Rescue Plan for London's Grassroots Music Venues Making Progress

Rescue Plan for London’s Grassroots Music Venues Making progress 2

Support organisations to make a workforce. There is a vast range of greater impact for their staff, our opportunities too, from partnering communities, the next generation on one of our programmes, to and London as a whole. forming a relationship supporting a small charity, or encouraging One of our aims is to help your staff to volunteer and use young people on their path to their skills at one of the 1,200 employment. Volunteering can charities we work with. Indeed, help develop the skills, confidence whatever your CSR objectives, and experiences they need to Team London is here to help. succeed at work. In partnership with the CIPD and Step Up to London, Volunteering, Charities Serve, we are asking businesses and Sponsorship to commit to recognising this when they recruit young people. Copyright So, this is a rallying call to London businessesGreater London to Authority get involved with TeamJanuary London. 2017 It is not just a good Greaterthing to London do. It Authoritywill also benefit both yourCity Hall, present The Queen’s and future Walk More London London SE1 2AA london.gov.uk enquiries 020 7983 4100 minicom 020 7983 4458

Written and researched by The Greater London Authority, Music Venue Trust, Nordicity, Sound Diplomacy

With thanks to The London Music Board The Mayor of London’s Night Time Commission

Cover Image: Blood Orange at KOKO, Camden ©Carolina Faruolo 3

Contents

Introduction from the Mayor 4

Executive summary 6

Definition of a grassroots music venue 8

London’s grassroots music 10 venues in numbers

Map of London’s grassroots 13 music venues

Putting the Rescue Plan for London’s 19 Grassroots Music Venues into practice

Our partners 28 4

Introduction from the Mayor

This report is a major step to rebuilding London’s live music scene. I believe music is vital for our city. That’s why I’ve appointed London’s first Night Czar. I’ve also committed to using the Agent of Change principle to protect music venues, clubs and pubs.

Sixteen months have passed since the Rescue Plan for London’s Grassroots Music Venues was published. This report offers an update on progress, plus new facts and figures. I hope it gives you the arguments, evidence and inspiration you need to support London’s grassroots venues. They add to the vibrancy of our city.

Developers and planners now recognise how important music venues are to local communities. New research also shows just how much grassroots venues bring to London’s economy.

In this report, you’ll find a new map from the Music Venue Trust. It shows the tide is turning. Fewer grassroots music venues closed in 2016 than any year since 2007. For every closure a new venue opened.

Gig and club going remains a hugely popular activity, and not just in big arenas like The O2. 5

Every night, nearly 14,000 people families get free music lessons go to a gig in a grassroots music through the Mayor’s Music Fund. venue in London. Omeara has We support London’s Music opened at London Bridge and Education Hubs which teach over the Sound Lounge will launch 180,000 young Londoners every soon in Tooting. I’m delighted too year. Busk In London also helps that Fabric has reopened and am musicians to develop their talent optimistic for 2017. But we can’t and earn a living in music. rest on our laurels. Music helps make London a The success of the music dynamic city. Our music scene is industry depends on flourishing second to none and shows the grassroots music venues. These world that #LondonIsOpen to are the places where stars make talent. I look forward to working their names. Whether it was Elvis with planners, developers, Costello at the Half Moon, KT licensing teams and the music Tunstall at the 12 Bar or Elf Kid industry to future-proof our music at the CLF Art Café, London’s infrastructure. By working with grassroots venues have always boroughs and artists we can also been the places to find new talent. support and showcase the breadth of music across London. Our figures show that London’s grassroots venues bring £92m to Finally, I’d like to thank the London the economy every year. £44m Music Board, music industry, of that is spent developing and councils, media and this city’s showcasing new musical talent. many music lovers. Your efforts This is the single biggest spend to protect music in London are on upcoming talent in the music paying off. industry. By taking a risk on new Let’s now make London the artists, these venues play a vital world’s best music city. part in an industry that is now worth £4.1bn in the UK.

