Only 1 in 4 of Chicago’s indie music venues is profitable. Owners say that data spells potential trouble

S

SparkNeon

The article discusses the struggles of independent music venues in Chicago, as revealed by a report from Choose Chicago, which is an extension of a nationwide study conducted by the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) in 2025. The report found that only 36% of indie venues across the country were profitable, and that the economic output of these venues was $153.1 billion.

The article highlights several Chicago venues that are struggling to stay afloat due to increasing costs, declining ticket sales, and a lack of government support. These include the Empty Bottle, which has been a staple of the city's music scene for decades but is now facing financial difficulties; Robert's Westside in Forest Park, which is committed to giving 100% of its proceeds to the acts that take the stage; and Bohemian National Cemetery, which hosts unique events like the "Beyond the Gate" shows featuring Sonic Youth frontwoman Kim Gordon.

To address these challenges, some venues are getting creative with their business models. For example, the Empty Bottle Presents is offering pre- and post-show entertainment to encourage audiences to stick around for longer. Other venues, like Robert's Westside, are committing to giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts that take the stage, which can help reduce production fees.

The article also highlights the importance of community support in keeping these venues alive. Donnie Biggins, owner of Robert's Westside, believes that if more people care about these venues, it can level out the playing field and create a more sustainable model for independent music venues.

Overall, the article suggests that while Chicago's independent music scene is facing significant challenges, there are also opportunities for innovation and community engagement to help preserve this vital part of the city's cultural landscape.
 
OMG, I'M SO SAD TO HEAR ABOUT THE STRUGGLES OF THOSE INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES IN CHICAGO!!! 🤕 IT'S LIKE, THEY'RE NOT JUST CENTRES FOR GREAT LIVE MUSIC, BUT ALSO FOR COMMUNITY AND CULTURE... AND NOW THEY'RE GETTING HIT WITH THESE RISING COSTS AND DECLINING TICKET SALES 📉😔

BUT I'M GLAD TO SEE SOME VENUES GETTING CREATIVE WITH THEIR BUSINESS MODELS!!! 🤝 LIKE THE EMPTY BOTTLE PRESENTS OFFERING PRE- AND POST-SHOW ENTERTAINMENT... THAT'S GENIUS!!! 🤓 AND ROBERT'S WESTSIDE GIVING 100% OF ITS PROCEEDS TO THE ACTS THAT TAKE THE STAGE?!? THAT'S SO COOL!!! 💕

AND I TOTALLY AGREE WITH DONNIE BIGGINS, OWNER OF ROBERT'S WESTSIDE... IF MORE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THESE VENUES, WE CAN HELP LEVEL OUT THE PLAYING FIELD AND CREATE A MORE SUSTAINABLE MODEL FOR INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES 🤝💖
 
Man... just read about all these sick indie venues in Chicago goin down 🤕. Like, 36% of 'em ain't even breakin' even? That's crazy! And it's not just one or two spots, it's like a whole chain reaction. The Empty Bottle's been around for decades, but now they're strugglin' too 😔. It's all about the money, fam... or lack thereof.

But for real, though, I love how some of these venues are gettin creative with their business models. Like, offerin pre- and post-show entertainment? That's genius! And Robert's Westside doin 100% of their proceeds to the acts? That's straight-up admirable 💯. It's all about community support, you feel?

And Donnie Biggins got some wise words, too... if people just care more about these spots, it can level out the playing field and make 'em sustainable 🤝. But I'm not holdin my breath, fam 😒. The music scene's always been a struggle, but this is on another level.
 
Man, it's crazy how much things have changed in the music industry... I mean, I was at shows back in '05, you know? The Empty Bottle used to be like the spot everyone went to see up-and-coming bands. Now, it's struggling just to stay afloat. 🤕 It's not just Chicago though - I've been to other cities and seen these same problems popping up everywhere. And yeah, $153 billion in economic output is pretty wild... but at what cost? These venues are doing some crazy stuff like pre- and post-show entertainment to keep people around longer... I dunno if that's gonna cut it for the big ticket holders though.

