Colorado Musicians Union

Colorado Musicians Union Statement on the Arrest of Jay Bianchi. April 17th, 2024:

The first major action the Colorado Musicians Union ever took was organizing a boycott and protest against Jay Bianchi and his affiliated bars, particularly, So Many Roads Brewery. In 2021, after observing years of complaints regarding alarming labor and safety issues at Bianchi’s venues, the CMU decided to take action when accusations of sexual assault and unconsensual druggings emerged. Upon supporting and working with victims, the CMU launched a campaign to encourage our music-worker peers and audiences to boycott his venues and spread awareness of the danger surrounding Bianchi. After gathering swift and wide community support, the CMU organized a protest at So Many Roads Brewery in June of 2021. We received scores of messages reporting unconsensual druggings and assaults at Bianchi’s venues dating back before the protest date, to as recent as last week. The victims, their legal teams, and the CMU pushed consistently for the Denver Police Department to move the legal investigation against Bianchi forward, with unsatisfactory and delayed results. Not only did he spend years operating off-the-hook from his initial crimes, he was, weekend after weekend, facilitating violence against women in multiple Denver locations. On Tuesday, Jay Bianchi was arrested and will stand trial for despicable crimes, crimes which galvanized the Colorado music-scene. With Bianchi’s arrest, our union and city can celebrate a major victory. The victory is bittersweet, however. Violence against women persists outside of Bianchi’s reach, and too often, victims are doubted and responses delayed. While we thank the Denver Police Department for taking action, the lack of urgent response allowed for years of sexual assault to continue. Because of regular delays in legal action, we’re reminded of the importance of worker solidarity, belief in victims, and the necessity to self-organize safe work-places and places of enjoyment. This victory comes at an exciting time for the CMU. We are reworking our bylaws and membership agreements, all to greatly expand our rank-and-file membership. Only through a united and collectivized music-scene can musicians and music-workers see the improvements in culture, safety, and living conditions we need! If you have been victimized by Jay Bianchi or his employees, or are seeking to learn more about and support the Colorado Musicians Union, please contact [email protected] and visit our website

Colorado Musicians Union Join Our Union The Colorado Musicians Union is a group of musicians committed to performing for no less than $100/person/night in CO, to limit the amount of options venues have to pay below a living wage. No dues, no insurance, simply a wage commitment and a commitment to improving the social and ec...

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