Media coverage on Artist Management Agencies’ Advocacy for COVID Arts Support Relief
This week, media highlighted the arts advocacy initiative that was launched by artist management agencies for COVID relief support.
Brian Wise from Musical America wrote: “Artist managers want Congressional help to get through the Coronavirus-induced closures and have started an online petition to drum up public awareness and support. The Change.org petition was started by Charlotte Lee, President of Primo Artists, and is co-signed by more than 150 artist management firms, from small boutique outfits to large agencies including Columbia Artists Management, IMG Artists, and Opus 3 Artists. Other signatories include the League of American Orchestras and Chamber Music America. The petition had gathered 8,500 signatures as of Wednesday morning. “
“No one is representing those who represent artists,” said Lee, whose firm represents Joshua Bell, Nicola Benedetti, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. “No one is advocating specifically for us and we are the one sector in the industry that, for the most part, is 100 percent commission-based, and a very vital part of this ecosystem.” She added that, “without relief, we have a near complete elimination of revenue.”
“I hope to see more people coming on board and supporting our petition so we can get responses from elected officials,” said Lee. “It's a multiple step process. It starts with building awareness, which begets change. And it’s change in legislation that we need to secure relief for our industry to survive.”
The Violin Channel announced the news on their home page. The site writes: “Primo Artists and Park Avenue Artists in New York have today launched an online petition to advocate Congressional leaders for designated financial support relief – on behalf of a coalition of over 100+ U.S.-based artist management and booking agencies.The agencies are calling for legislative change that addresses an extended relief plan for the U.S. performing arts sector. ‘If venues reopen before September 2021, any performances would be presented only in reduced capacities … In this scenario, if artists receive compensation at all, it would be a fraction of their standard performance fees, and our commission or ticket revenue would not be enough to sustain us … Without full-capacity live performances until September 2021, we face an anticipated loss of 15 months of income and are in danger of ceasing operations,’ Primo Artists Founder Charlotte Lee has told The Violin Channel today.”
“Organizations such as Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Chamber Music America, Dance/USA, International Artist Managers’ Association, League of American Orchestras, Theatre Communications Group and Western Arts Alliance have all committed their support to the petition.”
Norman Lebrecht from Slipped Disc stated on the Slipped Disc homepage: “Two New York agencies – Primo Artists and Park Avenue Artists – have launched a petition asking Congress to support artist managements who are in dire straits, with no income for the past three months and heavy staff and rental expenses.”
To sign the petition, click here.