LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Headliners Music Hall was empty for most of 2020.

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s been tough,” co-owner Billy Hardison said. “But we’ve rolled with the punches and knowing that we weren’t alone was helpful.”

Hardison wasn’t alone: every music venue had to close when the coronavirus hit, and he says it was a rough time for the entire industry.

“Obviously zero revenue for well over a year is not a good business plan,” Hardison said.

Now, as part of the National Independent Venue Association, he’s helping other venues in Kentucky navigate what’s turned out to be a complicated process to get help from the government.

Congress passed the Save Our Stages Act back in December, setting up a fund where concert halls, theaters and other small venues can get up to $10 million dollars each, all based on revenue lost in 2020.

“I’ve seen some success stories around the country of venues and artists that have been able to make moves to stay engaged (the past year), but that’s all been at a reduced capacity and reduced revenue,” Hardison said.

The system to apply for money got off to a rocky start in April, crashing shortly after its launch and having technical issues ever since.

“Giving money to our industry is a new concept, so it’s frustrating but we’re making our way through,” Hardison said. “It’s just that every day that goes by is one day closer to death for a lot of our venues.”

The Small Business Administration finally let the first group of owners know their applications through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program were processed on May 28, meaning the eligible owners should get money two weeks later.

U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) co-sponsored the Save Our Stages Act and said he’s proud to help the local arts scene.

“While there have certainly been hurdles in getting a new program of this size and scope up and running, I'm encouraged to see that applications are being approved and money is starting to flow to businesses,” Yarmuth said in a statement. “As vaccination rates rise and we begin to emerge from this pandemic, I know there are countless Louisvillians eager to catch a show at Headliners, see Teddy Abrams and the Louisville Orchestra, or spend an evening enjoying a live performance at one of our amazing theaters.

“After what we've all endured, I think everyone more than deserves it."

Headliner’s is part of the first group to get grant money: businesses that lost 90% or more of their revenue last year.

“We’ve had creditors that have been very gracious, plus we’ve had to reach into our own pockets, which has put our families at risk,” Hardison said.

Headliners will have it’s first indoor shows this month and Hardison says he’s excited to get back to work.

Help is still needed for small venues, though.

“A big thing about our industry is you spend months and piles of money building a show from negotiating it to announcing it to putting it on sale to marketing it, and you don’t see that money back until the end,” Hardison said.

The grant money, he said, will keep them afloat until those concerts start happening more often.