At City Hall, we work to support grassroots music talent. For example, hundreds of young Sadiq Khan musicians from low income Mayor of London 6

Executive Summary

The Rescue Plan for London’s 2. Development Grassroots Music Venues made We have brought developers, six recommendations to stem councils and the music industry the tide of closures and help together in a working group to new venues open. They covered: look at how to reverse the 35 planning; development; business per cent loss of music venues. rates; licensing, policing and Developers are key to the solution. environmental health; promotion There is a clear commitment to of venues; and music tourism. tackle this issue and create new Here’s how we’ve been doing venues. Now several potential so far. music venues are in development across London. If just a few of 1. Planning these reach fruition, it will be Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged a major boost to London’s live to introduce the Agent of Change music infrastructure. principle in the next London Plan. The draft London Plan will be 3. Business Rates published for consultation this The government is reviewing autumn. We are working closely business rates. They are likely with the London Music Board to increase for many businesses and Night Time Commission to in the coming months. This is of develop it. New Supplementary concern to businesses across Planning Guidance for the London. It could put a number of night time economy will also grassroots music venues at risk, be published later in the year. especially those in the centre. Our research shows grassroots In April 2016 the Government music venues bring £92m to introduced the Agent of London’s economy every year. Change principle into Permitted They also support 2,260 jobs. Development Rights (an area On average, each venue spends of planning law that allows some £500,000 on developing development without requiring and showcasing new and planning permission). This is a emerging talent. major step that shows the value of live music venues not just in London’s grassroots venues London but across the country. pay around £2.8m in business rates each year. If business rates 7

were cut it would be a big boost the UK. He also extended the work to venues. It would allow them of the Night Time Commission to invest in upgrading outdated and appointed Philip Kolvin QC as infrastructure. It would mean they Chair. Music is at the heart of a could give customers a better city’s night time culture. Both Amy experience. Finally, it could help and Philip will work to ensure that stabilise their businesses. music venues play a central role as We’re now looking at the costs London becomes a 24-hour city. and benefits of a business Another recommendation of rates discount for London’s the rescue plan was to create a grassroots venues and will London Music Board. This was set report later this year. up in April 2016. It brings together 4. Licensing, Environmental representatives from the music Health and Policing industry, government, tourism, The Mayor wants to encourage culture and education. The board stronger partnership working oversees how the rescue plan will between businesses, councils and be put into practice. It also aims police licensing teams. This will to ensure that all Londoners can help to identify problems at an benefit from living in one of the earlier stage and allow solutions world’s greatest music cities. The to be put in place. It should board is chaired by the Night Czar. reduce the need for enforcement 6. Tourism action and the closure of venues. We need to do more to promote The Chair of the Night Time London’s venues and music Commission and the Night Czar heritage. Initial research shows that will work with boroughs, the police gig listings for grassroots music and the industry to promote more venues are patchy. Buying tickets joined-up working. often requires knowledge of the 5. Promotion music scene that many tourists The Rescue Plan for London’s don’t have. Research shows that Grassroots Music Venues tourists are looking for authentic recommended the city should experiences and venues off-the- have a Night Czar. In November beaten track. London and Partners the Mayor appointed Amy Lamé as and the London Music Board London’s Night Czar - the first in are exploring new music tourism schemes to address this issue. 8

Definition of a grassroots music venue

The Music Venue Trust It programmes artists that deserve defines the cultural and social to be heard by audiences. This is importance of a grassroots done with no expectation of music venue by testing its direct financial reward. This loss- reputation, role and activity making activity benefits the UK against six criteria. music industry.

A grassroots music venue 5. A beacon of music that brings displays some or all of these the local night-time economy characteristics, dependent to life. upon factors such as location, Having a grassroots music venue economic climate, or (or venues) inspires towns, seasonal variations. boroughs and cities to be musical. In contrast, the absence of one 1. The elephant test. causes a lack of music activity. Musicians and audiences in the Such venues attract audiences town, borough or city think that who help support other parts it is the grassroots music venue. of the night-time economy like 2. Focus on cultural activity restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs as its main purpose. and transport. The venue’s raison d’être is the music it programmes. 6. Plays nicely with others. Occupies an important role 3. A music business, within its local community, run by music experts. provides education and training in The focus of the organisation is ‘back-of-house’ trades and is open music. Other services (alcohol, to further networking. food, merchandise) are secondary or dependent upon music activity. For the full Music Venue Trust 4. Takes risks with its definition, with details on cultural programme. This economic activity, amenities and risk taking is the ignition infrastructure, see the Rescue system of the engine that Plan for London’s Grassroots is the UK music industry. Music Venues at london.gov.uk/musicvenues

