Grassroots music scene receives mayoral support

Admin

May 16, 2025
3 min read

Grassroots music scene receives mayoral support

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a cross-London campaign to “champion” London’s “world-leading” grassroots music scene. The mayor and TfL are joining with music industry and media leaders, including the Music Venue Trust, Featured Artist Coalition, Outernet, the Metro and Universal Music, to “shine a spotlight on London’s fantastic music venues and artists and the significant impact they have on the capital.

The capital has 179 grassroots music venues which “play a vital role” in London’s music scene, “growing the next generation of talent, boosting the capital’s economy and nightlife.” In the last year, venues have seen more than 4.2 million audience members, hosting performances from over 328,000 artists, employed almost 7,000 people, and contributed £313 million to the economy.

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Many leading artists from around the world have performed in Lonodn’ grassroots music venues over the years. Seven of the ten biggest-selling albums from last year came from artists who made their name and built a fanbase through London venues. That includes Chappell Roan who performed at the Garage, Charli XCX who performed in a number of east London clubs, Coldplay who performed at The Dublin Castle, and Noah Kahan who performed at The Social.

“These venues are the place to see a wide range of talent before they break into the mainstream, for an average ticket price of £11,” says a press release from City Hall. “However, these important venues have faced a number of challenges in recent years following the long-lasting impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis. That’s why City Hall has brought together leaders across the capital’s music industry to champion London’s position as a world-leading music city.”

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