During the COVID pandemic, a new investigation has revealed how some of the greatest names in music appealed for funds meant for local venues. Here is the most recent.
A award known as the Shuttered Venue Operators award (SVOG) was created with the goal of helping independent venues survive one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory. The Small Business Administration, which handled its administration, distributed $14.5 billion to organizations that included theaters, museums, performing arts institutions, talent agencies, ballets, operas, and several other smaller live performance venues. Since the SVOG is a grant, qualified candidates may be eligible to receive up to $10 million without having to pay anything back.
Some of the biggest names in music were discovered after Insider looked into some of the SVOG beneficiaries. Both Chris Brown and Post Malone won $10 million. The amount paid to Lil Wayne was $8.9 million. While Nickelback won $2 million, The Smashing Pumpkins took home $8.6 million. SVOG payments were made to “dozens of corporations and limited liability companies controlled by well-known musical artists,” according to the inquiry.
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According to the data, big-name artists received more than $200 million in total. 97 managers, venues, and artists filed donations through a single financial management company in Los Angeles.
Who received SVOG payouts according to this investigation?
- Post Malone | $10 million
- Electric Feel (Post Malone Manager) |$10 million
- Dre London (Post Malone Agent) | $10 million
- Chris Brown | $10 million
- Steve Aoki | $9.9 million
- Slipknot | $9.7 million
- Lil Wayne | $8.9 million
- Smashing Pumpkins | $8.6 million
- Vampire Weekend | $8.3 million
- Korn | $5.3 million
- Melissa Etheridge | $3.9 million
- Usher | $3.1 million
- Common | $2.8 million
- Portugal. The Man | $2.25 million
- Becky G | 2.2 million
- Leann Rimes | $2 million
- Nickelback | $2 million
- Father John Misty | $1.7 million
According to Insider, it got in touch with more than 60 of the award winners on the list to find out how they used their money. None of them provided specific information about individuals that responded, and the majority of them gave no response at all. There were only a few limitations on how the money might be utilized because the SVOG is a grant. They may be employed to pay employees, subcontractors, or even just themselves.
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