UK Live Music Census shows pressure on venues

While concert attendance continues to grow, UK grassroots venues are struggling with rising business rates and noise restrictions, reveals the first-of-its-kind census

Associations are concerned that the high cost of energy bills could now close venues forever
Associations are concerned that the high cost of energy bills could now close venues forever © jxffsmxth

Rising tax rates and restrictive noise regulations are hurting Britain’s venues, particularly at grassroots level, the first UK Live Music Census has found.

The census shows that small venues are facing a number of threats that could affect their long-term future, especially in the form of rising business rates and stringent noise restrictions, say researchers – who hope their findings will help to “inform debates about the future of the live music industry” in the UK.

Researchers from the Universities…

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