Madison Music Review Fundraiser
We need your support! Contribute at https://www.paypal.me/ankurmmr
Madison Music Review, LLC (MMR) was founded in 2007 to build and broaden audiences at Madison-area music performances and to celebrate and further develop Madison’s vibrant live music scene. In addition to promoting a wide range of local concerts through its online publication – which feature artist interviews, concert picks, and performance reviews – MMR also produces two independent electronic music stages annually. MMR’s mission is to engage people in local live music and to diversify local concert offerings and audiences, with a particular focus on reaching younger audiences, minority groups and under-represented communities.
MMR conceived and produced the first editions of Musique Electronique (The ‘Moon Stage’ at La Fete de Marquette, held annually in July) and Willy Street Beats at the Willy Street Fair (held annually in September) in 2011. These two electronic music stages are produced independently by MMR and function on a financial model significantly different from other stages produced at the festivals, produced and run by the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center. The bulk of the production costs are supported through ticket sales at the after-parties at partner venues such as High Noon Saloon. MMR has tirelessly worked with Wil-Mar to introduce these stages to the festivals with the goal of bringing a new music genre to the events, helping diversify festival audiences and further support the neighborhood center and its mission.
Summer 2020 was to mark the 10th anniversary of Musique Electronique and Willy Street Beats. Over the past decade, these stages have grown dramatically in the number of performances presented and in the audiences they attract. Over the past decade, these stages have grown dramatically in the number of performances presented and in the audiences they attract. Artists such as Kid Koala, Derrick Carter, the late Mike Huckaby (a victim of COVID-19), the late Charanjit Singh, John Acquaviva (recovering from COVID-19), Claude Young, Paul Johnson, Kevin Saunderson, Omar S, Stacey Pullen and the list goes on. From humble in-between acts DJ-set beginnings at La Fete, Musique Electronique today commands its own sprawling stage and grounds, bringing in audiences from across the state (and beyond), and the Wil-Mar beer/wine concessions stand there brings in a hefty sum over the two days.
The cancellation of all live music performances for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19 has brought MMR’s work to a standstill. Additionally, MMR has already incurred nearly $20,000 in pre-production expenses for the summer 2020 festivals including artist advances, flight bookings, stage and equipment purchases, and banking fees. With La Fete de Marquette cancelled for 2020, MMR’s primary revenue source for the year to produce Musique Electronique and Willy Street Beats also stand cancelled!
Madison Music Review is seeking emergency relief funds to offset the pre-production expenses invested in Musique Electronique and Willy Street Beats, support our small but strong crew at MMR to continue their publication and production work. We hope you can support Madison Music Review with your generous financial support so we are able to continue the full scope of its work when live music performances return to our community. Thank you and stay safe, stay healthy!
Accepting payments at https://www.paypal.me/ankurmmr
