Dear John,
What do a northern cricket frog and a local musician have in common? Well, they are both threatened with extinction here in Minnesota. 🐸🎸👎
AI billionaires, Spotify, Live Nation, Ticketmaster - all of these are reshaping the music industry, making it harder and harder for performers to perform, tour, and record. We are sounding the alarm: local music is at risk of going extinct. In our ongoing survey of local musicians across Minnesota: |
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60% said they considered quitting music in the past year,
due to financial challenges - 85% said recording new music would not be economically viable
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95% said touring would not be economically viable for a band like theirs within five years if the industry stays on its current course
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That’s why we’re kicking off the MN Needs Music campaign to win public investments in local music. We want playlists full of local artists – not AI slop. We are making sure performers can continue to perform locally, tour in Minnesota and beyond, and record new music.
And, yes, you read the header correctly: We’re now launching Minnesota United Performers. Twin Cities United Performers and Twin Ports United Performers are now hubs of a statewide organizing project! It’s time for our state legislators and elected leaders to act and ensure musicians can keep making music and keep making Minnesota proud.
Eager to keep the music alive? So are we! Here’s how you can help: |
We’re organizing to make Minnesota the best place in the world to be a performer. So excited to be in it with you.
Rock on,
Nadirah (they/them)
Lead Organizer, Minnesota United Performers
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