The Plight of the Humble Local Music Venue

Another day, another closed music venue. A source of talent that produced music titans in the past, is disappearing. Recently one of my favorites in Cardiff, The Moon closed due to financial difficulties. Other more famous venues such as The Astonia in London and The Roadhouse in Manchester have also ended their journeys. But why? 

The costs of running a hospitality business are through the roof. The rise in the cost of living that has burnt a hole in most of our pockets has done so doubly for music venues, with inflation on their products being particularly steep. The national insurance hike, the tax of alcohol and Covid-19 lockdowns have exacerbated the problem. This makes the cost of the drinks more expensive which further convinces people to stay home and drink, rather than go out. But this is true for all hospitality. Pubs, although struggling, aren't facing an existential situation like music venues are.

The key difference is how young people, who are the fans up for grabs, interact with music. Grass remains relatively untouched by hands under the age of thirty; the music in music venues requires them to leave their houses. If they are going to leave their holes like they do in droves for large artists, they need to already be fans. Unheard of bands who may or may not be their cup of tea is a risk they aren’t willing to take anymore. In the past bands were often discovered live but that normally happens online these days. Which is unfortunate because music discovery online is rubbish. 

Fans are spoon fed corporate chosen artists by streaming platforms. Artists who almost always got there because their mummy and daddy were famous and connected. They produce uninspired and soulless slop. No wonder a large number of the biggest acts today are the same guys from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Back then the musicians had to grind pubs, clubs and festivals to impress in-person audiences week after week to get a chance at the top. Now the chosen artists just need to ask their famous parents for golden opportunities and get so much plastic surgery in their early twenties, they look like ET’s high maintenance cousin. But there might be a solution… 

Bar Band Explorer will be the solution to this problem. An app designed for fans to discover hidden diamonds based purely on talent. Talent will be the primary force that propels artists to success again. Local artists will be able to build their own fan bases, which they can take to local music venues, who will fill up the bar tills and save them from extinction. Building up now to the release late 2026 of the Bar Band Explorer App…