Disabled and deaf music fans attending live gigs and festivals rose by 26 percent in 2015, according to new research.
Music charity Attitude is Everything has found that almost 144,000 disabled tickets were sold for UK gigs and festivals in 2015, compared to 114,000 in 2014.
The direct economic impact of these sales - including food and drink, and spend by personal assistants - is estimated to be around £7.5m.
The charity said these figures highlight the positive economic impact to live music businesses that provide decent access facilities.
The findings are based on a survey of more than 100 venues and festivals signed up to Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice.
The charter enables businesses to make an ongoing commitment to improving accessibility, and encourages signatories to go beyond the legal obligations of the Equality Act.
The charity said 2015’s ticketing increases can be partly attributed to 14 new charter sign-ups, including The Half Moon in Putney, Bristol’s Colston Hall, Pride Cymru, The Lowry in Manchester and Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.
In all, these 14 businesses were responsible for 11,000 ticket sales, and a £500,000 economic impact.
The existing 89 charter venues and festivals also increased their combined disabled audience by 19,000 (13 percent) year-on-year, generating an extra £1.5m.
Suzanne Bull MBE, Attitude is Everything’s chief executive, said: ‘The Charter of Best Practice is at the core of Attitude is Everything’s activities.
‘Each year we accredit a wide range of venues and festivals, from the biggest in the country to the smallest, and see them make a commitment to improving their access provision. Meanwhile, existing sign-ups improve what they do and move up to Silver or Gold status.’
Music charity Attitude is Everything has found that almost 144,000 disabled tickets were sold for UK gigs and festivals in 2015, compared to 114,000 in 2014.
The direct economic impact of these sales - including food and drink, and spend by personal assistants - is estimated to be around £7.5m.
The charity said these figures highlight the positive economic impact to live music businesses that provide decent access facilities.
The findings are based on a survey of more than 100 venues and festivals signed up to Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice.
The charter enables businesses to make an ongoing commitment to improving accessibility, and encourages signatories to go beyond the legal obligations of the Equality Act.
The charity said 2015’s ticketing increases can be partly attributed to 14 new charter sign-ups, including The Half Moon in Putney, Bristol’s Colston Hall, Pride Cymru, The Lowry in Manchester and Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.
In all, these 14 businesses were responsible for 11,000 ticket sales, and a £500,000 economic impact.
The existing 89 charter venues and festivals also increased their combined disabled audience by 19,000 (13 percent) year-on-year, generating an extra £1.5m.
Suzanne Bull MBE, Attitude is Everything’s chief executive, said: ‘The Charter of Best Practice is at the core of Attitude is Everything’s activities.
‘Each year we accredit a wide range of venues and festivals, from the biggest in the country to the smallest, and see them make a commitment to improving their access provision. Meanwhile, existing sign-ups improve what they do and move up to Silver or Gold status.’
