Grassroots music venues may be recovering but risks remain

Attendance and gig activity rose in 2025 and net venue closures slowed, but the sector lost almost 6,000 jobs after a national insurance threshold change.

Grassroots music venues in the UK saw higher attendance and more gigs in 2025 after difficult post-pandemic years. The Music Venue Trust published its annual report and founder Mark Davyd described progress alongside persistent vulnerabilities. While the rate of venue losses eased, many venues remain financially fragile with thin profit margins. The trust continues to work with government departments on policy issues such as business rates. Key findings: - Audiences returned and activity increased in 2025; 30 venues permanently closed and 48 stopped operating as grassroots venues while 69 new or revived spaces joined the network. - More than half of grassroots music venues made no profit in 2025 and the average profit margin across the sector was reported as 2.5%. - The sector lost almost 6,000 jobs in one year (a 19% contraction), a change linked in the report to a lowered threshold for employer national insurance contributions that affected many young, low-paid workers. - National touring continues to concentrate in a few major cities, leaving 175 towns and cities—home to about 25 million people—without regular visits from professional touring artists. Summary: The report indicates a modest recovery in audience numbers and venue activity but highlights deep financial fragility and a significant loss of jobs, especially among 18 to 25-year-olds. Undetermined at this time.