A new study by music tech company A2D2 has shown that the North West of England has suffered the most music venue closures in the UK in 2023. The study analyzed data from the Small Music Venues Index and found that the North West had 19 venue closures, followed by 17 in London, 16 in Yorkshire & The Humber, and 10 in the West Midlands. The study also referenced a recent Music Venues Trust report which revealed that a staggering 125 grassroots music venues in the UK shut down in 2023 alone.
Despite venue closure rates, the study highlights that public interest in live music has increased in recent years, with a 70% rise in searches for “grassroots music venues” over the last year. Unfortunately, the study also notes that the UK has lost an alarming 5 nightclubs every week in 2024, according to a recent report by the NTIA.
A2D2 founder Peter Fealey said, “The closure of grassroots music venues across the UK is deeply concerning, yet sadly, unsurprising. With music venues still recovering from the economic cost of the pandemic, a lingering cost of living crisis, and a lack of government support, it’s not difficult to see why these cherished venues are closing.”
The study shows that despite having “arguably the most prominent music scene in the country”, London has just 6.4 music venues per million people. There are currently just 835 music venues left in the UK, the report shows, citing financial issues for closures due to an average rent hike of 37.5% across venues, as well as soaring energy bills and overheads.
“These independent spaces have been the lifeblood of the UK’s music scene, nurturing emerging talent and providing a platform for diverse sounds,” notes Peter Fealey. The West Midlands takes the lead on the number of grassroots spaces with 9.9 venues per million people. To read the full report from A2D2, go here
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