NIVA Sets First-Ever Live Policy Summit For Indianapolis

The National Independent Venue Association will host its first-ever Live Policy Summit Oct. 15-16 at the Hi-Fi in Indianapolis.

The event, presented by NIVA in conjunction with the Indiana Independent Venue Association and sponsored by Tixel, “will provide a forum for attendees to develop best practices, explore policy solutions, and forge stronger coalitions to support independent live venues, festivals, and promoters at the local, state, and national levels.”

“NIVA’s work in states and localities has become the heart and soul of our advocacy,” said Stephen Parker, NIVA Executive Director. “We can’t think of a better place and a better time for stages, artists, music industry professionals, and policymakers to come together and finalize a plan to ensure statehouses and city halls are equipped with policies in 2026 to protect independent venues, strengthen local music ecosystems, and keep live entertainment thriving in every community.”

Summit programming will include the following sessions:

• State of Live: Why Live Entertainment Policy Matters: Examining the impact and challenges of the independent live sector, nationally and in Indiana.
• Sustaining Live: State Incentives and Live Performance Funds: How funding programs and legislative innovations can strengthen music ecosystems.
• Ticketing 101: The Landscape and Legislation: An introduction to the live event ticketing system, market challenges, and current policy debates.
• Cities and Live Policy: Strategies for partnering with local governments on zoning, sound ordinances, infrastructure, cultural planning, and more. 
• Navigating the Performance Rights Organizations’ Licensing Landscape: Practical guidance for managing the PRO process.
• Growing the Coalition for Change: Building bipartisan, cross-sector coalitions to achieve meaningful live entertainment policy wins.

“Independent venues have always been creative problem-solvers, and across the country we’ve seen incredible examples of communities working together to protect live music,” Josh Baker, CEO of HI-FI & MOKB Presents and Executive Director of Indiana Independent Venue Alliance, said. “The Live Policy Summit is an opportunity to bring those ideas to Indianapolis, engage our policymakers directly, and shape the future of the live entertainment industry. Hosting this event at HI-FI in the heart of the country feels especially fitting.” 

More information and registration is available here.