Steve Lamacq is main the decision for the British authorities to put money into the UK stay music sector forward of the upcoming Autumn Assertion.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will current his Autumn Assertion to the UK Parliament on November 22, and LIVE, the physique that represents the nation’s stay music trade, is urging him to announce important assist for grassroots venues.
BBC Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, who’s the Chair of LIVE, stated: “You can not underestimate the significance and worth of stay music to the UK, each culturally and economically. It’s a part of the material of who we’re, producing world class artists and offering enjoyment for tens of millions of individuals. However that is nonetheless a really difficult time for promoters, particularly on the grassroots stage the place venues are more and more struggling to deal with large rises in working prices.”
“We have to act now and recognise simply how essential these venues are, not simply because the breeding floor for the following era of younger musicians, but additionally as proud, artistic hubs for the communities they serve throughout the nation. With out focused monetary assist and understanding, we run the instant danger of seeing a whole bunch of those venues shutting for good, which might be devastating for followers, artists and native economies.”
LIVE has recognized 5 priorities for potential investments, together with eradicating the limitations for UK artists to tour internationally, defending followers by updating ticketing laws, extending monetary assist to grassroots venues and accelerating the sector’s transition to internet zero.
The marketing campaign comes amid a disaster in stay music within the UK. In September, the Music Venue Belief revealed to NME that 67 venues had closed as much as that time this 12 months, with an extra 90 working with the belief’s emergency response crew. Roughly half of these have been deemed prone to shut earlier than the top of the 12 months, that means that 10 per cent of the nation’s impartial stay music areas might have disappeared in 2023 alone.
In its final annual report in January, the Music Venue Belief warned that small venues are “going over a cliff”, probably shutting off the pipeline of future expertise, until pressing authorities motion was forthcoming.
A number of artists have additionally been outspoken in regards to the want for motion. In October, Enter Shikari known as for solidarity and progress in securing the way forward for the UK’s grassroots music venues – urging followers and gig areas to “present the Tory authorities and the owner c**ts that our tradition of stay music just isn’t on the market”.
The band have been talking at an occasion held by the Music Venue Belief in London, the place they obtained the Excellent Contribution Award for donating £1 from each ticket bought on their upcoming UK and Eire enviornment tour again to the reason for saving grassroots gig areas.
Dwell music in its totality raised an all-time excessive of £5.2 billion for the British financial system in 2022, however many are adamant that the cash generated by main stadium reveals and festivals just isn’t having an impact on preserving the smaller venues.
