• Spending by tourists at music events in the Liverpool City Region delivered a £98 milion boost to local economy in 2016
• A total of 937,000 people including 396,000 domestic tourists enjoyed live music events in Liverpool City Region in 2016

Chief executive Michael Dugher visits Liverpool today (Tuesday November 7) . The visit comes as UK Music publishes new figures this morning revealing the huge contribution of live music events to the Liverpool City Region’s economy.

Mr Dugher will meet Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to talk about the music industry in the region and UK Music’s campaign to enshrine “Agent of Change” in law to protect music venues.

He will also visit the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and St Helens North MP Conor McGinn, who is the secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Music Group.

UK Music is in Liverpoool to promote its campaign to get “Agent of Change” enshrined in UK law.  The proposal would mean that the developer of any new scheme would have to take account of its impact on pre-existing businesses – like music venues – before going with its plans.

That could mean, for example, the developer of new flats could be asked to pay for soundproofing at an existing music venue to avoid the risk of the new neighbours complaining about noise from the venue.

UK Music’s key findings on the live music industry in the Liverpool City Region (the area overseen by Liverpool City Council, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Halton Borough Council, St Helens Metropolitan Council, Sefton Metrpolitan Council and Wirral Metropolitan Council) are below:

LIVE MUSIC IN THE LIVERPOOL CITY REGION : UK MUSIC’S KEY FINDINGS FOR 2016

• Total attendance: 937,000
• Live Music attendance: Local people 520,000; UK tourists: 396,000; overseas tourists 20,000
• Direct music tourism spending: £98 million

Live events:

• 237,000 people attended festivals in the Liverpool City Region in 2016. Box office takings from these events were £23.2 million
• 446,000 people attended concerts in the Liverpool City Region in 2016. Box office takings from these events were £22 million
• 155,000 people attended events at grassroots venues (capacity under 1,500). Box office takings from these events were £3.2m

Among the venues that have closed in the region in the past few years are the Kazimier, the Masque, Mellomello and The Lantern.

UK Music is working with the Music Venue Trust to keep venues across the region open with their #Fightback campaign.

UK Music Chief Executive Michael Dugher said:

“Merseyside has a thriving music scene and UK Music is determined to keep it that way. It has been a breeding ground for fantastic talent ranging from the Beatles to Circa Waves and Echo and the Bunnymen.

“Sadly, some iconic venues in the region that are a vital part of the music business ecosystem have closed in recent years and that has to change.

“We are battling to help safeguard the future of the venues that are the lifeblood of the region’s cultural scene.  Small and grassroots venues are vital to give artists starting out on their careers a break.

“We will be pressing the Government to enshrine our plans for Agent of Change in law to help protect venues against the many challenges they face, including soaring rent and rate increases as well as licensing changes.

“It’s great that Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram is so willing to engage with UK Music and listen to our concerns and recognise the huge contribution that the industry makes to the regional economy.  We are looking forward to working closely with him in the coming months.”