01.04.2022: UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin has called on industry leaders and council chiefs to join forces to save the legendary Leadmill venue from closure.
Landlords have served the iconic Sheffield music venue, which opened in 1980, with an eviction notice to quit the building. The venue has hosted artists including Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Stone Roses, and Pulp and given many acts their first big break.
The venue’s operators said on The Leadmill’s website that they have been told to vacate the building next year in what would be a devastating blow for music fans and the music industry’s talent pipeline.
UK Music Chief Executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin urged Sheffield City Council to work with the venue, business leaders, the Sheffield City Region Music Board, the local community and music fans to save the award-winning venue.
He called on Sheffield City Council to give The Leadmill Asset of Community Value status to help lift the immediate threat of closure as part of process to ensuring the venue’s long-term future.
UK Music figures show that Sheffield and its city region generated £100 million pre-pandemic through music tourism at live events, gigs and festivals. A total of 832,000 visitors come each year come to South Yorkshire for gigs.
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin said:
“The Leadmill is an irreplaceable part of the cultural fabric of Sheffield and the whole UK music scene. It has nurtured some of our world-leading acts and been at the heart of the city’s musical life for decades. It cannot be allowed to close.
“UK Music is calling on Sheffield City Council to grant the venue Asset of Community Value status as an important first move to help prevent its closure.
“We also want local business leaders who benefit from the trade that The Leadmill brings to the city to work with the local community, music fans and the council to safeguard this jewel in the crown of our music scene.
“We will be supporting the work of the Music Venue Trust, which is already fighting to save this vital national asset.
“Losing The Leadmill would be a devastating blow to Sheffield and to the whole music industry – we must fight to save it.”
UK Music played a leading role in helping set up the Sheffield City Region Music Board in 2018. The Board represents artists, music venues, music hubs, representatives from festivals, local authorities and more in South Yorkshire. It champions music makers, music lovers and the music industry to support talent and grow the region’s economy.
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