Large music festivals could win a California rescue fund

In California, Sen. Angelique Ashby’s SB 865 would create a new public fund for music festivals that are big enough to shape the state’s cultural calendar. The California Music Festival Preservation Grant Program would sit inside the Office of Small Business Advocate at the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, better known as GO-Biz.

The point is not to subsidize every concert organizer. The bill is aimed at eligible independent live music events promoters, with the stated goal of preserving large-scale festivals and keeping access to the arts open for Californians.

A narrow gate for the money

The bill draws a tight line around who could qualify, and it would direct GO-Biz to allocate $20 million in grants, subject to legislative appropriation. A promoter would have to be privately owned and organized as a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, limited partnership or qualifying nonprofit.

The festival itself would also have to be a multiday event with at least 100 live music performances, 40 live music acts and 100,000 admissions. To make the cut, a promoter would also need a multiyear agreement with a local tourism authority or other local government.

What the state is trying to preserve

The bill ties the money to more than ticket sales. Eligible events would need to support local businesses, local performers and the host community, including, in some cases, serving beer and wine from nearby producers and showcasing artists from the area.

That is the real logic behind the grant program: keep festivals alive as cultural institutions, not just weekend entertainment. Recorded votes show the bill cleared a floor vote.