As the cost of living crisis continues to escalate, and grassroots music venues face closures due to low streaming royalties, artists and community advocates are joining forces to keep the music industry alive.
The Camden Underworld, a well-known venue in North London, buzzes with energy as the band Alt Blk Era takes the stage. Comprising two sisters – Nyrobi and Chaya Beckett-Messam – the band has quickly risen to fame during the pandemic lockdown, going from writing songs in their bedrooms to performing at packed local gigs and eventually winning a Mobo (Music of Black Origin) award for best alternative music act. Despite not fitting easily into conventional record label marketing strategies, the band has nurtured a loyal fan base due to their unique sound and refusal to compromise their artistic vision.
The sisters received funding from the PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charity supporting new music. The Foundation, funded partly by PRS for Music and Arts Council England, awards grants to emerging artists. Alt Blk Era’s grant allowed them to grow outside mainstream record labels, allowing them to record and tour their music independently.
Since 2000, the PRS Foundation has invested over £50m into more than 9,000 new music projects, including six of the last seven Mercury prize winners. Alt Blk Era used their grant to record their album, ‘Rave Immortal’, which achieved number one on the rock and metal charts, and to tour the US, including a performance at Austin’s SXSW festival.
However, the journey for artists is more challenging than ever. Britain’s culture budget has decreased by 6% since 2010, while Germany and France have seen increases of up to 70%. Additionally, the shift from record sales to streaming has put further pressure on musicians, with only 0.4% of UK artists able to make a living from streaming alone.
Big Joanie, a feminist punk trio, credits their successful second album and consequent increase in fan base to a PRS Foundation grant. The band highlights the importance of live performances and selling merchandise as the most reliable source of income for artists today.
Grassroots venues like Esquires in Bedford, which has hosted bands like Coldplay and Muse, face an uncertain future due to the financial struggles associated with hosting live music. The Music Venue Trust (MVT) has stepped in to save such venues from closure by purchasing buildings and placing them under a cultural lease to protect them from redevelopment.
Despite these challenges, the resilience of the industry is evident. Bands like the Mercury prize-winning Ezra Collective have credited their success to their roots in youth clubs. Organisations like Kinetika Bloco and Youth Music support young musicians, providing them with opportunities to create, perform, and learn the business side of the music industry.
Ultimately, the survival of the music industry relies on the collective effort of artists, community advocates, and music lovers. The commitment of individuals and organisations to supporting new talent and protecting venues is vital in ensuring the continued vibrancy of the UK’s music scene.
