The UK’s small music venues are experiencing a “full-blown crisis” – with many pressured to shut over the past yr, a music charity has mentioned.

The Music Venue Trust says the way forward for “world-beating” artists is underneath menace and has requested the chancellor for an extension of the 75% enterprise charges reduction launched in April this yr. It is because of come to an finish in March 2024.

In an open letter to Jeremy Hunt, the charity mentioned: “The grassroots music sector is in the middle of a full-blown crisis.

“One hundred and twenty-five venues have shut their doorways for dwell music within the final 12 months, 15.7% of all such areas within the UK.

“It represents the loss of 4,000 jobs, 14,250 events, 193,230 performance opportunities, £9 million of income for musicians, and £59 million in lost direct economic activity.”

Calling the closures “an immediate economic, social, and cultural blow” to native communities, they mentioned the now darkish venues had been “treasured places that bond our communities together, foster pride in the places we live, drive creativity and create aspiration”.

The UK music business brings billions of kilos into the financial system, attracting each home and worldwide vacationers to dwell occasions.

Earlier this yr, Culture secretary Lucy Frazer introduced a further £5m funding into Arts Council England’ Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund, in recognition of the significance of its function to each enhance the nation’s financial system in addition to its mushy energy.

In January 2020, the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak launched a particular 50% enterprise charges reduction for grassroots music venues.

This was then prolonged to 100% in the course of the COVID pandemic, and at last decreased to 75% within the post-pandemic financial local weather.

The charity says eradicating the 75% fee would improve prices to the sector by £15m. They say the sector returned a revenue margin amounting to simply £1million in money phrases final yr.

Warning that the removing of the 75% fee would “plunge the entire grassroots sector into the red,” they warned extra venues would shut consequently.

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The open letter to Mr Hunt concludes with a heartfelt plea: “Artists will have nowhere to start their careers. The UK risks producing fewer world-beating artists as a direct result of the decision you make on this issue in your Autumn Statement.

“You have mentioned you do not have the financial circumstances to think about tax cuts. Grassroots Music Venues do not have the financial circumstances to permit tax rises.”

The Music Venue Trust – which represents greater than 900 grassroots music venues throughout the UK – has beforehand voiced issues that emerging artists with the potential to be the next Ed Sheeran or Adele – each of whom began out taking part in in grassroots venues – may discover their careers lower off at floor degree, by no means realising their full potential.