Live Nation Pledges $10 Million to Out-of-Work Crew Members

The company wants to support crew members who have been put out of work by COVID-19 closures.

April 1, 2020

Live Nation is donating millions to out-of-work crew members. Lauren Antonoff

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Concert giant Live Nation has had a miserable few weeks.

The promoter — which brings to town most of the massive acts that land at the Pepsi Center and also runs the Fillmore Auditorium, Summit and more local venues — decided to suspend tours in an effort to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

In the days that followed, Live Nation saw multibillion-dollar losses as stock value plummeted. And the company faced a big question: What's a massive live-event corporation supposed to do when live events aren't happening?

Many members of the music industry were facing their own big question: With gigs canceled, how were they going to pay the bills? Some crew members received temporary pay, but many others were laid off altogether.

The nonprofit CrewNation formed in an effort to support workers who'd been affiliated with Live Nation.

"Live music inspires millions around the world, but the concerts we all enjoy wouldn’t be possible without the countless crew members working behind the scenes," the group wrote on its website. "As COVID-19 puts concerts on pause, we want to extend a helping hand to the touring and venue crews who depend on shows to make a living."

Now Live Nation has given CrewNation $5 million up front and is pledging another $5 million in matching donations to support crew members during this job drought.

"Live shows are not possible without the incredibly hardworking crew members behind the scenes each and every concert," the corporation posted to social media. "We are extending a helping hand to those workers who need it the most by announcing the #CrewNation Fund. We are committed to donating $10 million: $5M up front, and we’ll match the next $5M. Visit livenation.com/crewnation to donate or buy merch supporting the cause."

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