The UK music industry has welcomed a UK government housing white paper offering more protection for live music venues.
According to UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and the Musicians’ Union (MU), the government’s plans will strengthen ‘agent of change’ safeguards for live music venues.
This means they are less likely to have their activities checked when nearby properties are either built or redeveloped.
This changes would come as part of amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework, that would insist on how any planning policies and decisions should take account of existing venues, pubs and social clubs.
UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and MU believe this will help venues across the UK, particularly the grassroots venues which have seen a sharp decline in numbers in recent years and are a key outlet for emerging talent.
Jo Dipple, UK Music chief executive, said: ‘UK Music has long argued that grassroots music venues need to be cherished as they are the incubators of music talent. That they are under threat has direct knock-on implications for the future of the sector, one that contributes £4.1bn to the UK economy and supports thousands of jobs and businesses. Any new measure which acts to preserve, improve and protect these venues has the full support of our industry.’
Mark Davyd, Music Venue Trust chief executive, said: ‘This extends the impact of existing ‘agent of change’-style legislation and advice. It's another huge step forward for protecting music venues and ensures residents and musical culture can exist side-by-side in towns and cities.’
Horace Trubridge, assistant general secretary for the MU, said: ‘Grassroots music venues have for years been the starting place for so many of the UK’s now headline artists. Musicians need a thriving network of venues to be able to hone their craft, develop their skills and make a living. We applaud these proposals which add a further level of protection and recognise the importance of music venues to musicians, fans and communities.’
Read the proposals in the white paper.
Watch our recent video interview with Independent Venue Week founder Sybil Bell on the challenges and opportunities facing grassroots live music venues.
According to UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and the Musicians’ Union (MU), the government’s plans will strengthen ‘agent of change’ safeguards for live music venues.
This means they are less likely to have their activities checked when nearby properties are either built or redeveloped.
This changes would come as part of amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework, that would insist on how any planning policies and decisions should take account of existing venues, pubs and social clubs.
UK Music, the Music Venue Trust and MU believe this will help venues across the UK, particularly the grassroots venues which have seen a sharp decline in numbers in recent years and are a key outlet for emerging talent.
Jo Dipple, UK Music chief executive, said: ‘UK Music has long argued that grassroots music venues need to be cherished as they are the incubators of music talent. That they are under threat has direct knock-on implications for the future of the sector, one that contributes £4.1bn to the UK economy and supports thousands of jobs and businesses. Any new measure which acts to preserve, improve and protect these venues has the full support of our industry.’
Mark Davyd, Music Venue Trust chief executive, said: ‘This extends the impact of existing ‘agent of change’-style legislation and advice. It's another huge step forward for protecting music venues and ensures residents and musical culture can exist side-by-side in towns and cities.’
Horace Trubridge, assistant general secretary for the MU, said: ‘Grassroots music venues have for years been the starting place for so many of the UK’s now headline artists. Musicians need a thriving network of venues to be able to hone their craft, develop their skills and make a living. We applaud these proposals which add a further level of protection and recognise the importance of music venues to musicians, fans and communities.’
Read the proposals in the white paper.
Watch our recent video interview with Independent Venue Week founder Sybil Bell on the challenges and opportunities facing grassroots live music venues.
