Live music inquiry as gig venues threatened
A WIDE-RANGING inquiry is to be launched into Wales’ live music scene.
Following several examples of highprofile threats facing music venues in Wales in recent times, the National Assembly’s Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee is launching an inquiry to understand the challenges and opportunities facing the music industry – and it wants to hear from both music fans and those in the music industry.
Many belonging to the industry, as well as music fans, believe that Welsh live music venues are struggling, while figures from UK Music reveal that 35% of music venues have closed over the last decade.
The inquiry follows high-profile cases including the Save Womanby Street and Save Guildford Crescent campaigns in Cardiff, where thousands took to the streets to protest against threats to live music venues in the Welsh capital.
The committee will look at issues affecting the music industry across Wales and will begin with venues and festivals both in urban and rural areas. Following on from this the committee will move on to looking at other issues facing the music industry, such as opportunities for talent development and the sustainability of the Welsh music scene.
Launching the inquiry, Bethan Sayed, chairman of the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee, said: “Wales is a musical nation and we all take pride in that. But in order for it to survive and thrive as an industry we need to understand the challenges and opportunities facing venues, artists and all those who contribute to the success of the industry.
“The music scene in Wales is full of talent, but for the next generation of Welsh artists to flourish we need to act now to support them and future artists in every way we can.
“Our committee want to hear from all those with a stake in the industry and to hear what can be done to help.”
Guto Brychan, chief executive of Clwb Ifor Bach and Swn, added: “It has been a challenging few years for music in Wales. The closure of a number of prominent grassroots music venues has severely limited the opportunities available for new and emerging artists as well as having a negative impact on the cultural output of many Welsh towns and cities. As such I welcome this decision by the National Assembly’s Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee to examine the issues faced by the sector.
“Wales continues to produce great new artists and the outcomes of this inquiry will lay the foundations to strengthen the infrastructure needed to sustain the industry for the future.”
■ Responses can be sent to seneddcwlc@assembly.wales Consultation is open until June 21.