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Music legends and industry in fight to save venues

UK Music has brought together leading figures from the music industry to launch a parliamentary battle entitled ‘Agent of Change’ to save music venues from closure.

Published: 10 January 2018 | 12:00 AM Updated: 28 April 2021 | 4:29 PM
Agent of change campaigners outside Westminster

UK Music, of which the Musicians’ Union (MU) is a founder member, has brought together leading figures from the music industry to launch a parliamentary battle entitled ‘Agent of Change’ to save music venues from closure. The campaign aims to have the Agent of Change principle enshrined in law to protect venues. The plan has the backing of at least 75 MPs and peers, including former Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, as well as organisations including the Music Venue Trust and the MU.

The campaign for the proposed new law has attracted cross-party support from politicians and music stars including Sir Paul McCartney, Brian Eno, Chrissie Hynde, Nick Mason, Sandie Shaw, Nadine Shah, Glen Matlock, Ray Davies, Howard Jones, Imogen Heap, Billy Bragg, Feargal Sharkey and Craig David.

The proposed legislation would mean developers would have to take account of the impact of any new scheme on pre-existing businesses, like music venues, before going ahead with their plans. Over the past decade 35% of music venues across the country have closed. That could mean, for example, the developer of new flats takes responsibility for soundproofing to avoid the risk of new neighbours complaining about noise from a music venue.

The proposed new law is being brought forward by Labour MP and former Government Minister John Spellar, who tabled his Planning (Agent of Change) Bill in the House of Commons today.

Among the venues that had to fight closure threats in the past are London’s iconic Ministry of Sound and the 100 Club. Venues that face similar threats today include Bristol venues: the Thekla, the Fiddlers and the Fleece. Campaigners are also battling to protect the Womanby Street music quarter in Cardiff from developers.

Venues nurture the music industry’s talent pipeline. The Free Trade Hall in Manchcester saw the Sex Pistols play one of the most important gigs of all time in 1976. The venue, which also hosted Bob Dylan, was demolished and replaced with a hotel. The Boardwalk in Sheffield saw the debut of The Clash and the Arctic Monkeys breakthrough before shutting in 2010. The Square in Harlow, which hosted the Coldplay, Blur, Supergrass and Muse when they were starting out, closed last year as a result of a planning dispute. If the closures continue, they will severely impact the music industry’s ability to grow the huge contribution it makes to the UK economy.

UK Music Chief Executive Michael Dugher said: “The UK music industry contributes more than £4 billion to our economy and brings pleasure to millions of people at home and overseas. It’s time for the Government to get behind the legislation and help save the venues that are such a crucial part of the music industry.”

John Spellar MP said: “Fewer venues means less work, less opportunity to develop talent or even find out that you are not going to make it in the industry, but also to move up from amateur to part-time, to full-time, to national or even international stardom. If the present situation does not change, we are in danger of taking away the ladder that has served individual musicians and the Music Industry so well for so long.”

Sir Paul McCartney said: “Without the grassroots clubs, pubs and music venues my career could have been very different. If we don’t support music at this level, then the future of music in general is in danger.”

Horace Trubridge, MU General Secretary, said: “The music eco-system in the UK is a delicate thing, take away the seed banks and the nursery slopes and eventually the top end will stagnate. Alarming signs are already there for all to see with a dearth of new bands able to fill the headline slots at music festivals. If something isn’t done to reverse the alarming trend of grass roots music venues closing then the top bands of yesterday will be the top bands of tomorrow with no new challengers. That’s unhealthy, and will rapidly bring about a decline in the UK music industry as a whole. The Agent of Change principle offers some hope to those venues under threat from property developers and must be adopted nationwide as the first step in redressing this urgent problem.”

Chrissie Hynde said: “When I heard of the impending threat to small venues, my heart skipped a beat. It isn’t talent shows on television or theatre schools that propagate great music, it’s small venues. They’re the setting of everything great that's come out of the music scene in this country, from the Beatles to Oasis and beyond. England has long led the world of popular music; the rest of the world follow England. If small venues shut down, so will England's unique creative output. It will be like locking up playgrounds at schools. The whole world will suffer, not just England.”

Craig David said: “As an artist, I’m concerned that music venues are facing unprecedented threats and it is a matter of great concern to us all. I give my strong support for proposals to change planning law so that we can keep music live.”

There was a photocall and interviews about the fight to change to law to protect venues across the UK this morning outside the Houses of Parliament, which involved many of the name artists backing the campaign.

Please email your MP (find yours here) and ask them to support the Bill.

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