Is there a future for Grassroot Venues after all?

Between 2007 and 2016, there was a 35% drop in London grassroots venues operating. GMVs (Grassroot Music Venues) are the gateway for smaller artists trying to get their foot in the music industry. Interestingly, before these figures, the Major of London, at the time - Boris Johnson set up a registered UK charitable trust to protect the long-term futures of GMVs. Under the charitable trust; Music Venue Trust, the major established a rescue plan for the London music scene.

Source: Evri (2018)

Grassroots venues are a fundamental element of the UK music scene as they serve as a sort of training grounds for new artists and their bands - helping them establish themselves and their brand. As well as a platform to help artists establish their fanbase and contribute to the London night time economy. Without these venues, the whole new music base will suffer - where else will these new, unestablished artists start from and grow to play the bigger venues? How would these artists work their way to playing Glastonbury?

GVMs have claimed that they are having issues being able to find significant funds to cover the business rates, of which increased alongside inflation and raises in renting prices. However, in January, this year, it was announced that the Government have cut business rates by 50%. Which comes as a massive benefit to existing grassroots venues. This cutback is said to reintegrate more than £1.7m back into the grassroots market.

However, Westminster City Council has decided to go further and awarded Club 100 with a 100% business rate cut, with the opportunity for other Westminster GMVs also to be awarded the 'special status' if they meet the specifications; the venue has to have a prime focus on serving as a GMV and is a non-for-profit organisation. Although this is an excellent step for the future of GMVs, it purely gives those Westminster venues an advantage from other London venues. Surely London venues should be treated the same and other local councils may follow.

Although London is perceived to be the most expensive area to start a career within the music industry, it is the go-to place for artists to break through and is considered the world's music capital.

On that musical note, there first UK Live Music Census in 2017, found that almost 10% of musicians that took part in the survey listed a venue that was significant to their careers that had been demolished or is no longer operating as a music venue.

Although GMVs in themselves may not be financially viable, of which is another reason that aided the spiral of venue closures, there is the opportunity of direct expenditure in local communities. The Music Venue Trust claims that for every £10 spent on a gig ticket at a grassroots venues, on average, £17 is spent somewhere within the night-time economy. Thus including revenue coming in from hotel stays, transport, bars, restaurant.

These small, intimate venues; Omeara, 100 Club and the likes, are not only the doorway to the music industry for smaller artists, but established artists also like to go back and play these intimate venues now and again. The cut in GMVs would have impacted competition and venue hire rates. However, with potentially increasing prices, GMVs could find themselves struggling to find the business, especially knowing that the business comes from smaller, less well-established musicians that currently are not breaking even themselves.

With the charitable Music Venue Trust aiding GMVs, the cut in business rates and the focus on the 'Agent of Change' and GMVs, the future of GMVs is certainly looking better than it did a few years ago. GMVs are indeed a highly valuable part of the music industry and are essential to protect to help the future of the music industry. If the UK fails to restore the future of these venues, the future of the music industry would be damaged, affecting event planners working within the sector.