Today – with the support of Manchester City Council – we have published a landmark report to strengthen the city’s grassroots music venues, a vital part of Manchester’s cultural and economic life. The findings from the report have also led to the launch of a new Grassroots Venues Network.

The research, carried out by the hub, was commissioned to support positive collective action and highlights the biggest challenges facing smaller venues, including the economic pressures of rising costs and reduced income, and a passionate but  overstretched workforce.

Its recommendations are grouped into four key areas:

• Ecosystem Development
• Marketing and Audience Development
• Innovation, Investment and R&D
• Policy, Structures and Local Authority Practice

The recommendations will feed into the development of a new music strategy for the city led by Manchester Music City, with financial support from Manchester City Council – championing promoters, developing innovation bursaries, commissioning audience research, and establishing the Manchester Grassroots Venues Network.

The Manchester Grassroots Venues Network, convened by CityCo with the support of the Music Venue Trust (MVT), will be a quarterly series of meetings to strengthen collaboration between venues, the council and other local partners. The Network will enable venues to have a direct voice in shaping policy, receive updates on city initiatives, share best practice, and explore joint marketing and audience development opportunities to raise the profile of Manchester’s grassroots music scene locally and internationally.

The council has already taken significant steps to support venues, including creating the £245,000 Grassroots Music Venue Fund, which is being administered by MVT. Promotion of Manchester’s grassroots venues has also featured in this year’s MCR Live 25 campaign and in international tourism marketing.

The report is part of a wider effort to protect and promote grassroots music venues. Manchester Music City, Manchester City Council and partners are committed to ongoing collaboration with venues to ensure a collaborative approach to strengthening the city’s music ecosystem.

Kate Lowes, Director of Brighter Sound (sector lead Manchester Music City), said: “Grassroots venues sit at the heart of Manchester’s musical identity, nurturing both emerging talent and the communities around them. This report shines a light on the challenges they face, but more importantly it brings partners together around shared solutions. The launch of the Grassroots Venues Network marks a vital step in creating the support system these spaces need. We’re committed to making sure Manchester remains a place where independent venues can thrive and where music continues to shape the life of the city.”

Cllr Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, who attended the inaugural meeting of the grassroots venue network, said: “Music is in Manchester’s DNA and not just as a celebration of our past but a vital part of our present and our future. No-one wants to live in a city without a thriving music scene. 

“Grassroots music venues are an important part of what makes Manchester great and we want to maintain their impact in our city as it evolves and grows and through the challenges they face. 

“That’s why we co-commissioned this report, and why the council and partners have already taken swift and significant steps to support smaller venues – including us setting up the Grassroots Music Venue Fund to provide financial assistance.

“We aren’t afraid to tackle issues head on and to challenge ourselves to be better wherever we can. We want Manchester to lead the way showing what cities can achieve by working together closely with our music venues, and the wider music sector in the city. This network shows how serious we are about working together.”

Julia Payne, Director of the hub, said: “At the hub, we go to work to make a difference. We’re really excited not only that the research we carried out last year is now being published, but also that it’s already had an impact, with Manchester City Council launching a new £245k Grassroots Music Venue Fund as a direct response to one of our recommendations. As a team whose members cut their teeth working in grassroots venues, we look forward to working with Manchester Music City and Manchester City Council as they roll out further developments in response to our findings and recommendations.”

Jay Taylor from the Music Venue Trust said: “Music Venue Trust is delighted with the publication of the Music In The City Report. Following candid dialogue with Grassroots Music Venue operators the report presents a set of compelling recommendations which mirror Music Venue Trust campaigns and findings within the UK Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s report on grassroots music. These are pragmatic, real-world proposals that commit to supporting the city region’s magnificent music venues, and it’s hugely encouraging to see recommendations already being actioned, including the launch of the Manchester Grassroots Venues Network. This is Manchester at its progressive best, cultivating meaningful conversations and clear-cut solutions.”

Earlier this year, we commissioned the team at the hub to work with us on a project designed to give Manchester’s grassroots music venues a say in how Manchester City Council and partners like us can better support the city’s grassroots
music scene.

As an organisation that brings together people and organisations from across Manchester’s music landscape to support the city’s vibrant music sector and build and sustain an inclusive music ecology, we know how important grassroots music venues are. We also know that for the city’s venues are to survive, they require greater support, and we are committed to playing our part in that.

Against this backdrop, we’re really excited to be working with the team at the hub on this project. Music specialists who grew up working in music venues, they’re real champions
of grassroots music, and the report they did last year to evaluate Arts Council England’s Grassroots Live Music Fund helped unlock £5m new government funding for grassroots
music.

Their approach to this project is deliberately consultative and collaborative, and they’ve built consultation with venues into the heart of the process. Across the project they’ll be:
– doing interviews
– running focus group discussions
– facilitating bigger gatherings of venues from across the city

They’re also talking with reps from other music cities in the UK and overseas to draw on their experience, and will work closely with an Advisory Group whose members include reps from Music Venue Trust, the Association of Independent Promoters and Attitude is Everything. By summer 2024, the aim is to have arrived at a set of recommendations that everyone can get behind and that set out a clear path for supporting the city’s venues.

If you’d like to find out more about the project, we’d love you to get in touch. Use our contact form and we’ll get back to you. We are stronger together, so please do get
involved!

Image: Manchester Collective, Rosewood at The White Hotel. Photo by Chris Payne

Manchester’s live music economy is second only to London in the UK, according to a 2022 published report conducted by industry specialists Nordicity and Sound Diplomacy.

Commissioned by Manchester City Council and Manchester Music City to review Manchester’s economic landscape, the report found that the total economic impact of Greater Manchester’s music ecosystem between 2019-2020 was £469 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and 11,270 FTE jobs (FTEs). This comprised a total economic impact of £390 million in GVA and 9,590 FTEs from the music sector, £63 million in GVA and 1,340 FTEs from music tourism and £16 million in GVA and 340 FTEs from the night-time economy.

The research found that Manchester’s live music scene makes up 64% of the ecosystem, while concert producers, booking agents and promoters account for 38% of music businesses in the city, making Manchester a particularly strong live music destination for both audiences and those working in the sector.

The significance of Manchester as a major national hub for classical music education via the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and the BBC Philharmonic, was also underlined, while Manchester’s global reach through tourism, events and heritage were highlighted as making Manchester competitive against other music cities.

All Things Equal champions and celebrates all those who experience sexism and cissexism inclusive of all identities, backgrounds, social classes, ages, bodies, races, ethnicities, religions and disabilities. As such, the All Things Equal manifesto has been developed with contributions from hundreds of intersectional voices through consultation, collaborative action and an ongoing programme of research.

The research process highlighted five individual areas that need to change.

1. Education – to support more young people to learn, experiment and see themselves in all areas of the industry.

2. Talent Development – to demystify creative careers, create opportunities and cultivate safe spaces for artists of marginalised genders.

3. Live Music – to create an environment of respect in live music, for performers, professionals and audiences alike.

4. Parents and Carers – to support parents and those with caring responsibilities to find success and balance in their careers.

5. Leadership – to challenge outdated concepts of leadership and support opportunities for all types of leaders.

All Things Equal believes that progress in these areas will have long-term impacts and help to create an inclusive and welcoming industry for all.