LIVE and Steve Lamacq demand action from chancellor to protect UK grassroots music venues

nme.com:

BBC Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, who is the Chair of LIVE, said: “You cannot underestimate the importance and value of live music to the UK, both culturally and economically.

It is part of the fabric of who we are, producing world class artists and providing enjoyment for millions of people. But this is still a very challenging time for promoters, especially at the grassroots level where venues are increasingly struggling to cope with massive rises in running costs.”“We need to act now and recognise just how important these venues are, not just as the breeding ground for the next generation of young musicians, but also as proud, creative hubs for the communities they serve across the country.

Without targeted financial support and understanding, we run the immediate risk of seeing hundreds of these venues shutting for good, which would be devastating for fans, artists and local economies.”LIVE has identified five priorities for potential investments, including removing the barriers for UK artists to tour internationally, protecting fans by updating ticketing regulations, extending financial support to grassroots venues and accelerating the sector’s transition to net zero.The campaign comes amid a crisis in live music in the UK.

In September, the Music Venue Trust revealed to NME that 67 venues had closed up to that point this year, with a further 90 working with the trust’s emergency response team.