Musicians Rally Around Cleveland’s Small Clubs

Greater Cleveland is lucky to have a fantastic local music scene, with an estimated $840 million annual economic impact in Cuyahoga County (according to a recent Community Partnership for Arts and Culture study).  Many see the city’s recent talk about collecting past-due 8% admissions tax $ from small clubs as a huge threat to this vibrant market.  Cleveland City Councilmen Joe Cimperman, Michael Polensek, Jay Westbrook, and Matt Zone have introduced legislation that would exempt clubs with a 700 person or less capacity from this tax.  [See Ordinance 1492-11 on pages 1686-1687 of the 10/19/11 issue of The City Record.]  Now local musicians are adding their voices.  As announced in The Scene, musicians will be sending copies of their CDs and mp3s to Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, urging support of the pending ordinance.  Advocacy in action!

P.S.  The City Record is the “official publication of the council of the City of Cleveland.”  It includes committee schedules, proposed ordinances, and official proceedings.