This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-65014849
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Cost of living crisis increases fears for small gig venues | Cost of living crisis increases fears for small gig venues |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| "Can I do my songs now?" - CMAT, aka Ciara Thompson, says open mic nights gave her a big break | "Can I do my songs now?" - CMAT, aka Ciara Thompson, says open mic nights gave her a big break |
| When you think of small music venues Adele and Ed Sheeran might not be the first names that spring to mind. | When you think of small music venues Adele and Ed Sheeran might not be the first names that spring to mind. |
| But both are just two of the UK's biggest artists who started their careers in grassroots venues. | But both are just two of the UK's biggest artists who started their careers in grassroots venues. |
| Those small bars, pubs and clubs - a crucial springboard for new acts - are struggling, with a charity now predicting one could be lost each week. | Those small bars, pubs and clubs - a crucial springboard for new acts - are struggling, with a charity now predicting one could be lost each week. |
| The Music Venue Trust says 2023 will be the worst year for closures since it formed in 2014. | The Music Venue Trust says 2023 will be the worst year for closures since it formed in 2014. |
| Singer-songwriter CMAT is also worried about the future of grassroots music. | Singer-songwriter CMAT is also worried about the future of grassroots music. |
| Open mic platform | Open mic platform |
| Speaking to BBC Newsbeat backstage at London's Royal Albert Hall, she's about to support Grammy-winning duo Wet Leg at their Teenage Cancer Trust gig. | Speaking to BBC Newsbeat backstage at London's Royal Albert Hall, she's about to support Grammy-winning duo Wet Leg at their Teenage Cancer Trust gig. |
| CMAT, real name Ciara Thompson, recently won Ireland's Choice Music Prize for Best Album of the Year, and she's under no illusions about how she's got to where she is. | CMAT, real name Ciara Thompson, recently won Ireland's Choice Music Prize for Best Album of the Year, and she's under no illusions about how she's got to where she is. |
| "I literally wouldn't have a career if it wasn't for open mic nights in small venues," she says. | "I literally wouldn't have a career if it wasn't for open mic nights in small venues," she says. |
| "That was literally the first five years of my career - turning up on a Tuesday night with my guitar and asking 'can I do my songs now?'" she says. | "That was literally the first five years of my career - turning up on a Tuesday night with my guitar and asking 'can I do my songs now?'" she says. |
| But, since the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis that's followed, more and more small venues are disappearing. | But, since the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis that's followed, more and more small venues are disappearing. |
| According to the Music Venue Trust, 22 grassroots venues have closed for good since April 2022. | According to the Music Venue Trust, 22 grassroots venues have closed for good since April 2022. |
| The charity expects more will go - possibly one a week - once government energy bill support for small businesses is cut back from 1 April. | The charity expects more will go - possibly one a week - once government energy bill support for small businesses is cut back from 1 April. |
| CMAT fears losing too many pubs and clubs will lead to music being dominated by those who've made a name through TikTok or privileged artists who "start off on an elevated platform". | CMAT fears losing too many pubs and clubs will lead to music being dominated by those who've made a name through TikTok or privileged artists who "start off on an elevated platform". |
| Berwyn has been nominated for the Mercury prize and was third in the BBC Sound Of 2021 list | Berwyn has been nominated for the Mercury prize and was third in the BBC Sound Of 2021 list |
| It's something singer and rapper Berwyn can relate to. | It's something singer and rapper Berwyn can relate to. |
| "Smaller venues were incredibly important to my career," he tells Newsbeat. | "Smaller venues were incredibly important to my career," he tells Newsbeat. |
| The 26-year-old is now signed to a major label and playing shows across the UK, but says performing at local venues was "training" for bigger things. | The 26-year-old is now signed to a major label and playing shows across the UK, but says performing at local venues was "training" for bigger things. |
| "The industry works in a larger format, you climb up from level to level and before you know it you're at Madison Square, you're at Wembley, but that level system is important." | "The industry works in a larger format, you climb up from level to level and before you know it you're at Madison Square, you're at Wembley, but that level system is important." |
| "Things have to develop naturally, you can't put a seed in the ground and expect it to go up and then then go down and and come back up again." | "Things have to develop naturally, you can't put a seed in the ground and expect it to go up and then then go down and and come back up again." |
| Berwyn says it's important for "everyday people" with big ambitions to "have the opportunity to to play small venues and increase and grow". | Berwyn says it's important for "everyday people" with big ambitions to "have the opportunity to to play small venues and increase and grow". |
