The UK music industry had a dynamic change in 2024, which saw more than  1,500 extra music events across the country. However, this increase was not even, some cities emerged  as live music capitals while others witnessed a sharp decline. This article examines the cities that advanced, the  cities that regressed, and the reasons for changes in the trend.

Cities on the Rise for Live Music Events

Some  UK cities have witnessed a remarkable rise in live music events in 2024:

Newcastle: The  highest growth rate of 155% was observed in Newcastle, which hosted 837 events in  2024, up by 509 events compared to the year 2023.

Manchester: Manchester’s music  industry is also on the rise with a 12% growth, which made Manchester a home of  2,800 events in 2024.

Bristol: Bristol has witnessed a 23% increase  in action, and the city has welcomed 1,600 events and maintained its position as one of  the most active centers for musical diversity.

Leeds: Leeds increased its events by 200, which  is a 15% growth to reach 1,500 live performances and present itself as a rising  cultural hub.

Sheffield: Sheffield also witnessed a 57% increase in action and hosted 498  events to show a strong comeback in live music.

These increases are a clear evidence of a growing demand  for live performances and the successful efforts of venues and promoters in these areas.

Cities Facing Decline in Live Music Events

On the other hand, there were some cities which witnessed a decrease in live music events:

Liverpool:  Liverpool, the city with a long-standing association with music, experienced a 7.36% decline  and had 74 events less, which took the total to 931.

Birmingham: There was  a 14.73% downfall in the events in Birmingham and only 301 events were held this  year, 52 events less than the previous year.

Dundee: Live music events in  Dundee reduced by 19.89% and the number of events was 35 less, which stood  at 141.

Such declines can be attributed to different factors including economic issues, increased costs of operation  and shifts in consumer behavior.

Economic Impact and Challenges

Live music industry is one of the most  important sectors of the UK’s economy. According to the Economic Observatory, in 2023 it generated £5.2 billion of  gross value added (GVA) and thus plays a very important role in the cultural and economic value system. 

 However, grassroots venues were in a dilemma  due to high costs, which led to their closure. At least 125 grassroots venues closed  down, which is a 13% year on year decrease. This resulted in a decrease of  30,000 performances and 4,000 jobs, which shows the difficulty of the situation for smaller venues.

 Mark Davyd's, (the CEO of Music Venue Trust) comments in the Standard confirm that things are “pretty dire” and  that venues are facing “extreme and totally unnecessary financial pressure.” 

Voices from the Community

The closures have really been felt by both artists and the fans. YolanDa Brown, musician and Venue Week Ambassador commented in Big Issue:

“Without those grassroots venues, you wouldn’t have bands that go on to progress through the ecosystem and end up being the stadium artists”

Similarly, James Kirkham, founder at Iconic Agency writes to The Guardian: 

“Like many folk in their mid-40s, I’m massively excited about Oasis touring next summer  But there’s sadness too. When Oasis toured for the first time in 1994, 34 grassroots venues across the UK took a chance and booked them. Now, only 11 of those places exist....."

Community Initiatives and Adaptations

Community people have also not remained  passive to these challenges and have taken some measures.

The Looe Weekender, in southeast  Cornwall, was brought back to life after facing possible cancellation and financial problems. The event was organized by local  residents, publicans and volunteers, for a community focused festival with no entrance fee. Looe  Weekender now welcomes 5,000 – 10,000 people each day, and more than  80 acts perform across 12 venues according to The Guardian.

Technological Innovations  Enhancing Experiences

Technology is also playing a key role in transforming the music industry and its format.  According to Financial Times a French company Weezevent that offers services such as ticketing and contactless payment using bracelets  has grown considerably. This technology improves the festival experience by decreasing the queue time and making the payment process  easier. This innovation is part of a larger vision of incorporating technology into live event experiences. 

Looking Ahead

The UK’s live music scene is at a crossroads. While some cities  are booming, others are facing major problems. The problems that lead to venue closures must therefore be addressed  in order to maintain the industry’s development and to preserve live music as an essential part of the British  cultural heritage.

Is your city growing or shrinking in live music events? Please share your experience and your  opinion on how we can continue to nurture and develop our local music scenes.

Explore more trends in our related blogs here: 

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Why Are Music Venues Closing? The Challenges Facing the UK’s Live Scene