVA), and other prominent leaders shaping the future of live entertainment policy. Attendees experienced networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration, share best practices, and inspire continued advocacy across the independent live sector.
COMMITMENTS FROM INDEPENDENT STAGES, STATE LEADERS, & NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS COMING OUT OF THE SUMMIT:
The live community will begin to call out and hold accountable any city, state, or county elected leader, staff, agencies, and boards that choose to invest in, provide incentives to, or put in place preferential policies/sole-source contracts for the Live Nation monopoly - without at least providing equal funding, benefits, and fair procurement processes for independent stages.
The live community will ensure that zoning, sound management, transportation, and planning in cities take into account the unique cultural contributions and economic sensitivities of independent stages.
The live community will advocate for music and live performance offices, caucuses, and commissions at the state and local levels.
The live community will work to establish live music and performance funds and tax credits based on bipartisan programs in Texas and Tennessee that have been a lifeline for venues, promoters, and festivals in those states.
The live community will work to enact - in every state possible:
ticket resale price caps that disincentivize the use of bots and price gouging of fans;
bans on “tickets” not owned and possessed by the seller - without exception;
bans on “tickets” being listed for resale prior to the public on sale date and time;
bans on deceptive websites and URLs that deceive fans into buying tickets at higher prices from resale websites instead of from the venue and artists;
professional ticket broker registration with state consumer protection agencies;
strong penalties and enforcement on ticket resale platforms - including at least $10,000 fines per day - for every day each “ticket” is listed in violation of these new laws.
2025 LIVE POLICY SUMMIT HIGHLIGHTS:
State of Live: Why Live Entertainment Policy Matters
An overview of the current live entertainment landscape, both nationally and in Indiana, examining why public policy at every level is critical to the future of live music.
Sustaining Live: State Incentives and Live Performance Funds
A deep dive into how states like Tennessee and Texas have implemented successful incentive programs and funding mechanisms to strengthen their entertainment ecosystems.
Moderator: Jim Rawlinson, Director of READI, Indiana Economic Development Corporation
Panelists:Chris Cobb, President, Bonafide Live; President, NIVA TN; Founder, Music Venue Alliance Nashville; Co-founder, D Tour
Jaclyn Zapata, Texas Music Incubator Rebate Program Specialist
State Representative Kyle Pierce, Indiana House of Representatives District 36
Ticketing 101: The Landscape and Legislation
An explainer on the complex ticketing ecosystem, covering consumer protections, speculative ticketing, and fee transparency, with updates on state and federal reform efforts.
Moderator: Audrey Fix Schaefer, Director of Communications, I.M.P.; Board President, NIVA
Panelists:Maryland State Senator Dawn Gile; Attorney, SRD Legal Group
Maine Senate President Mattie Daughtry; President, Co-Owner, Moderation Brewing
Cities and Live Policy: Strengthening Local Partnerships
An overview of the current live entertainment landscape, nationally and in Indiana, examining why public policy at every level is critical to the future of live entertainment.
Moderator: Howie Kaplan, Owner, Howlin’ Wolf; Former NOLA Nightmayor
Panelists:Megan Van Voorhis, Director of Convention & Cultural Services, City of Sacramento
Brian Block, Founder & President, Sound City Planning; Entertainment Services Manager, City of Austin
Councilor Vop Osili, President, Indianapolis City-County Council
Navigating the PRO Licensing Landscape
Demystifying performance rights organization (PRO) licensing, obligations, and compliance for independent venues.
Panelists:Robert Meitus, Partner, Meitus & Strohm
Tobi Parks, CEO, TourTech; Owner, xBk
Growing the Coalition for Change
How to unite policymakers, fans, artists, and business leaders to advance meaningful live entertainment policies at every level.
Moderator: Kendall Gilvar, Strategic Communications & Project Manager, NIVA
Panelists:Kevin Erickson, Director, Future of Music Coalition
Scott Mohler, Executive Director, Maine Music Alliance
Mala Sharma, Senior Arts Advisor, Georgia Music Partners
Sean Watterson, Senior Consultant, Hospitality Sector Recovery Initiative; President & Co-Owner, Happy Dog Cleveland
Sponsors: Tixel, Eventbrite, Meitus Strohm, Opendate, Prism, Sound Better with Tito’s, Tixr
Partners: IIVA (Indiana Independent Venue Alliance), HI-FI Indianapolis, Pattern, Backstage Social, Static Eye Design Co., Maia Olmstead
For more information, visit: https://www.nivassoc.org/live-summit
ABOUT NIVA
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA led the Save Our Stages campaign, culminating in landmark legislation in 2020 that established the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the largest arts investment in U.S. history.
NIVA is committed to equity in its support of independent stages. It seeks to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
CONTACT
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Kris Ferraro, Kris@luckybreakpr.com
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