How are Chicago’s indie venues adapting to growing challenges?
Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith | WBEZ-FM "Say More" (February 4, 2026)
A dedicated half-hour segment of WBEZ’s "Say More," the station’s daily midday news program, focused on the Chicago State of Live report, with hosts Mary Dixon and Patrick Smith moderating a live discussion with Chris Bauman and Robert Gomez as the program’s only guests. The conversation centered on the state of Chicago’s independent music venues, translating the report’s findings into real-world experience from the perspective of venue owners and CIVL leaders.
Listeners called in throughout the segment to share stories about neighborhood venues and the role live music plays in their communities, grounding the discussion in lived experience as the economic pressures facing Chicago’s live music ecosystem were examined.
