Metal Anarchy

Slipknot, Korn, Nickelback, The Smashing Pumpkins, and more recently got namechecked in Kentucky senator Rand Paul’s “Festivus Report” on wasteful government spending. The bands were mentioned due to their use of the Small Business Administration’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which was launched to assist the live entertainment industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The following was said in the report:

“When local concert venues and family-owned theaters were forced to shut down during the pandemic, distributing financial relief was left to the Small Business Administration (SBA). The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program was supposed to provide a lifeline to small entertainment businesses nationwide.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, SBA failed to deliver. Business Insider identified dozens of famous music artists and their touring companies that received over $200 million through the program.

So-called “small business owners,” such as Post Malone, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, and Smashing Pumpkins, received up to $10 million each. Even Nickelback received $2 million. While some may claim these funds were used to keep supporting staff, artists were not required to do so, and we have no way of determining how these blank checks were used.

These multi-millionaire musicians were cashing checks, instead of the intended recipients: America’s small businesses.”