Facing rising costs, Montreal music venues get a financial boost from city

Montreal's small concert venues and theatres will be getting financial assistance from the city to help them stay afloat.

Independent venues with fewer than 1,000 seats that have hosted at least 35 performances in the past year will be eligible for support of up to $40,000 under a new program announced Wednesday. Groups of multiple venues can access up to $100,000.

Alia Hassan-Cournol, the city's executive committee member responsible for economic development, said the program is designed specifically to help venues adjust their business plans as they deal with rising costs and changing audience preferences.

"We're targeting a specific need," she said, stressing that small venues had requested this help.

In all, the city set aside $856,000 for the program, aimed at increasing attendance and pooling resources. 

Hassan-Cournol said up to 60 venues could be eligible, mostly downtown and in the Plateau neighbourhood.

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The city is launching a more than $800,000 support program to help local venues stay afloat. But those who run those spots are asking if time has already run out.

The funding comes as cultural venues in Montreal are confronted with a host of challenges, from rising operational costs to a growing number of noise complaints. 

Last fall, the city also set aside $2.5 million for venues to improve their soundproofing after the closure of La Tulipe, a historic venue on Papineau Avenue in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.

Meyer Billurcu, president of the concert promotion company Blue Skies Turn Black and one of the owners of Le Ritz, a concert venue on Jean-Talon Street, said crowds have been good at music shows in the years since the pandemic.

But his business faces other hurdles, he said.

Alcohol sales — a major revenue generator — have been in decline. As well, musical acts from the U.S. request payment in American dollars, which is a big financial hit because of the low Canadian dollar.

"It has become harder to stay afloat," Billurcu said. 

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The city is taking several steps to help cultural venues and its overall nightlife thrive, specifically expanding public funding for soundproofing following the unique turn of events that led to the closure of an iconic music venue.

Billurcu said he still hadn't examined the details of the program, but that any government support is welcome in offsetting rising costs.

"I think it helps the venues keep their door open, and to make sure that they can make it feasible for bands to rent the venue and keep ticket prices low," he said.

The Scènes de Musique Alternatives du Québec, a group representing small music venues, also welcomed the help but called for consistent, annual funding so businesses can plan ahead.

"These creative spaces play a major role in disseminating and providing access to art for all, as well as in developing and nurturing talent," the group said in a statement.