Artist agencies appeal to US Congress for aid

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.

They explain:

… We derive virtually 100% of our revenue on commissions and fees from our artists’ and shows’ performance fees or ticket sales. Our ability to return to work is contingent upon the development of a vaccine, as it is the only way venues can once again fill to capacity. 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.

We are for-profit businesses and therefore ineligible to receive arts funds allocated by the CARES Act, such as the $75M for the National Endowment for the Arts. Furthermore, we cannot tap into donors, grants and endowments for relief to sustain our businesses during this pandemic….

You can sign the petition here.

Primo’s Charlotte Lee with loyal client