"Their long-awaited reunion tour dominated the summer, reviving bucket hats, Britpop nostalgia and generating more than £300 million in ticket sales alone. Yet beneath the headlines and stadium sell-outs, a far less celebratory story is unfolding across the UK's live music ecosystem. Just 11 of the 34 grassroots venues that hosted Oasis during their first tour in 1994 are still operating today - a stark illustration of how unevenly success is now distributed across the sector."
"While the biggest artists fill arenas and stadiums with ease, small venues and emerging acts are being squeezed by a combination of rising costs, changing consumer behaviour and government policy. Industry figures warn that the pipeline for discovering and developing new talent is at risk of collapse. Julia Rowan, head of policy and public affairs at PRS for Music, says the UK's position as a global music powerhouse can no longer be taken for granted."
Oasis's 2025 reunion tour revived Britpop nostalgia and generated more than £300 million in ticket sales, while only 11 of the 34 grassroots venues that hosted their 1994 tour remain open. The biggest artists now consistently fill arenas and stadiums, while small venues and emerging acts face pressure from rising costs, shifting consumer behaviour and government policy. Industry figures warn that the talent-discovery pipeline risks collapse. Streaming platforms have lowered release barriers but concentrated revenue among global stars, making touring many artists' primary income. Mega-tours and music tourism have boosted overall spending but concentrated benefits at the top.
Read at Business Matters
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]