Image: Songhoy Blues at KOKO, Camden ©Carolina Faruolo 9 1010

London’s grassroots music venues in numbers

94 2,260 grassroots music venues full time jobs are supported currently trading in London by these venues

£91.8m £44.6m is contributed to is generated in tax revenue London’s economy every year

For every £10 spent on tickets to grassroots music venues in London, £17 is spent nearby on food, drink and transport. 11

13,803 4.4 people go to a grassroots music nights of music are put on by venue in London every night grassroots venues every week

£34m £44m worth of tickets are sold is invested in new and every year emerging talent every year

Fewer grassroots music venues closed in London in 2016 than any year since 2007 12 13

Map of London’s grassroots music venues

Image: Dream Wife at The Finsbury ©Charlotte Patmore 14

Grassroots music venues in London that have closed or changed use, 2007 – 2016 15

Grassroots music venues in London that have closed or changed use, 2007 – 2016

Number of grassroots music venues in London 2007 – 2016

144 94 94

160

140

120

100

No. of venues 60

2007 2015 2016

Years

View this map online: london.gov.uk/musicvenues 16

Grassroots music venues trading in London in November 2016 17

Grassroots music venues trading in London in November 2016

Grassroots94 music venues trading in London in November 2016

View this map online: london.gov.uk/musicvenues 18

Methodology

Mapping London’s The economic impact of London’s grassroots music venues grassroots music venues The Music Venue Trust sent an To look at the economic impact of in-depth survey to grassroots these venues, Nordicity converted music venues in London. It asked the data on expenditure and for information on turnover, turnover gathered by the Music employment, music programming Venue Trust. It was turned into and ticketing. estimates of employment, labour income and gross value added. As of November 2016 there were This was done using the Office for 94 grassroots music venues in National Statistics’ Input-Output London. The figure is an increase Supply and Use tables. Total on the 88 venues listed in turnover included revenue from 2015’s Rescue Plan for London’s food, drink and ticket sales. Grassroots Music Venues. This is due to a small number Nordicity estimated the total of venues being re-categorised economic impact of London’s as grassroots music venues in grassroots music venues. They the 2016 re-mapping process. included: economic activity in The number of grassroots music venues (direct economic impact); venues in London in 2007 has economic activity generated at also been revised up from 136 to London companies that supply 144. This doesn’t affect the figure goods and services to the venues for the net loss of music venues plus income earned by artists which remains at 35 per cent. performing at venues (indirect We were contacted by several economic impact); and economic people after the Rescue Plan activity that happens when artists, for London’s Grassroots Music and people who work at the venues Venues was published with and supplier companies, spend their information about additional wages in London (induced economic venues. We are grateful to impact). Nordicity also estimated everyone who got in touch. the economic impact of audiences buying food and drink outside the venues, immediately before or after a gig (spill-over economic impact).

Read the full reports at: london.gov.uk/musicvenues 19

Putting the Rescue Plan for London’s Grassroots Music Venues into practice Recommendation 1: Planning

