Live Music Society Names Grant Recipients: $710,000 Goes To 24 Venues

Live Music Society announced the 2024 Music In Action grant recipients Wednesday. The $710,000 grant was distributed to 24 small venues across the U.S.

Since it was formed in 2020, the non-profit has awarded $3 million to 155 small music venues. The Music In Action grant was created to support grassroots music scenes, promote inclusion and empower venues to enhance their cultural impact and economic sustainability within the communities they serve. 

“The Parlor Room Collective is honored to be a recipient of the Music In Action Grant, which will meaningfully support us in offering a 12-month free community program dedicated to empowering and amplifying voices of local LGBTQIA+ musicians and industry professionals with an emphasis on QBIPOC led affinity spaces,” said Wylder Ayres, director of development at The Parlor Room in Northampton, Massachusetts. “The program’s mission is to provide robust support to participants through professional development initiatives, workshops and performance opportunities.”

Music in Action funding is meant to build community and business by giving venue operators the means to create programs that promote accessibility for marginalized groups, create opportunities for local talent and touring acts to find new audiences and potentially increase revenue and customers. Each grant recipient applied with a specific program idea and a commitment to completing their project during the grant period July 2024 through June 2025.

2024 Music in Action Grantees:

118 North – Wayne, Pennsylvania

B Side Lounge – Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Blue Jay Listening Room – Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Bossa Bistro – Washington, D.C.

Chris’ Jazz Cafe – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cole’s Bar – Chicago, Illinois 

Devil’s Backbone Tavern – Fischer, Texas

Drkmttr Collective – Nashville, Tennessee

Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center – Sarasota, Florida

Grand Annex Music Hall – San Pedro, California

Jilly’s Music Room – Akron, Ohio

La Peña Cultural Center – Berkeley, California

Maple Leaf Bar – New Orleans, Louisiana

MOTR Pub – Cincinnati, Ohio

Nocturne Jazz & Supper Club – Denver, Colorado

One Longfellow Square – Portland, Main

Rebel Rebel Studio & Lounge – Berea, Kentucky

Roots Music Project – Boulder, Colorado

The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts – Three Oaks, Michigan

The Jalopy Theatre – Brooklyn, New York

The Lost Church – San Francisco, California

The Parlor Room – Northampton, Massachusetts

The Royal Room – Seattle, Washington

The Spot on Kirk – Roanoke, Virginia

Live Music Society has also formed partnerships with like-minded organizations including NIVA (National Independent Venues Association), where they will be returning this June for several activations while on site including a working lounge (June 3-5), a small venue showcase (June 4) and a happy hour mixer (June 5). The organization will also present a conference panel entitled Case Studies in Creativity: How Small Venues Make It All Work (June 5), featuring a number of venue owners that have received a Live Music Society grant.