Colorado music veteran urges fans, venues, and communities to invest in grassroots musicianship and preserve American music culture
DENVER, CO / ACCESS Newswire / June 20, 2025 / Bill McKay Music is raising its voice for a cause that hits close to home: the survival of local live music. With over 30 years of performing, touring, and collaborating across the country, Colorado-based keyboardist and songwriter Bill McKay is calling on communities to support the musicians, venues, and scenes that form the heart of American culture.
"Music isn't just entertainment," McKay says. "It's community glue. It's the soundtrack to our stories, and when local music dies, a part of our identity goes with it."
The Crisis in Local Music
McKay's concern is grounded in the numbers. A 2023 report from the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) found that over 30% of independent music venues across the U.S. were at risk of closing within the next 12 months. In smaller markets, the impact is worse, as rising costs and shrinking budgets push out local acts in favor of national bookings or pre-programmed shows.
"After COVID, we lost more than just gigs," McKay says. "We lost momentum. We lost spaces that gave new artists a shot. We lost the places where people used to gather, discover, and connect."
A Career Built on Community Stages
Bill McKay's career was built on those exact spaces. From early shows with Band Du Jour to late-night jams with Leftover Salmon, from solo piano gigs to band collaborations like Steely Dead and The Other Brothers, McKay has spent decades rooted in community-centered music.
"I didn't start by jumping on a big stage. I started in college basements, dive bars, and open mics," he explains. "That's where people fall in love with music. That's where musicians figure out who they are."
The Bigger Picture: Music as Cultural Infrastructure
Live music supports more than the performers. According to Americans for the Arts, the creative economy contributes $877 billion annually to the U.S. GDP-roughly 4.5% of the economy-and supports 5.1 million jobs. Live performances also drive tourism, restaurant traffic, and community events, especially in small and mid-sized cities.
"When we support local music, we're supporting local economies," says McKay. "A thriving music scene brings people downtown, fills up the diners, the record stores, the coffee shops. It lifts everybody."
What You Can Do
This campaign isn't about charity. It's about action. And McKay believes the path forward starts with individuals.
"You don't have to do anything huge," he says. "Just go see a band. Buy a ticket. Share a show on social media. Tip the piano player. Talk to the sound guy. Every small action adds up."
Here are a few ways people can help:
Attend local shows. Even one $10 ticket can make a difference.
Support independent venues. Follow them online, spread the word, and show up.
Buy merch or music directly. Streaming pays pennies-artists thrive on direct support.
Host house concerts or community events. Create platforms in your own backyard.
Vote local. Advocate for arts funding and creative grants in city and state elections.
A Voice for the Next Generation
McKay also worries that if local music continues to decline, fewer young people will pursue creative careers.
"If the next generation doesn't have a stage to stand on, they'll never know what they're capable of," he says. "I want kids to grow up believing that music is still a path worth walking."
For McKay, music has always been about connection-from his early world music studies at Colorado College to performing alongside legends like Gregg Allman and Derek Trucks. Now, he's using his platform to advocate for the ecosystem that made his career possible.
"Music gave me a life," he says. "I just want to give something back."
About Bill McKay Music
Bill McKay is a professional musician, singer-songwriter, and producer based in Colorado. Known for his work with Leftover Salmon, the Derek Trucks Band, Coral Creek, and his own projects, he brings over three decades of experience to the stage. Bill McKay Music continues to support live music, creative collaboration, and the next generation of American musicians.
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SOURCE: Bill McKay Music
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