Press Release
The Grove: Outdoor Venue & Drinkery announces that it has officially received the “Live Independent” certification from the National Independent Venues Association (NIVA). The new certification recognizes The Grove’s commitment to delivering top-quality music and entertainment experiences while supporting fair practices and maintaining independence from multinational conglomerates.
The “Live Independent” certification program, developed by NIVA, is a groundbreaking initiative that elevates and safeguards independent venues, promoters, and festivals nationwide. Supported by the industry-leading live event discovery platform Bandsintown, the program enhances the quality and sustainability of independent live entertainment, while preserving the authentic and unique spirit that defines cultural hubs like The Grove.
As a certified Live Independent, The Grove joins a select group of independent venues, festivals, promoters across the country that demonstrate:
● A mission centered around delivering music, comedy, and performance to audiences.
● Fair payment practices for all artists, performers, and creators.
● Independence from multinational conglomerates or publicly traded companies.
● Support for a transparent, competitive marketplace and a diverse, inclusive community.
● A commitment to protecting and preserving independent stages through NIVA
membership.
“We’re so excited to be a part of this exciting new venture with NIVA, Bandsintown and other independent venues across the country. With the music industry environment being monopolized by entities like Live Nation/TicketMaster, it’s so important that these local spaces are spotlighted and kept alive.”
Key benefits of the “Live Independent” certification include:
● The Seal: The Grove will proudly display the “Live Independent” seal at its location and on all digital platforms, signaling its dedication to fostering a transparent, competitive, and inclusive marketplace for live entertainment.
● Bandsintown Partnership: Through the program’s partnership with Bandsintown the “Live Independent” seal will be featured on the The Grove’s Bandsintown profile, and events will be highlighted in special sections on the Bandsintown app and website, making it easier for fans to discover and support these shows. Bandsintown has 1.5 billion monthly active users across its website, app, and a growing event distribution network including partnerships with Spotify, Apple, Shazam, Google, and more.
● LiveIndependent.com: By becoming certified, The Grove joins a nationwide network of independent venues, festivals, promoters working together to strengthen the independent live entertainment scene across the U.S. The Grove will be included on the dedicated “Live Independent” website, which serves as a hub of information where fans can learn about the importance of supporting certified venues and events.
For more information on the “Live Independent” certification program, please visit LiveIndependent.com.
The Grove is an all ages, outdoor music and events venue located in the heart of Glasgow, Kentucky that features a 2,000+ sq ft viewing deck called The Treehouse, three fire pits and multiple full-service bars.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is the national trade association representing thousands of independent live entertainment venues, festivals, promoters, and more. NIVA works to preserve and nurture the ecosystem of live entertainment. NIVA empowers members and their teams with member benefits, advocacy on the state, local, and federal levels, an annual industry-leading conference, and more.
NIVA led the Save Our Stages campaign, culminating in landmark legislation in 2020 that established the $16.25 billion Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program, the largest arts investment in U.S. history.
NIVA is committed to equity in its support of independent stages. It seeks to create and encourage opportunities for venues, promoters, and festivals owned, operated, and staffed by people of color, women, non-binary, LGBTQ+, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Bandsintown is the largest concert discovery platform in the world, with 650,000 registered artists, 90 million registered live music fans and integrates its tour dates into Spotify, Apple Maps, Shazam, Google, and more. Bandsintown delivers 5 billion personalized event recommendations and 240 million direct ticket clicks yearly.
In addition to free marketing and event distribution tools for artists, Bandsintown PRO offers critical marketing solutions used by thousands of venues, promoters, festivals, and music marketers worldwide.