Louisville, KY – Louisville’s Headliners Music Hall, a landmark in the local live music scene since 1998, is up for sale—though not the building itself. Co-owners Billy Hardison and Joe Argabrite announced this week that they are exploring options for new operators to take over the business.
The business is currently available for purchase, with a focus on the intellectual property, contents, and inventory, while the 6,736-square-foot building on Lexington Road was sold in 2021 for $950,000 to North Carolina-based Grubb Fund Management LLC. The sale does not include the building, but prospective buyers would be required to assume the lease from the landlord.
Hardison and Argabrite, who have owned the venue since 2020, say they are searching for someone who shares their passion for live music and community. The duo expressed a desire for the venue to remain a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape, especially given its nearly three-decade-long history.
“We’re interested in finding someone who will take over the business and keep the spirit of Headliners alive,” Hardison said in an interview with Louisville Business First. “It’s a turnkey operation with a great staff and a full calendar, and we’d like to see it continue thriving under new leadership.”
Although the business is for sale, Hardison and Argabrite clarified that there is no fixed asking price. Instead, they are considering offers from potential buyers who are ready to step into a venue with a well-established reputation and a loyal following.
In addition to running Headliners, Hardison and Argabrite are both deeply rooted in the local music industry. Hardison, who previously co-owned the music promotion company Production Simple LLC, is eager to return to his roots in concert promotion. “I just want to book bands at the end of the day,” he remarked, reflecting on his years in venue ownership.
Despite stepping away from the day-to-day operations of Headliners, Hardison and Argabrite will remain involved in the local music scene. They are currently booking shows through Jump In LLC, the entity that operates Headliners, and are working with various venues in the area, including My Morning Jacket’s upcoming hometown concert series, Old Forester’s Paristown Hall, the Mammoth, and Iroquois Amphitheater.
The two owners are also actively involved in advocacy work through the National Independent Venue Association (NEVA). Hardison, who serves as vice president of the Kentucky chapter, helped lead efforts to preserve independent venues during the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many local venues faced closure.
“Saving Headliners through COVID took a lot of work,” Hardison said. “I’m still committed to the cause, but after 15 years, it feels like it’s time to move on from club ownership.”
For now, the search for the next steward of Headliners continues, with Hardison and Argabrite hopeful that the venue will remain a beloved fixture in Louisville’s live music community for years to come.
