MUSIC VENUE TRUST’S PLEA: ACT NOW TO SAVE OUR GRASSROOTS MUSIC SCENE

The Music Venue Trust (MVT) does an excellent job advocating for grassroots venues in the UK, ensuring that people of all ages have enjoyed memorable nights out. They have also been instrumental in supporting upcoming and new talent. However, these venues are dying out, and unless we collectively take action within our communities, we risk losing the very places where some of our favourite artists were born.

The results are profoundly concerning as the charity released its annual report for 2024, outlining a fraught landscape facing UK independent live music. Read it here. The report has been able to showcase the huge number of challenges facing grassroots music venues. The MVT credited its Emergency Response Service as slowing the rate of closures, which business say happen due to financial pressures, operational issues, and eviction or redevelopment after it responded to 200 emergency cases in 2024, an 18.9% increase from 2023.

Among the key findings that bring their survival into question include financial struggles, declining audience figures, and sharply rising operational costs. These venues are part of not just the emerging talent but also very significant in their contribution to cultural life in local towns and cities. The report calls for urgent action from the government and surrounding bodies to address challenges and supports calls for ongoing efforts for protection and sustenance of an independent music scene.

The problem is not only limited to the UK either, the release of this survey coincides with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) who have also launched a similar survey in the U.S. The results indicate that the pressures faced by the UK market are not isolated but part of a broader, global issue.

The tenth UK survey of the 810 members of the Music Venues Alliance (MVA) reveals some staggering statistics. These venues employed over 30,000 people, staged 162,000 live music events, and hosted almost 1.5 million individual artist performances to a total audience of just under 20 million. The total direct value to the UK economy from these events was a significant £526 million ($697 million USD).

However, despite that, the financial reality for these venues is dire. On average, grassroots music venues operated on a razor-thin profit margin of just 0.48%, with 43.8% reporting a loss over the last 12 months. This means that the sector effectively subsidised live music activity to the tune of £162 million ($202 million USD). Such figures are unsustainable and highlight the urgent need for intervention.

One of the most concerning trends is the dramatic decline in locations on the UK’s primary and secondary touring circuits. Over the past 30 years, the number of touring locations has dramatically decreased. In 1994, there were an average of 22 concert dates across 28 different locations. However, by 2024, this number has fallen to just 11 dates in only 12 major cities. As a result of this reduction in touring locations, the number of live music shows has declined by 8.3% since 2023, and ticket revenues have experienced an even greater drop of 13.5% during the same period.

Despite all the challenges in the current landscape, there is a tangible glimmer of hope for the future. The Music Venues Trust has achieved great success in obtaining freehold ownership for five grassroots venues. This is not symbolic but a crucial step toward the long-term sustainability of these spaces that are so fundamental to the music scene. Owning these venues gives the MVT greater control and security, protection for the unique character and culture each of the venues embodies. It allows them to offer investment opportunities, improvements, and collaborations with local artists and communities to help foster a thriving music ecosystem.

Yet, this positive development is not unproblematic. It should not be allowed to distract from the reality that the general decline of grassroots music venues, often a result of several factors-very serious financial burdens, a rise in the cost of operating such businesses, and larger options for entertainment in general is continued. External pressures have greatly affected the energy and variety of the music industry, making it harder for new talent to find opportunities to share their skills.

We need to support venues that own their spaces and help those at risk of closing. We must all work together, garner and build community support, and find new ways to adapt to changes in the music industry. Building a sustainable future for grassroots venues depends on these actions.

Mark Davyd, CEO of Music Venue Trust, emphasises the need for action:

“The 2024 Annual Report recognizes that after 10 years of work by MVT, a very broad consensus has been built among politicians, industry, artists, and the public that grassroots music venues must be protected, supported, encouraged, and nurtured. In 2025, we have to see that consensus bring forward positive, practical interventions in the real world… We need action, not words.”

The decline of independent live music venues represents a profound loss for the music industry and poses a significant cultural and economic challenge for communities throughout the UK. These venues are absolutely vital to the lives of many musicians and other industry professionals because these venues provide up-and-coming artists with a platform where they can show their skills, develop their craft, and engage with fans. Where would a musician be if he didn’t have the opportunity to do that? Take this from Georgina a journalist at Northern Exposure below…

“I saw Lime Garden at Lafeyette last year and they were fiiiire, but also their support act UGLY were banging too. I saw them at Moth Club a couple weeks ago! Read about it here ”

These experiences highlight the importance of grassroots venues in discovering and nurturing new talent. It’s not just about preserving history; it’s about nurturing the future.

Let’s together foster a sense of belonging and community spirit, because these places enhance the cultural atmosphere and support the development of our local talent. These venues also stimulate the local economy by attracting tourists, generating jobs, and encouraging a vibrant nightlife.

When these beloved locations disappear, that’s when we will realise. Let’s not let it get to that, we can’t risk losing the unique character and creativity they bring to our communities. We must all come together before the music industry and our society’s cultural fabric sustain irreversible damage.

We encourage you to share your thoughts with us. Please take a moment to answer one or all five of the questions below in the comments.

• What are your best memories from attending grassroots music venues?
• Can you recall any specific bands or artists you saw at grassroots venues before they became big names?
• How have grassroots venues contributed to your appreciation of live music?
• What do you think is unique about the atmosphere and experience at grassroots music venues compared to larger venues?
• In your opinion, how important are grassroots venues in nurturing new musical talent and supporting local communities?

Donate and find out more below:

MVT’s work would not be possible without the support and generosity of people like you.
A donation will ensure MVT can continue to secure the future of iconic venues that have provided a platform for artists to build careers and develop their music and performance skills. Help preserve and protect Grassroots Music Venues across the UK with a one-off gift or monthly donation HERE.

Find out more about the Music Venue Trust and what you can do to help here:

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Rachel Brown

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