Support grows to give UK music venues a legal lifeline from closure

An estimated 35% of grassroots venues in the United Kingdom closed down between 2007 and 2015, while London has lost more than a third of venues over the past decade.

Now these venues may get protection by law from forced closure.

This would be through the compulsory introduction of a principle called Agent of Change.

It would require property developers to take into account pre-existing businesses, like music venues, before proceeding with a project.

Residents who move into a neighbourhood where a music venue already exists will not be able to complain about the noise.

The Agent of Change was in fact introduced last May in planning guidance in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

But it is not compulsory and has been usually ignored.

This recent push for Agent of Change to be enshrined by law in the UK actually got its idea from Australia, where the state of Victoria received global acclaim for introducing a state-wide protection.

Other global cities like Austin introduced the law for certain streets or precincts, but Victoria was the first for an entire state.

In October, former UK government minister and Labour MP John Spellar, at the request of the UK Music association, started a campaign to initiate the law.

“More than 30 million people attended live music events last year at venues across the UK,” he said.

“The live music industry makes a major contribution to both our economy, employment and our culture. It must be safeguarded.”

The move seems to have gained traction in recent weeks.

Spellar will table the proposed law with a debate in the House of Commons early next year, according to a report in Music Week.

This week Spellar asked Culture Secretary Karen Bradley in Parliament, “In order to progress their careers, creative artists need lots of work opportunities.

“For musicians, that means venues, many of which are now being closed.

“Will the Secretary Of State give serious consideration to embedding the agent of change principle into legislation, as I hope to propose in a 10-minute rule Bill in the near future?”

Bradley replied: “We are aware of those concerns and we are working with the Department for Communities and Local Government to look at the proposition that has been put forward.

Former Culture Minister Ed Vaizey MP, is one of those who has thrown support behind the proposed law.

“In order for our creative industries to continue to flourish, it is essential that we do all we can to protect our country’s brilliant grassroots venues.

“These venues are the lifeblood of the UK music scene, a source of immense pride for communities and a springboard for many artists’ success.

“Adopting agent of change into existing planning laws is, therefore, an important step in safeguarding the future of these vital platforms.”

This month, in his Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond said he would help music venues and recording studios save money by bringing forward by two years a change business rates.

They are already reeling from a rise in rates of up to 118%.

The switch from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to the cheaper Consumer Price Index (CPI will now go into effect in April 2018.

According to UK Music’s annual Wish You Were Here report, attendance at concerts by the live music biz surged 12% to 30.9 million in 2016. It has risen 76% since 2011

Live music fans generated £4 billion in direct and indirect spending in 2016 by attending concerts and festivals across the country – a rise of 11% on the £3.7b they spent in 2015.