Why are Britain's music venues dying? I Times Reports

More than 120 grassroots music venue closures were identified in 2023 by the Music Venue Trust. That is a 16% fall in the number of venues across the UK. Over 4,000 jobs have been lost as a result.

As well as being important in the local communities, grassroots music venues are widely acknowledged as the ‘research and development’ department of the music industry. But the economical impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions, increased energy prices, noise complaints and developments are making it hard for these venues to survive.

In December 2023 one of the best-known grassroots music venues in the UK, Moles in Bath, filed for insolvency stating that the rise in costs and overheads and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis have made it impossible to continue.

#musicindustry #livemusic #music #uk

[TheTimes]

Has your local music venue closed down? 🎶

Let us know in the comments 👇

[milk_cow_blues]

People, and especially new artists, simply don't want to accept that the dream is over. Music is the most battered art today and current conditions are simply not ideal.

In the end, we are all responsible. The public by not giving artists the value they deserve, not wanting to pay a fair price; the record labels and the industry by promoting nepotism, not risking going to the neighborhoods to discover new talents like a few years ago, only seeking to promote rich kids who want to feel like rockstars for a while on Instagram; the journalists for promoting only the garbage that the labels and the industry want and being lazy, not making the effort to investigate and disseminate new talents; and lastly, the artists themselves for their thirst for fame and wealth. This thirst is what has made them accept all these measures, believing that this will give them an opportunity, something that will never happen.

[Deedee-eesg]

I've been going to gigs since I was 13! Now in my 60s, not so much, if at all. But I feel the internet and social media, streaming and a different society all contributing to fewer people going out.
Youngsters today seem to live their entire lives online and hardly leave the bedroom. Even the 20 somethings...mostly 'coz they still live at home with their mummy!! This generation has grown up expecting everything to be FREE, including music.
A real shame.
There's nothing better than a live band in a rickety old venue, drinking and dancing WITH NO FKNG MOBILE PHONES!

[mjh]

All the British & Irish millionaire musicians who started out in these little music venues are the ones who should be putting their hands in their pockets for these places....Hello Bono

[jamespatrick]

Times change.Get over it.These same venues would have a list a requirements from the band and pay them next to nothing, while talking all the money.I’m glad they can no longer make a nice living off the back of struggling artists.

[martinmurray]

This is why I campaign and Lobby to #SaveNightlife

[Spiderdan-]

Got a good idea why they're closing everything in the UK 🇬🇧

[LevShome]

The mighty King's Arms became apartments. Luna, same thing. Lucha Lounge became a boutique. Punch n Judy's became a walkthru bar. University pubs like Shadows & Vesbar aren't keen on bands. They'd rather book djs. Thankfully UFO (Whammy & Wine Cellar) are hanging in there. (Akl, NZ)

[lmpoopingpigeon]

Economic climate, more and more you have to be careful on how you spending your money.

[tomioffinland]

People find their favorite new artists from TikTok and YouTube.

[mikekowalewski]

It's part of the great replacement. Muslims are becoming the majority. Europeans and their culture are dying off. Muslims are a lot more conservative in regard to their gatherings and celebrations. A much different culture and people. No politics here. Just an observation.

[slavinskasdj]

How is your brexit going ? are you ejoying that eu-free life ?

[TreeGa-dp]

Brilliant talant shows good karaoke, , , , haha 😆

[alexander-iurr]

Too many muslims, who don't drink or party