Music Venue Trust has identified 4 grassroots music venues red listed for imminent permanent closure, 65% of musicians are experiencing financial hardship, and 34% are saying they may quit the music industry. Scotland’s music industry will struggle to recover without additional funding and support.
Wales has just announced an increase in their culture recovery fund of £10.7 million, and an additional £3.5 million for their freelancer fund – Scottish Labour is calling on the Scottish government to provide similar support.
“The bedrock of the music sector is the brink of collapse with thousands of artists struggling to make ends meet. Some grassroots venues can access support from the strategic framework pot, but it is simply not enough to get them through the winter, and recording studios and rehearsal rooms are excluded from the scheme.” – Claire Baker, Scottish Labour culture, tourism and external affairs spokesperson.
Watch the Scottish Parliament debate: ‘IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SCOTLAND’S MUSICIANS AND MUSIC INDUSTRY’.
Read more about the ‘Save Our Venues’ campaign.
Read more about the Scottish Government’s ‘Strategic Framework Business Fund’.
Read the report – ‘UK Live Music: At a cliff edge‘.