UK Edition
Call to save hundreds of music venues from permanent closure
Music Venue Trust warns that the financial impact of lockdown means more than 500 sites may never reopen when it is lifted
Hundreds of small music venues could shut down forever within weeks after the industry was forced to pull the plug as part of the national lockdown.
Just 17pc of sites are financially secure for the next two months without money coming in according to the Music Venue Trust, a charity that represents 670 grassroots operators across the UK.
It means that more than 500 sites may never reopen their doors unless immediate action is taken, the trust’s chief executive Mark Davyd said in an open letter.
The trust represents businesses including the 100 Club on Oxford Street, King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow and Jimmy’s in Liverpool.
Mr Davyd said: "The landlords of many of these properties will quickly take the opportunity to apply for a change in building usage, turning venues into more profitable gastropubs, restaurants and, in a lot of cases, residential housing."
Many venues in rural areas in particular act as cultural hubs and provide rehearsal as well as performance space.
Around 36 sites are about to close permanently despite business rates relief and an emergency state-backed loan scheme, he said. For most, the biggest pressure is finding cash to pay rent.
Many of the smallest venues are run by directors of a company, Mr Davyd said, which excludes them from some assistance put in place for businesses by the Chancellor.
He called on the wider music industry and wealthy supporters to help the trust raise £1m for a Grassroots Music Venue Crisis Fund. Almost £200,000 has been pledged in the space of a week.
The trust, which claimed a 98pc success rate in preventing venue closures last year, said: “We will defend each individual venue that comes under threat of permanent closure as and when it happens, taking actions required to prevent that venue from being permanently lost."
Patrons include Sir Paul McCartney, KT Tunstall, Madness, Billy Bragg and Neil Hannon of the Divine Comedy.
The lockdown has forced the cancellation of a host of festivals including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Download, while many tours by big artists have either been scrapped or postponed until next year.
Alex Hill, chief executive of AEG Europe - which runs venues including the O2 and Wembley Arena and also promotes concert tours and festivals - said: "The impact is widespread and it will cut very, very deep ... it's a potentially catastrophic impact."
As one of the biggest players, he expects AEG to cope with having its venues shut indefinitely but is concerned about the fate of smaller players.
Mr Hill also pointed out that a company like his employs many contractors and temporary staff to help stage events.
While the Government had made many positive moves, Mr Hill said he does not expect live music to be operating again by the end of May.
However, it remains unclear whether a taxpayer-funded furlough scheme will continue past that point.
Ministers should consider subsidising the wages of some staff to stay on part-time, Mr Hill said. This is already happening in Germany.
Despite fears that some people will never want to gather in large groups again, he is confident many will flock back to live music and events when restrictions on social distancing are eventually lifted.
Mr Hill said: "At some point people will want to be entertained again."