It's all about community support, right? Donnie Biggins makes a great point. If more people care about these places, we can make 'em thrive. That 100% give-back model Robert's Westside is rocking - gotta love that. And I've got to say, Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon killing it with her "Beyond the Gate" shows... those are always gonna be special. 🎸
 
I FEEL SO SAD FOR THESE INDEPENDENT MUSIC VENUES IN CHICAGO!!! 🤕 they're really struggling to stay afloat and it's not fair that they don't get more support from the government or the community. I mean, $153.1 BILLION in economic output is still a LOT of money, but it sounds like most of those venues are barely scraping by. the Empty Bottle has been around for decades and it's heartbreaking to think that it might not be able to keep going. BUT on the bright side, some of these venues are getting creative with their business models and that's awesome! offering pre- and post-show entertainment is a great idea and giving 100% of proceeds to the acts is a fantastic way to support the artists. we need more community support for these venues or else it's gonna be a disaster 🚨
 
I'm so worried about these iconic indie venues in Chicago 🤕 They've been a staple of the city's music scene for ages, but now they're struggling to stay afloat 🌪️ It's crazy that only 36% of them are profitable? That's like, what even is that number 💸 The Empty Bottle, Robert's Westside, Bohemian National Cemetery... all these places have such rich histories and unique vibes, but if we don't support them, they'll just disappear 😔

But you know what's cool? The way some of these venues are getting creative with their business models 🤓 Like, the Empty Bottle Presents is offering pre- and post-show entertainment to encourage audiences to stick around longer... that's genius! And Robert's Westside's commitment to giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts that take the stage? That's like, pure awesomeness 💖

It's all about community support, though 🤝 If we care enough about these venues, it can level out the playing field and create a more sustainable model for independent music venues. I mean, Donnie Biggins knows what he's talking about when he says that if more people care about these venues, we can make a difference 💪 Let's keep these indie gems alive! 💥
 
I feel like we're sleepwalking into a future where our local music scenes just disappear. I mean, $153 billion from these indie venues is no joke! 🤑 But at the same time, I love that there are people like Donnie Biggins who want to make a difference by giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts that play his venue. It's all about community support and being willing to take a stand. The Empty Bottle Presents offering pre- & post-show entertainment is also a genius move - let's keep the party going, you know? 🎉
 
Man, these indie music venues in Chicago are like, totally struggling 🤕... I mean, it's not just about the money, you know? It's about preserving a piece of history, a piece of culture that's, like, super important to this community. And when we're talking about something as ephemeral as live music, where can you even find those values anymore?

I think what really gets me is that these venues are already so invested in the local scene, they're not just about making a profit, they're about creating experiences and giving back to the artists who make it all happen. So, when we talk about community support, I'm like, yeah, of course, let's show up, let's care, but also, what does that even mean for the people behind these venues? Are we just throwing them a bone or are we actually creating a system where they can thrive?

It's all about perspective, you know? 🌐
 
the whole music scene is struggling in chicago rn 🤕, its like people just wanna go see these indie bands but theres not enough places that can support them financially. i mean, the empty bottle has been around for ages and shes still holding on but other places like roberts westside are really taking a hit. 100% of their proceeds to the acts is super cool though 🎵, maybe other venues could learn from that. community support is key tho 🤝, if more ppl care about these spots they can make a diff. gotta have some new ways to keep ppl entertained too...
 
🤔 you know what really struck me about these struggling indie venues in Chicago? it's not just about the financial struggles, its about the soul of music itself 🎵... how can we keep the magic alive when everything is being turned into a dollar sign 💸?... don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation and community support, but what if that just means venues are more like businesses than actual spaces where art happens 🤷‍♂️... what's the cost of creativity when it becomes a commodity? 💰
 
🤔 I'm not surprised to see these iconic indie venues struggling in Chicago. The numbers just don't lie - $153 billion economic output from 36% profitable venues? That's a tough sell 🤑. And I get it, increasing costs and declining ticket sales are real issues that need to be addressed. But giving 100% of proceeds to the acts is a creative solution, even if it means sacrificing some profit 💸.

