PROGRAMS | Operation Music Town

Operation Music Town is a Veterans of the Arts program that works from a simple principle: If we can produce a series of shows that sell out every participating venue, we can SAVE THE MUSIC. 

We develop authentic grassroots connections and partnerships with local small businesses and citizens who already make the difference. Part of our formula is focusing on one side of the city or just one small town at a time. 

Veterans of The Arts was inspired by the success of the SAVE OUR STAGES campaign. Venues across America united to articulate to Congress that without our stages, the arts would suffer.  But our founders also predicted in the media that this project would ultimately lead to many of these venues shuttering their doors. If local acts were not in the position to be ready to perform and promote shows at those venues after Pandemic restrictions were lifted, many venues would be unable to turn a profit when the faucet of free money and forgivable loans shut off.

15 billion dollars was ultimately distributed to venues. Veterans of the Arts co-founder Davin Michael Stedman argued on KIRO Radio the simple fact that a fraction of that money placed directly in the hands of artists would prove just as effective. 

For instance, just 10% would have funded 50,000 proven local homegrown acts with $30,000 in grants to develop albums ready to release at those venues. This would have created the Renaissance Americans expected but fate has yet to deliver.

In our second appearance on KIRO radio, we came back with more answers and ideas. Operation Music Town is one our most vital projects to help save stages by focusing on the needs and prospect of the local artists that venues truly depend on. 

We intend to try new things, use the good old tricks of creating great shows, while sharing everything we know.