Photo Credit: Caitlyn Ebsworthy
In the North, Manchester to be specific, there has been some outrage at a multi-million pound venue having to cancel its grand opening a multitude of times. Co-op Live, boasted as the largest indoor music venue in Europe, costing upwards of £365 million and hosting a string of super rich, super famous artists over the coming months is a boost for the City in terms of jobs, infrastructure and tourism.
At the other end of the scale are grassroots music venues. The places where bands and artists like Ed Sheeran, Elbow, and Kings of Leon honed there craft. All are now playing area and stadium shows.
However, where would these bands have started out? Learned to play as a band and make mistakes that were gladly accepted by the few hundred people crammed into the tiniest of spaces watching. Where would younger fans go to watch a band for under £20, left beer- drenched, sticking to the floor and ears ringing afterwards.
There is currently an epidemic amongst grassroots venues. The statistics speak for themselves. A quote from the music venue trust states “Around 93% of UK grassroots music venues have got a private landlord.” This means that a third of grassroots venues in the UK are running at a loss.
With this is mind, how are venues supposed to attract the footfall of gig-goers when they can barely afford to pay the artists who perform, let alone advertise and promote the events they host. This being in stark contrast to the money making arenas.
In 2022, there were 960 grassroots venues around the UK, but that number plummeted by 125 last year (2023). Meaning that it is harder then ever for the next Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift to break through and reach the heights that playing arenas or stadiums offer. This is due to essentially, having a step on the ladder removed by the closing of grassroots venues across the country.
Brit Award winners The Last Dinner Party recently weighed in on the debate during a BBC interview saying; “That’s where we got our start, and so many other amazing bands got their start. And if these places continue to fall, then there won’t be new artists coming through and making a name for themselves”.
I’m sure those words are echoed all across the music industry. However, there needs to be a plan to reduce the amount of venues closing or breaking even. One such idea was the implementation of a £1 levy from all ticket sales for arena or stadium shows to be given to grassroots venues. However, this is yet to be implemented.
Alongside this, the Music Venue Trust is implementing a property ownership program. The idea being venues will take ownership of there properties, lowering the extortionate rents and bills that landlords impose.
The future goal is that arenas and stadiums making record revenues year on year will support grassroots venues, enabling them to keep producing the next stars of the future and entertaining crowds night after night.
Written by: Ben Gilligan