I'm also glad to see Donnie Biggins advocating for community support 🤝. It's all about creating a more sustainable model where everyone benefits - not just the venues themselves. The key here is to engage with audiences and encourage them to become part of the solution 🎟️. If we can get people invested in these venues, it'll help level out the playing field for sure 💪.

It's also interesting that some venues are looking into alternative business models, like pre- and post-show entertainment 📺. Who knows? Maybe this is the answer to staying afloat? Either way, I'm all for exploring new ways to support these cultural gems 🌟
 
😒 I feel so bad seeing all these iconic venues struggling. I mean, where was everyone when they needed us? 🤷‍♂️ I know some of you out there still enjoy live music, but it seems like the younger crowd has moved on to streaming services and festivals... 🎵 Anyway, I think it's awesome that Donnie Biggins is trying to shake things up at Robert's Westside by giving 100% of his proceeds to the acts. That's some good ol' fashioned community support right there! 👍 We need more of that kind of thinking if we want these venues to stick around. And can we please talk about how ridiculous it is for venues to be profitable only 36% of the time? It just doesn't add up... 🤑
 
I'm so down on these indie venues in Chicago 🤕 - 36% profitable? That's crazy! I mean, I love a good show as much as the next person, but it's gotta be tough being a venue owner. The Empty Bottle's been around for decades, but now they're struggling to stay afloat? That's sad. And what's up with no government support? 🤔 It's like, we need these venues to survive, you know? They're not just about the music - they're about community and art.

I love how some of them are getting creative though 🎉. Like, pre- and post-show entertainment at the Empty Bottle Presents? That's a genius move! And Robert's Westside giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts... that's just awesome. It's all about finding ways to make it work.

I think Donnie Biggins hits the nail on the head too - if more people care about these venues, we can make them sustainable 🌱. We need to support our local music scene and help these places stay alive. It's not just about the money (although that's important too 😉), it's about preserving a part of our culture. So let's get behind these indie venues and show 'em some love ❤️!
 
omg i feel for these indie venues 🤕 they're like the unsung heroes of our communities, hosting amazing shows and events that bring people together 🎶 but at the same time they're struggling to make ends meet it's crazy to think that only 36% of them are profitable 😲 and that the economic output is only $153.1 billion?!? that's like, a tiny fraction of what our big commercial venues get 💸 anyway i love that Robert's Westside is committed to giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts 🤝 and Donnie Biggins' idea about community support is so on point 👍 if more people care about these venues we can make them thrive again 🌱 it just goes to show that our school's music program isn't the only one that needs funding lol
 
I'm totally stoked about these indie venues in Chicago! 🤩 I mean, can you believe they're making like $153 billion a year?! That's crazy talk! 😲 But seriously, it's heartbreaking to hear that some of these iconic spots are struggling to stay afloat. The Empty Bottle is like a piece of history, and Robert's Westside is doing something so cool by giving 100% of their proceeds to the acts... that's just awesome! 💖

I think what really gets me is that the government isn't stepping in with more support, you know? It's up to us as a community to rally behind these venues and help 'em stay alive. I mean, Donnie Biggins is like a total hero for his commitment to giving it all back to the artists... I'm all about that! 🤝
 
man, its crazy that only 36% of indie venues across the US are making a profit 🤑. chicago has so much amazing music history and these venues are literally the heart of it all... like, what's gonna happen when they close down? 🤕 roberts westside is doing some awesome stuff by giving 100% to the acts tho 👏 gotta support local artists!
 
I mean, it's super sad to see all these iconic indie spots struggling 🤕. Like, The Empty Bottle has been around forever and now it's on the verge of closing its doors? It's crazy! I get that costs are through the roof and ticket sales are down, but can't we do more to support these venues? 🤑 They're not just about the music, they're community hubs too. And Robert's Westside is like, totally committed to giving back to the artists, which is awesome 😊.

But at the same time, I'm all for them getting creative with their business models. The pre- and post-show entertainment idea sounds like a great way to keep people around and make some extra cash 🎉. And hey, if more people care about these venues, maybe we can find a way to level out the playing field and make them more sustainable 🤝. We just need to figure it out, you know? 💡
 
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