NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE | BRIT AWARD WINNERS CALL FOR ACTION FOR GRASSROOTS VENUES
By Keira Knox
Where do we start with the BRIT Awards? Given the current atmosphere, a night that is meant to honour the finest of British music felt a little overshadowed; the performers in attendance obviously felt the same way. One by one, performers used their on-stage presence to raise awareness of the crisis engulfing the UK music industry’s roots rather than to express their gratitude and control the spotlight.
Myles Smith, the Rising Star winner, started things off with a daring challenge to the establishment. Smith’s remarks had an impact far above the walls of the O2 Arena. As part of a continuous fight to preserve our venues, the newcomer publicly urged the government, arena owners, and business leaders to do more for grassroots music in a setting known for its sophisticated presentations and commercial glitz.
“If British music is one of the most powerful cultural exports we have, why have you treated it like an afterthought for so many years? How many more venues need to close? How many more music programmes need to be cut before we realise that we can’t just celebrate success; you have to protect the foundations that make it?”
Ezra Collective drummer Femi Koleoso took centre stage to campaign for music education after his band won Group of the Year. A passionate plea for the resuscitation of the youth clubs and unfunded music programs that formerly served as an escape for young musicians. His group’s (and many others’) mere existence is due to community programs; grassroots provide a secure environment for musicians to develop and thrive.
The persistent issues affecting the industry are a constant source of concern for Music Venue Trust. We wouldn’t have seen artists like Sam Fender, Kasabian, Oasis, and countless more without grassroots music venues, which support and foster the greatest of British talent in their early stages of careers.
“The reason we continue to bang this drum is because so many of the problems that face greater society in the UK. We’re unsure of how to fix it, but the solution lies with giving a young person a trumpet. The solution lies in giving a young person a saxophone”
The Last Dinner Party took the stage to accept Best New Artist, and their speech was met with thunderous applause from the spectators on the arena floor. Speaking on behalf of the indie-rock quintet, bassist Georgia Davies gave a candid assessment on the state of the venues that helped launch her band and many others.
She continued by criticising the disparity between the elite and lower echelons of the music industry. The promoters, large venues, and patrons were directly challenged to split the profits with the grassroots venues and local clubs who support each substantial act. Over 350 GMVs in the UK are in danger of closing in the past year alone. According to the Music Venue Trust, this might result in the loss of over 12,000 jobs, over 75,000 live music events, and £250 million in economic activity.
“We wouldn’t be a band, and a lot of the artists here would not be bands either, without the UK’s incredible independent venues. They are the lifeblood of the music industry, and they are dying”
It’s refreshing to see several winners utilising their platform to draw attention to the issues at the core of British music. There’s good reason for the urgency. Small venues across Britain used to flourish in every town, however they are now in danger on a level that was probably unimaginable ten years ago. At least 125 grassroots music venues permanently closed their doors in 2023 alone.
Rising energy prices, drastically higher rates for businesses, staff shortages, and the pandemic’s lingering effects are all contributing factors to the perfect storm of growing expenses and waning support. Nearly 44% of grassroots venues in the UK turned a profit last year, according to the most recent survey from the Music Venue Trust. Prior to this winter’s financial setbacks, profit margins were essentially negative.
The government’s CMS Select committee investigation last year supported the notion that the top tiers of the music industry ought to be contributing to the local and larger environment before suggesting a fee on stadium and arena performances. The government has set a March deadline for voluntary action before stepping in again and looking into making it mandatory. The advantages of the levy might not be seen right away though, even though artists like Katy Perry, Sam Fender, and Coldplay have made significant donations of their own.
The overall amount of live music performances in the UK has decreased by 8.3% since 2023, while ticket sales have fallen even more sharply, by 13.5% since 2023. This also follows the government’s announcement of a probe into dynamic pricing and a price cap for the resale of highly marketed tickets.
With the glitz and sparkle from the BRIT Awards over, these speeches have become a prominent reminder of the state the industry is in; we sit with bated breath and pray the message hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. If you find yourself questioning what can be done to help, it’s simple, support your local venues.
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