| "Where would Ed Sheeran be without small venues? Where would Adele be without small venues? These are some of the most important artists in the culture of our times." | "Where would Ed Sheeran be without small venues? Where would Adele be without small venues? These are some of the most important artists in the culture of our times." |
| Ben Morgan runs events at The Snug in Bolton, Lancashire | Ben Morgan runs events at The Snug in Bolton, Lancashire |
| Ben Morgan is the events manager at the Snug in Atherton, near Bolton, Greater Manchester. | |
| Like other small venues, it relies on ticket and bar sales to make a profit, but "footfall is down because people have less money to come out," says Ben. | Like other small venues, it relies on ticket and bar sales to make a profit, but "footfall is down because people have less money to come out," says Ben. |
| The cost-of-living crisis has also hit bar sales. | The cost-of-living crisis has also hit bar sales. |
| "So not only do we have fewer people in the venue, but the people who do come are unable to spend as much money as they did before," says Ben. | "So not only do we have fewer people in the venue, but the people who do come are unable to spend as much money as they did before," says Ben. |
| That's having an effect on line-ups - Ben would like to put lesser-known bands on the bill, but rising costs mean he's stuck to more recognised names guaranteed to bring in customers. | That's having an effect on line-ups - Ben would like to put lesser-known bands on the bill, but rising costs mean he's stuck to more recognised names guaranteed to bring in customers. |
| And it's this, Ben argues, that's damaging the music industry. | And it's this, Ben argues, that's damaging the music industry. |
| "Without us there is no stepping stone for them," he says. | "Without us there is no stepping stone for them," he says. |
| "You will see fewer and fewer acts being able to make it to the big stage. | "You will see fewer and fewer acts being able to make it to the big stage. |
| "They won't have that practice, they won't have those skills from performing at grassroots music venues like ours to take on further in their career". | "They won't have that practice, they won't have those skills from performing at grassroots music venues like ours to take on further in their career". |
| Gathering of Strangers are among many bands who've played at The Snug | Gathering of Strangers are among many bands who've played at The Snug |
| Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd agrees that the "entire music industry" should be "very worried about the future". | Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd agrees that the "entire music industry" should be "very worried about the future". |
| Most have a "really, really tough relationship with landlords," Mark tells Newsbeat, and one of the biggest issues is that most venues don't own the buildings they're based in. | Most have a "really, really tough relationship with landlords," Mark tells Newsbeat, and one of the biggest issues is that most venues don't own the buildings they're based in. |
| It's why the trust launched a new scheme last year - allowing fans to buy shares in venues to enable the charity to purchase them. | It's why the trust launched a new scheme last year - allowing fans to buy shares in venues to enable the charity to purchase them. |
| The Snug was among nine venues selected for the pilot project when its former owners put it up for sale. | The Snug was among nine venues selected for the pilot project when its former owners put it up for sale. |
| If the fundraising project is successful it will be able to pay a reduced rent to the trust, | If the fundraising project is successful it will be able to pay a reduced rent to the trust, |
| Ben says this will help to "secure the long-term future of The Snug" and the other eight sites. | Ben says this will help to "secure the long-term future of The Snug" and the other eight sites. |
| 'I skip uni lectures to do paid work instead' | 'I skip uni lectures to do paid work instead' |
| Eurovision: How touts invade online ticket queues | Eurovision: How touts invade online ticket queues |
| What could a TikTok ban mean for creators? | What could a TikTok ban mean for creators? |
| Trust CEO Mark says energy bills are "completely absurd" at present still a big problem for venues. He wants the government to do more to help. | Trust CEO Mark says energy bills are "completely absurd" at present still a big problem for venues. He wants the government to do more to help. |
| Creative Industries Minister Julia Lopez is due to meet the trust to discuss issues facing the live music sector. | Creative Industries Minister Julia Lopez is due to meet the trust to discuss issues facing the live music sector. |
| A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told Newsbeat it was doing all it could to support grassroots venues - "the lifeblood of our world-leading music sector". | A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told Newsbeat it was doing all it could to support grassroots venues - "the lifeblood of our world-leading music sector". |
| They said £1.57bn had been given out in the pandemic through the Culture Recovery Fund, and further help was being provided through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund via Arts Council England. | They said £1.57bn had been given out in the pandemic through the Culture Recovery Fund, and further help was being provided through the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund via Arts Council England. |
| Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |