The cost-of-living crisis is impacting us all, but what about the grassroots music industry? As energy bills rocket and audiences can't afford the rising price of gig tickets, independent venues across the Northwest are struggling to keep their doors open for communities and local bands trying to make it big.
Without grassroots music venues, upcoming bands won't get their chance to play; sound and light engineers can't learn their skills; and the artists that you listen to in the charts such as Ed Sheeran, Adele and Sam Fender wouldn't exist. These spaces are integral to the rest of the wider industry.
This is the 'Cost-of-living Crisis VS Music Industry', a series I created for my university TV Final Major Project where I visited the iconic musical cities Manchester and Liverpool and the seaside town Blackpool to find out exactly how these rising costs are affecting the industry.
Cost-of-living Crisis VS Music Industry: Manchester
The 1975, Courteeners and Blossoms are all bands from Manchester that may be able to sell out arenas but began their careers playing small venues. The kind of places that are at risk of closing with energy bills rising and audience members not having the money to buy tickets. Jessica Mason reports, in the first episode of her series about the independent music scene.
Cost-of-living Crisis VS Music Industry: Liverpool
The Beatles played at the famous grassroots music venue The Cavern almost 300 times in the 60s before changing the landscape of worldwide music. But will there be any of these independent venues left for the artists of today with the cost-of-living crisis increasing bills for both venues and their consumers? In the second episode of her series about venues in the Northwest, Jessica Mason has the story.
Cost-of-living Crisis VS Music Industry: Blackpool
Blackpool, known worldwide for its history of entertainment and shows. But what about its emerging independent music scene? And is it able to survive the current cost-of-living crisis? In the final episode of her series about the grassroots music industry, Jessica Mason took a trip down to the seaside to find out more.
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