Business Insider Reports Marshmello Received $9.9 Million from Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program

During the COVID pandemic, the U.S. government launched the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) to provide financial support to struggling professionals in the music industry. Notably, Marshmello was awarded $9.9 million from this program, making him the top recipient among musicians.

Other notable beneficiaries of significant SVOG grants include the grunge band Alice In Chains, which received $1.4 million, rapper Lil Wayne with $8.9 million, and performer Steve Aoki at $1.9 million, as reported by Business Insider. This occurred despite many of these artists reportedly continuing to earn substantial incomes while many “middle-class people” and “young artists,” who were the intended beneficiaries of the program, faced financial hardships due to lost gigs from lockdown restrictions.

To qualify for grants of up to $10 million, musicians and arts industry professionals needed to demonstrate to the Small Business Administration (SBA) that their revenue had declined by 25% during at least one quarter in 2019 compared to the same quarter in 2020. Notably, applicants with fewer existing assets were not prioritized for funding.

While the financial assistance given to wealthy artists by the SBA may not constitute fraud, there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of such grants funded by taxpayers. “At a minimum, it smells,” remarked former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, according to Business Insider. “Whether it’s legal or not is up to a lawyer or ultimately to a court. But it sure smells.”

In Marshmello’s case, whose real name is Christopher Comstock, the entire $9.9 million was paid directly to him. His business manager, Steven Macaulay of the accounting firm NKSFB, reportedly informed the SBA that Comstock was eligible for the full amount because he received a salary “in excess of the SVOG Grant Award” from 365 Touring International in 2019.

In total, approximately 13,000 applicants received SVOG grants, many of whom stated that they would have struggled to remain operational without this financial aid.