A new in-depth report titled ‘Music Fans’ Voice’ has revealed the habits and beliefs of music fans across the country, with the results offering hope to independent venues and up-and-coming musicians.
Over 8,000 people ranging from 18 to over 55 years-old took part in the survey which was commissioned by local authorities in eight UK cities such as The Mayor of London, Cardiff City Council and Glasgow Music City. The report has been described as a “chance for audiences to have a say in the future of live music.”
The findings are sure to give a sense of optimism to those within the music industry with an overwhelming majority agreeing on bringing in certain rules and legislation to support musicians and venues.
The first findings in the report show just how important music is to people within this country, with over 99% agreeing that live music events are an important part of UK culture and 95% saying they are important to the UKs international reputation.
mxdwn.co.uk covered how the music industry contributed £7.6 Billion to the UK economy last year, with very little of that trickling down to support venues or musicians.
Perhaps the most important part of the survey is the massive support for independent venues. The constant problems for grassroots sites has been evidently growing since the Covid pandemic.
Last year the ‘Music Venue Trust’ (MVT) discovered that a ‘disaster’ had hit independent venues. They revealed that in 2023, 125 UK venues had abandoned live music, with over half of them shutting their doors for good. Since Covid lockdowns, over 37% of all clubs throughout the country had permanently closed down, if this trend continues there would be ZERO night time venues left in the UK by New Years Day 2030.
These issues have been covered by mxdwn.co.uk – read here about how 10 nightclubs on average were closing down per week in 2024.
These worrying numbers are now starting to be noticed by people up and down the country. Of the 8,000 surveyed, 58% have witnessed the closure of a locally important venue since 2020, and the people have had enough.
94% of the respondents agree with bringing in laws to give music venues and nightclubs some form of protected status, with 85% saying that it is not right that venues are being shut down because of noise complaints made by newly moved-in neighbours.
One of the most promising findings is the overwhelming support for the proposed ‘Premier League style’ £1 ticket levy – which would see arena-sized venues and above “paying back into the ecosystem to help the talent pipeline flow”.
A staggering 93% strongly agree with bringing in this levy which has been backed by the likes of Coldplay, Sam Fender and Katy Perry.
It is not only venues that need all the help they can get, as up-and-coming musicians are also struggling to make a living in the current economic climate.
A group called the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) is attempting to tackle this by running the ‘100% Venues’ scheme . This campaign gives venues the opportunity to sign up to give artists 100% of their merch sales, tackling the growing problem of musicians missing out on well-earned money.
David Martin, CEO of FAC, has backed the recent survey, saying: “ The results of the Music Fans’ Voice survey has one overriding message: the relationship between artists and fans provides the beating heart of live music. It’s their shared passion which drives music discovery, ticket sales, attendances, and in-venue spending.”
The hope within the industry is that these new findings will make the Government act by bringing in laws and legislation, something which the previous Government failed to do. MP Chris Bryant told NME recently: “We’re not asking whether to act, we’re asking how to act and what action to take.”
Only time will tell whether true change is brought in, but the obvious backing of the UK population is a big step in the right direction.
