Our Inspiring Journey

Our Mission

The National Endowment for the Advancement of Live Music (NEALM) is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving the soul of live performance by closing the widening gap between what venues can afford to pay and what musicians need to earn a living. Through strategic grants, artist support programs, and innovative fundraising efforts, NEALM empowers both artists and venues to thrive—ensuring that live music remains a vibrant, accessible part of our cultural fabric.

Our Vision

For decades, live music has been the heartbeat of communities, filling clubs, bars, and theaters with energy, identity, and connection. But behind the scenes, a growing crisis has quietly eroded this cultural cornerstone. Rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and shrinking venue budgets have created an impossible gap: one where venue owners can no longer afford to pay fair wages, and musicians, often forced to break apart bands, play for tips, or walk away from their craft, can no longer survive doing what they love.

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The National Endowment for the Advancement of Live Music (NEALM) was born from a deep conviction that this gap must be bridged before the foundation of live music crumbles entirely. Our mission is to ensure that both sides, artists and venues, can thrive together. We work to provide financial support, strategic partnerships, and innovative funding models that empower venues to host live acts while ensuring musicians are compensated with dignity.

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NEALM is not just a support system, it’s a movement to preserve the soul of music. Because when musicians are paid fairly, they can keep creating. When venues can afford to book them, communities keep gathering. And when both flourish, live music doesn’t just survive; it soars

We believe the collapse of the live music industry is not inevitable. With vision, commitment, and collective action, NEALM is here to rewrite the story.