1a Make specific reference to live music is protected. This music venues in London’s is an amendment to permitted planning policies. development rights in the Town and Country Planning (General 1b Adopt the Agent of Change Permitted Development) principle in London’s planning Order 2015. policies. • The Mayor has pledged to put 1c Local authorities should the Agent of Change principle consider using an Article in the next London Plan. 4 Direction to protect The draft London Plan will music venues. make specific reference 1d Make more use of the Asset to music venues. It will be of Community Value process published for consultation later to protect music venues. this year and the final plan is due to be adopted in 2019. Progress • The Mayor is developing Night • Our Supplementary Planning Time Economy Supplementary Guidance for town centres and Planning Guidance for for the Central Activities Zone consultation in 2017. now makes reference to music venues. • Several boroughs have approached City Hall for • Since the Rescue Plan was advice on implementing the published the government Agent of Change principle. has introduced an example of the Agent of Change principle • London Borough of into UK planning law. New Wandsworth has used rules introduced in April 2016 an Article 4 Direction to mean that councils have to protect 120 of its 177 pubs. consider the impacts on music It includes all of its grassroots venues and other sources of music venues. noise when giving approval • More grassroots music venues to convert offices to flats. are now applying to become Developers are encouraged to Assets of Community Value. work with the local council and the music venue to ensure that 21

Recommendation 2: Developers

2a Developers should consider • We have run a number of using the Deed of Easement working groups with property of Noise when creating developers. housing near existing • Thirty property developers, music venues. architects and planners 2b Developers should work with attended Sound Diplomacy’s planning authorities to create new Sound Development high quality new grassroots Conference in September 2016. venues and set-up ‘Music • Developers are keen to Zones’ for grassroots support existing grassroots music activity. venues and create new ones. Progress The London Music Board is offering developers and venue • We have advised a number of operators guidance on creating local councils and developers new venues. on the Deed of Easement of Noise and how it could be used in their developments.

• The London Music Board is examining zoning policies in other cities around the world. Early evidence suggests it can be restrictive to music venues. 22

What is the Agent of Change principle?

This principle puts the onus for noise management on the Agent of Change. That means the incoming individual or business. This could be a resident moving into a flat near a music venue. It could also be a developer building a new music venue near a residential building. It has already been adopted in parts of Australia and the US and is working well.

In Southwark, planning consent was recently given for flats near a music venue. As part of the Section 106 Agreement, the developer must make prospective residents aware of the nearby music venue before they decide to buy or rent. Other measures that help include building design and soundproofing. All have been designed to ensure that residential and music uses can co-exist.

For the Agent of Change principle to work it must be put into practice in planning, licensing and noise policy. This will ensure that the principle remains in operation for the lifespan of a building, not just when it is first built. 23

Recommendation 3: Business rates

3a Local authorities should be • London’s grassroots music encouraged to implement venues invest £44m each year urgent relief on business rates in talent development through for grassroots music venues. their spend on musicians and bands and production 3b The government should of live gigs. investigate offering full relief from business rates for • Further research is underway grassroots music venues. to identify how a business rate If action is taken quickly this relief could help grassroots could feed into the review of venues, support jobs and business rates that is now benefit local economies. underway and is set to report back by Budget 2016.

Progress

• This report sets out the economic impact of grassroots music venues and how they contribute to London’s economy. It is the first study of its kind and will inform the case for a business rate relief.

• The overall contribution of grassroots music venues to London’s economy includes £91.8m in gross value added, 2,260 full time equivalent jobs and tax revenue of £44.6m to all levels of government. 24

Recommendation 4: Borough licensing, environmental health and policing

4a Local authorities and police • The Night Time Commission, should try and cut excessive can support local councils by licensing requirements, providing: a strategic vision increase audience capacity for the night time economy and simplify their relationship as a whole; leadership and with grassroots music venues. education in the planning of night time economies; and 4b Local authorities should adopt London-wide programmes the Agent of Change principle where appropriate. in the way they deal with noise complaints. • We’ve commissioned the University of Westminster to Progress analyse the value of the night • The Mayor’s Night Time time economy in four London Commission, chaired by boroughs. This research also leading licensing lawyer Philip looks in detail at two night-life Kolvin QC, will look at the locations and the opportunities issues surrounding licensing, and challenges in both areas. It policing and noise. will be published later this year.

• The Mayor has contributed to • A number of grassroots a review by the House of Lords music venues are currently Licensing Act Committee. applying to increase their The Mayor supports licensing audience capacity. at local level and agrees that licensing powers should lie within local councils. The Mayor believes licensing could play an important place- making role by helping to create vibrant and successful neighbourhoods. 25

Recommendation 5: Supporting music in London

5a Create a Music Development were central to the Agent Board to implement these of Change principle being recommendations. added into planning law.

