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Today, Live Music Society, the nonprofit that has provided over $3 million in grant funding to small venues and listening rooms across the United States since 2020, announced the opening of its Toolbox grant applications for its 2024 grantees. This marks the second round of Toolbox grants in 2023, following the recent announcement of the first round of grantees in August. Grant applications open on September 20, 2023, closing on October 10, 2023 at 11:59 pm Pacific, with grantees to be announced in January 2024. The Toolbox grants are designed to support the practical needs of small music venues, offering up to $10,000 per venue to address challenges and enhance the live music experience. 

Go to the Live Music Society website to learn more about the Toolbox grant applications. 

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The purpose of Live Music Society’s Toolbox grant is to assist venue owners in tackling a unique and practical project, designed to enhance the experience for those involved in the venue, including performers, staff, and patrons. Some examples of grant money uses include but are not limited to: improving safety and comfort for staff, musicians, and patrons, incorporating innovative technology to maximize operations, engaging consultants to assist with a practical challenge (acoustics, ticketing, fundraising, branding), and fostering staff development through training and education.

General Eligibility Requirements for applicants include venue and grantee business entity locations within the United States or its territories, a legal capacity of 50-300 individuals (including standing room), operational status on or before January 1, 2020, a primary focus on live music (featuring solo artists or bands), a minimum of 50 annual music performances, and management or ownership by the applicant. Funding opportunities allow applicants to request up to $10,000 per submission, with applicants required to provide a supporting budget breakdown for the amount requested.

Toolbox grants will be evaluated based on two primary criteria: the project's vision for enhancing the live music experience for staff, musicians, and/or audiences at the venue, and the project's feasibility, which includes a well-considered plan with a budget outlining utilization. Funded projects must be implemented within the grant period, between January 15, 2024 and July 15, 2024. 

The Toolbox application opening arrives on the heels of a busy year for Live Music Society. Earlier this month, the nonprofit announced its partnership with The House of Songs to bring the respected artist collaboration hub back to East Austin. The new location serves as a global haven for artists to stay and collaborate with local musicians, embodying their mission of fostering cultural connections and cherishing the simple delight of collaborative artistry. Together, the two organizations aim to promote the work of songwriters, making live music accessible to all while preserving Austin's musical ecosystem and fostering creativity in venues across the United States.

In June, Live Music Society debuted its $500,000 Music in Action grant, a brand new program awarded to 17 small performance venues to help venue owners and managers develop and implement creative ideas to engage their communities, expand audiences, and generate new revenue sources. A notable example of the funded venue programming includes The Ivy Room, an LGBTQ safe space based in Albany, CA, which will host a series of events during Pride Month in June ‘24 including live music, comedy shows, activist panels, job fairs, and mental health support workshops. Read more about the Music in Action grant on Billboard.

They quickly followed up with the Toolbox grant in August, totaling $100,000, and distributed to 13 venues to provide small music venues with critical practical support, ensuring the sustained growth and prosperity of these cherished establishments. Notable examples of the funded venue projects include Warehouse in La Crosse, WI, who will be upgrading older audio gear to enhance the concert experience for both artists and audiences, and Skylark Cafe and Club in Seattle, WA, will be offering audio/video support to artists for their marketing and PR efforts, helping them reach a wider audience with multimedia content. The Toolbox grant pushed Live Music Society’s cumulative raised amount over $3 million across four grant cycles, with this year's grants amounting to $600,000. 

Live Music Society also played a pivotal role at the recent National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) '23 conference and gala in Washington, D.C. In addition to leading on-site activations, they hosted an insightful panel exploring the distinctive challenges and successes of small music venues with some of the venue owners that the organization has supported. Live Music Society was honored with the NIVA Community Development Award during The Independent Awards Gala for “creating a program or initiative that improves the music, comedy, theater, and/or performing arts ecosystem in their neighborhood, community, or state.”