Live Music Society Toolbox Grants Available For Small Venues
Applications for 2025 Live Music Society Toolbox Grants are opened for small U.S. independent music venues and listening rooms. LMS has distributed $4.8 million in funding to small non-profit and for-profit venues since launching in 2020.
Live Music Society Toolbox Grants Available For Small Venues
The LMS Toolbox program provides up to $10,000 per selected venue. This supports practical projects that address operational challenges and improve the live music experience for artists, audiences, and staff.
Live Music Society launched the Toolbox Grants program in 2023, as a way to expand their support of small venue spaces. Since then 77 grantees have been awarded $591,611 to fund critical upgrades over the first two rounds of the grant. The 2024 cycle awarded $291,611 to 34 grantees, with 58% of eligible applicants funded.
The Holland Project (Reno, NV)
“After thousands of shows and pushing our system to its absolute max, the LMS Toolbox funding enabled a complete refresh and update of our sound system – something we’ve never been able to do,” said Britt Curtis, The Holland Project in Reno, NV. “Our small DIY venue sounds great, has equipment that multiple people can use and train on. This has without a doubt increased the quality of our shows for both performers and audience members.”
Live Music Society American Road Trip Video Series
The non-profit Live Music Society also debuted the latest episode of their American Road Trip video series. These documentary-style short films spotlights small, independent music venues that are hubs for live music culture nationwide.
The new episode features Toolbox grant recipients Cactus Club and X-Ray Arcade in Milwaukee. These are two venues that used Live Music Society Toolbox funding to make their spaces accessible to artists and patrons with disabilities. Watch the story here:
Live Music Society Toolbox Grants: Application Details
Live Music Society Toolbox Grants have supported initiatives including improving safety and accessibility. They have also incorporated innovative technology to maximize operations, engaged consultants to assist with a practical challenge (acoustics, ticketing, fundraising, branding), and fostered staff development through training and education.
Applications close on September 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm Pacific, with grantees to be announced in November.
Go to the Live Music Society website for more details.
Bruce Houghton is Founder & Editor of Hypebot. He is also a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, a Berklee College Of Music professor, and founder of Skyline Artists.
