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Live music in the UK has declined as artists play only half the number of gigs they did in the 1990s, averaging 11 on the grassroots circuit compared with 22 in 1994. The figures come from trade body Music Venue Trust. Such reductions also affect mid-capacity and arena-level tours, according to Jon Collins, CEO of Live. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy spoke at a music industry conference in Manchester, saying that “too many parts of the country have become cultural deserts” after the closure of more than 100 music venues last year.
According to singer-songwriter Sam Duckworth, who is now working with the Music Venue Trust after performing as Get Cape Wear Cape Fly since 2005: “My first major tour was 54 dates. There’s no way I could do a 54-date tour now… not only are we seeing a crisis in economics, we’re also seeing a crisis of access. There are vast swathes of the country where your only option is to travel an hour and a half. But then you factor in that the cost of everything has gone up.” There are also additional expenses for artists and venues that get passed on to the fans and reduce revenue.
The Music Venue Trust has revealed its members normally sell approximately 20 million tickets annually, though that figure is predicted to drop to 15 million over this year. Risking a truncated touring route, audiences in the UK risk only seeing artists in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow, while other regions lose business income in areas like hotels, bars and taxis. Mr. Collins has called on the government to reduce VAT on gig tickets and a £1 levy on arena and stadium concerts has been backed. Coldplay will donate 10% of their Wembley and Hull show proceedings to the Music Venue Trust. The trust also proposes a subsidy for the music industry to avert the crisis.
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