Strengthening the Local Music Scene During the Pandemic

Wauwatosa, WI – Wisconsin Music Ventures (WMV), just over a year old now, has supported musicians despite the limitations brought on by the pandemic. Partnering with local businesses including the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, The Corners of Brookfield, Nō Studios, Story Hill FireHouse, Outpost Natural Foods, Broken Bat Brewery, and with the support of their patronage system, WMV has organized more than 50 events since the start of the pandemic. Only around twenty percent of those events have been online.

“Our business is young enough, our following is strong enough, and our average audience size (25-50 people) is small enough to make events possible throughout this time. We’ve really used the pandemic as an opportunity to grow our footprint throughout Wisconsin,” says Allison Emm, founder and owner of WMV.

Having just turned a year old, WMV was able to adapt easily and modify events such that they adhered to COVID regulations. The transition to virtual events has allowed WMV to extend its reach outside of the Milwaukee area. The Sunday Brunch Surprise series, which happens every first and third Sunday of the month, has featured musicians from Wisconsin living in Wausau, Menasha, Ripon and even in the state of Colorado. Word about their virtual concerts travelled and WMV was able to host its first out-of-state concert in Texas via Zoom for a birthday party.

Partnerships with local businesses have proved crucial for WMV’s success; showing that when businesses work together, they will thrive together. Outdoor events at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts and at Story Hill FireHouse launched opportunities for musicians to play live again. “You have no idea how much musicians are missing this. We live for this,” Rene Izquierdo, renowned classical guitarist, expressed before his set at the Wilson Center. WMV’s commitment to support local musicians has earned them the reputation of being “champions of the local and independent music scene” as musician Justin Jagler declared.

A special presentation by Allison Emm is coming up on September 30th from 1-2 PM. Her presentation “Make It or Break It; Planning Events Post-Pandemic,” will disclose the elements of successful event planning and lessons learned throughout this time period. Register now to hear WMV’s story on how they were able to grow despite unprecedented circumstances.

The mission of Wisconsin Music Ventures is as follows: Building community through music, and music through community; patron-supported live music experiences featuring local musicians in distinctively Wisconsin settings.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.