Report shows “disaster” facing grassroots music venues: “The big companies and arenas are now going to have to answer for this”

nme.com:

deliver their first annual report at the Houses Of Parliament – warning grassroots gig spaces in the UK were “going over a cliff” without without urgent government action and investment from new large arenas.

After the stark warning that the UK was set to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues in 2023, the MVT and others from the sector ended the year by telling NME how 2023 was the “worst year for venue closures” while “no one in music industry seems to care”.Now, the MVT have shared their full report into the state of the sector for 2023.

Among the key findings into their “most challenging year”, it has been reported that last year saw 125 UK venues abandon live music and that over half of them had shut entirely – including the legendary Moles in Bath.

Some of the more pressing constraints were reported as soaring energy prices, landlords increasing rate amounts, supply costs, business rates, licensing issues, noise complaints and the continuing shockwaves of COVID-19.Overall, it was found that venues’ rent had increased by 37.5 per cent, with them operating at an average profit margin of just 0.5 per cent.NME attended the launch event at Westminster last night (Wednesday January 24), where a stark image of the UK’s scene was painted – despite there clearly being a huge hunger for audiences who want to see live music.A post shared by Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust)“These venues are so important – partly because they are in these communities across the nations in large cities, small cities, towns and sometimes rural locations as well,” said MVT COO Beverley Whitrick, introducing the report at the House Of Commons.