Music venues warn of "explosion" of closures with energy bill support to end
In his budget this week the Chancellor revealed energy bill support for venues will not be continuing beyond March
A group that represents music venues across the West Country is warning there could be an "explosion" of closures, when energy bill support for businesses ends in April.
Earlier this week when delivering his Spring Budget the Chancellor confirmed that the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) will end on 31 March, meaning businesses including music venues will no longer get a discount on wholesale gas and electricity.
A separate support scheme will continue into 2024, but only businesses in the manufacturing and mining industries, plus libraries, museums and zoos are eligible.
The Music Venue Trust (MVT), which represents venues across the country, says that it warned the government that not extending support further will have dire consequences on the industry.
"Already in 2023, one Grassroots Music Venue is closing every week," the Trust says.
"The budget was an opportunity to ensure that this number of closures did not explode from the April 1st when Grassroots Music Venues will be hit by excessive and unaffordable energy bills.
"The Chancellor has failed to respond to the evidence we submitted.
"There is no additional support for music venues and the inevitable result will be mass closures of venues."
Mig Schillace runs The Louisiana venue in Bristol and says it's been "really, really tough".
"It's becoming a pretty bad situation for music venues to carry on and survive," he told us.
He says the impact on the music industry, were many more venues like his to close, could be profound.
"If you think about it we're kind of the foundation of where new music comes from," he said.
"If it wasn't for us you wouldn't have Glastonbury (Festival).
"I know there's a proposed arena opening up soon in Bristol...if we're not supported and we're not surviving then there's going to be nothing, there's no route for new artists to come through."
The MVT says opportunities by the government to support venues over the past five years have been overlooked.
"This network of venues across the country is a prime opportunity to improve productivity, enhance local jobs, and support struggling communities.
"We welcome the support for theatres, museums, art galleries and orchestras, but once again we note that all of the Chancellor’s announcements on tax relief for these sectors exclude Grassroots Music Venues and artists.
"We also note that the opportunities to support research and development in this sector has been once again missed; the R&D tax reliefs announced are not relevant to the Grassroots Music Venue sector.
"We remain keen to work with the Government to unlock the opportunity that the Grassroots Music Venue sector presents.
"We hope that in the near future a budget statement will be made that recognizes and acknowledges the economic, cultural and community opportunity these venues present."