A monster venue, owned and operated by Live Nation (the national music industry’s monopolistic Megalodon), will cripple Portland’s incredible local music community forever. This won’t only affect the larger venues, such as the State and the Cross, but will affect local traffic, parking, all nearby restaurants and any smaller venues immensely as well.

Portland is known for its food, harbor and vibrant live music scene. What happens if we take two of those away to make room for a business that seemingly has more money than the entire state of Maine? Thousands of locals will be without work. Restaurants will be shut down due to a lack of places to park and choosing to eat inside the new venue, rather than trying to navigate the traffic in town again after a show. Artists will be forced to play at their Live Nation venue rather than our current options due to contract agreements they were also forced into to “make it” as musicians. (Go ahead, look that up.)

The fact that Live Nation has already been making so much progress behind the scenes is terrifying. This matter is not being brought to the City Council. We must stand up for the friends who we go to see play at our favorite local venues and for our favorite restaurants that won’t be here next year if this gets done.

Let’s stand up for our right to enjoy local music at a reasonable price. Let’s stand up for our city, Portland.

Amber Card
Portland