Youth Beatz festival generates £1m
The event is at risk of being axed.
Last updated 5th Dec 2024
The Youth Beatz festival – which is under threat for 2025 – generated nearly £1 million for the local economy this year, it has been revealed.
And much of that cash was generated thanks to the generosity of more than 200 volunteers who contributed more than 10,000 hours of work to make the two-day event at Park Farm in Dumfries a success.
These positive figures will give councillors plenty of food for thought – because pulling the plug on funding for next year’s event is on the table as part of budget savings options.
A capacity crowd of 40,000 flocked to Park Farm on June 29 and 30 this year to enjoy a range of acts including Saint Phnx, Cascada, Jonas Blue, Alice Deejay, Sigala and Talia Mar.
An evaluation report on the event has now been produced by Dumfries and Galloway Council, which will be presented to councillors at the education, skills, and community wellbeing committee next week.
In the report, Mark Molloy, the council’s service manager for young people, wrote: “Using the nationally recognised economic impact assessment tool developed by Event Scotland and Visit Scotland, the direct economic impact of Youth Beatz on the local economy was £983,091.
“This is a significant impact on the local economy and shows the wider impact of our council’s support to Youth Beatz.”
He continued: “The festival had 202 volunteers who gave a total of 10,100 volunteers hours equating to an in-kind contribution valued at £149,985, using the nationally recognised Volunteer Scotland volunteer value calculation methodology.
“The volunteers were recognised at a thank you event in September 2024 and presented with certificates of thanks from the leader of our council.”
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Upon application for tickets, all ticket holders were asked a series of questions in a customer survey.
From 40,000 responses, the results were:
• 99.1 percent felt that Youth Beatz is important to young people and the community in Dumfries and Galloway.
• 96.5 percent felt that council funding represented good use of public funding and should remain.
• 72.2 percent would not be able to afford to attend other large scale music events such as TRNSMT and Kendal Calling.
As part of the 2025/26 budget consultation, there is a proposed saving option to end the £160,000 funding for Youth Beatz.
While council officers have put this forward as one of many cash-cutting options, Council leader Gail Macgregor made her feelings clear on Youth Beatz in the event’s evaluation report.
She wrote: “Youth Beatz is an important event in our region’s calendar and helps to put Dumfries and Galloway on a national stage. Youth Beatz is more than just a music festival, it is a cultural and social highlight for our region.
“I would like to thank all partners, volunteers and staff who were involved in planning and delivering Youth Beatz 2024, and I look forward to the festival building on its successes in future years.”