5b Appoint a Night Mayor • UK Music’s annual music for London. tourism report is informing the music tourism initiatives 5c The Music Development Board that are being developed by should set a target for the London & Partners. minimum number of grassroots venues across London and • The Musicians’ Union have establish a number of carried out research that ‘Music Zones’. highlights the cost of parking fines for musicians. 42 per cent Progress of musicians surveyed had • The London Music Board has received fines of up to £200 been set up to oversee how when moving their equipment the Rescue Plan for London’s to and from venues. The Grassroots Music Venues is Musicians’ Union are looking put into practice. Five meetings to pilot special loading bay have taken place plus working access for musicians in the groups with tourism agencies, coming year. promoters, developers and • The London Music Board local authorities. is looking into zoning and • The Mayor has appointed target-based policies in other writer, broadcaster and club cities around the world. Early night promoter Amy Lamé as evidence suggests zoning and London’s first Night Czar. target setting can work against He has also appointed leading music venues. licensing lawyer Philip Kolvin • The Mayor is committed to QC as Chair of the Mayor’s supporting musical talent Night Time Commission. through Busk in London and • The Night Czar will chair the International Busking Day. London Music Board. These pioneering initiatives see London leading the world • UK Music, the Musicians’ Union in street performance and and the Music Venue Trust artist development. 26

Recommendation 6: Promoting music in London

6a Tourism agencies, the • The Mayor and Heritage music industry and London Lottery Fund supported government should invest Punk London. This year-long in a campaign to promote programme celebrated forty London’s grassroots music years of punk culture in 2016. venues and their heritage. It included over 60 events at places like The British Progress Library, Museum of London, • Music tourism generated Photographers’ Gallery and almost £1bn for the London the 100 Club. economy in 2015 according to UK Music’s Wish You Were Here report.

• London & Partners, the Mayor’s official promotional agency, is increasing the music content of the Visit London website and app. This includes launching London area guides that include new music experiences for tourists.

• The Mayor, London & Partners and the London Music Board are looking into new initiatives to capitalise on the popularity of music tourism. They will focus on better promotion of London’s grassroots music venues and revealing the capital’s music heritage.

Our partners

The London Music Board Alan Miller, Chairman, Amy Lamé, Night Time Industries Association Night Czar (Chair) Phil Nelson, Paul Broadhurst, Head of Music Industry Relations, Head of Music and BIMM Night Time Economy Greater London Authority Trudi Penman, Licensing, Health and Safety Alex Bruford, Divisional Manager, London Chief Executive, ATC Live Borough of Havering Julie Chappell, Ben Reed, Chief Digital Officer, Head of Brand, Silvertown London and Partners Partnership / First Base Clare Coghill, Ella Skye, Leader, Waltham Forest Council Musician, Musicians’ Union Mark Davyd, Claire Southwick, Chief Executive, Managing Director, Primitive Music Venue Trust Management Jo Dipple, Helen Sprott, Chief Executive, UK Music Head of Music, Gideon Feldman, Arts Council England Senior Project Manager, Louise Thomas, Attitude is Everything Managing Director, Auro Foxcroft, Break Communications Chief Executive, Claire Whitaker OBE, Village Underground Director, Serious Stuart Galbraith, Beverley Whitrick, Chief Executive, Kilimanjaro Live Strategic Director, Nick Keynes, Music Venue Trust Partner and Co-Founder, Tileyard Sudios 29

Music Venue Trust The Music Venue Trust is a registered charity. It protects the future of live music in the UK by supporting grassroots music venues. It raises awareness of the vital cultural, economic and community roles that grassroots venues play. The trust also supports existing venues, making them more efficient and giving performers and audiences a better experience.

Nordicity Nordicity is an international consultancy for the arts, cultural and creative sectors. It provides research and evaluation, develops strategy and policy and carries out economic analysis.

Sound Diplomacy Sound Diplomacy is the leading global advisor on music cities and music market development. 30 31