mccartney pink floyd join campaign
Thursday 12 June 2025
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

To Save UK Music Venues

McCartney, Pink Floyd join campaign

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleMcCartney, Pink Floyd join campaign

Beatles star Paul McCartney.
New York - Muslimchronicle

Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and folk singer Billy Bragg were among artists and politicians campaigning outside Britain's parliament on Wednesday to save the country's live music venues.

Around 35 percent of Britain's live music venues have shut over the last decade, buffeted by gentrification, high rents and the changing music industry.

"You need that bottom rung of the ladder for any band or artist that wants to work live," Mason told AFP, as he backed a parliamentary bill to try to arrest the decline.

"The best of the bands actually learned their trade playing small venues. You learn everything, technical things, stagecraft and you learn to interact with the audience."

Beatles star Paul McCartney has also thrown his weight behind the bill, saying in a statement that "if we don't support music at this level, then the future of music in general is in danger."

More than half of London's 430 live venues have closed since 2007.

The bill, proposed Wednesday by Labour MP John Spellar, would protect music venues from conflicts with local residents in new housing developments, one of the key issues threatening venues.

"It's really important for the music industry, which is a big industry, and it's part of Britain's cultural offer to the world," Spellar told AFP, adding the bill had cross-party support.

"There's going to be quite a lot of pressure on government ministers to say 'let's do something popular for once'," he added.

"Live music venues make an area attractive, they are part of the vibrancy. I want to maintain that vibrancy."

Punk singer Feargal Sharkey and 1967 Eurovision winner Sandie Shaw were among the crowd of around 100 who gathered outside parliament, some of whom were waving placards reading "grass roots venues" and "#SaveLiveMusic".

Britain's music industry is worth £4 billion ($5.4 billion, 4.5 billion euros) per year, but artists fear that the dwindling number of live venues will starve aspiring rockers of vital opportunities and experience.

"If you are a musician these days the chances of making a living and making records is very slim, it's very difficult," singer and activist Bragg told AFP.

"There's loads and loads of very good musicians out there who are trying to find some space in a hostile environment.

"I cut my teeth at a place called the Tunnel... in east London," he added. "I learned how to be Billy Bragg."

The demonstration was organised by music industry lobby group UK Music, whose chief executive Michael Dugher demanded that the government "get behind the legislation and help save the venues".

Iconic venues to shut in recent years include London's Astoria, the Cockpit in Leeds and Sheffield's Boardwalk.

Source: AFP

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

GMT 07:22 2018 Sunday ,21 January

Kim and Kanye name third child

GMT 09:34 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Over daughter's molestation claims

GMT 09:18 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Prolific film legend stained by scandal

GMT 05:56 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Kim Kardashian announces birth of third child

GMT 05:53 2018 Thursday ,18 January

Ellen Pompeo to continue 'Grey's Anatomy'
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

mccartney pink floyd join campaign mccartney pink floyd join campaign

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 08:28 2018 Saturday ,20 January

Egypt's President Sisi says will stand for re-election

GMT 05:58 2017 Saturday ,25 February

US new home sales rise in January

GMT 08:50 2016 Tuesday ,22 November

Withdraws controversial conviction bill

GMT 07:10 2018 Tuesday ,16 January

Hall of Famer Rodman arrested

GMT 11:50 2011 Saturday ,04 June

Baby girl killed in car crash on Palm Island

GMT 07:34 2018 Sunday ,07 January

Spain king pays homage to father Juan Carlos

GMT 14:20 2016 Thursday ,22 September

At the International Literature Berlin

GMT 22:03 2017 Thursday ,13 July

Ayman Zabib sad for his mother’s death

GMT 09:50 2017 Thursday ,02 November

A mixed picture for US cars sales

GMT 04:57 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Trump again insists 'no collusion' with Russia

GMT 15:25 2013 Monday ,15 April

Army bases in Damascus become prisons

GMT 18:00 2013 Monday ,03 June

New French school in Doha

GMT 16:50 2017 Sunday ,23 April

Tunisian gangs store quantities of expired food

GMT 14:06 2016 Tuesday ,11 October

Russia ready to join OPEC crude production curbs

GMT 15:47 2011 Wednesday ,03 August

Striking Chinese taxi drivers back at work
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle