Episode 4: What is the future of the live sector?

This episode was recorded live during a Skiddle webinar on 23rd July 2020.

The live sector has, like almost everything else, been left devastated by the ongoing Coronavirus crisis; venues are closing, people are out of work, businesses are going under.

According to one estimate, 80% of UK music venues are under serious risk of permanent closure and £900m has been wiped from the £1.1bn live sector this year, while the Association of Independent Festivals says that 92% of its members face permanent collapse.

But we are now beginning to emerge from the other side.

The Government has announced the return of indoor and outdoor live events, along with a £1.57 billion rescue package for the nation’s stricken music, arts and culture venues.

But is it enough? Does the government's roadmap to recovery make sense? Are the newly published guidelines realistic?

To help us take stock and answer some of these questions (and plenty more) Skiddle's David Blake is joined by: Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association; John Rostron, the Executive Chair of the Association of Independent Promoters; Alice Woods, DJ, promoter and co founder of Meat Free, Under One Roof and Shake Your Soul, and Tumi Williams, a member of the Cardiff Music Board and a Senior Booking Agent at Bombarda Agency.