2023 Marks a Challenging Year for UK Music Venues Facing Closure

The year 2023 has been a difficult one for the UK's live music scene, witnessing an unprecedented number of grassroots venue closures, job losses, and a decline in music events. This troubling trend has sparked concern amongst those in the industry, as well as calls for those at the top of the music industry food chain to support these crucial breeding grounds for talent.

Staggering Numbers of Venue Closures

Statistics show that approximately 125 grassroots music venues have closed down this year, resulting in the loss of around 4,000 jobs, 14,500 canceled events, and nearly 200,000 opportunities that artists have missed out on to perform and develop their craft. Culturally significant venues such as Bath Moles have become victims of the crisis, despite having hosted iconic artists early in their careers.

The Call for a Ticket Levy

Many are suggesting the implementation of a ticket levy on larger arena and stadium gigs to support smaller venues without adding extra cost to consumers. A small percentage taken from tickets for larger events could potentially save many grassroots venues. There have been successful models of this, such as in France, where a compulsory levy greatly supports the live music scene.

The Impact on the Music Ecosystem

The closure of grassroots venues poses a significant threat to the future of music, limiting the opportunities for new artists to emerge and perform. This crisis calls for urgent action from both the government and the music industry to preserve the cultural value and economic vitality of live music. The support of larger entities in the industry is crucial for the survival of these venues.

venues, closures, crisis