Understanding a music sector facing change
Live music depends on a network of venues, musicians, promoters and audiences. Understanding how they connect helps cities recognise what needs protecting and where support can make a difference.
This research examined Birmingham’s live music sector during a period shaped by Brexit, Covid-19 and technological change. Conducted between February 2020 and April 2021, it combined venue mapping with stakeholder research to explore how national and international pressures were experienced locally.
Mapping the places and people behind live music
The project combined city mapping, interviews, workshops and surveys of musicians and audiences. It identified 195 venues across the Birmingham B-postcode area, spanning dedicated music spaces, pubs, bars, social clubs, churches and outdoor locations.
Pubs, bars and small venues formed almost half of the mapped network. Musicians identified these spaces as important sources of income, while audience responses highlighted an appetite for more live music in pubs and bars. The research also identified venues in northern Birmingham that were less connected to established promotional networks than those in the city centre and southern suburbs.
Alongside the effects of pandemic restrictions, stakeholders reported concerns about Brexit-related costs, administration and access to reliable guidance. Digital platforms were increasingly important for promotion and business activity, creating a need for stronger digital skills while retaining connections with local communities.
Small venues play a significant role
The mapping showed how Birmingham’s live music offer extended into everyday community spaces, supporting opportunities to perform, earn and discover music.
live music venues identified across the Birmingham B-postcode area
broad venue types represented in the mapping
of mapped venues were pubs, bars and small venues
Figures reflect the research period and are not a current venue count. The mapping was not exhaustive, and the audience survey was not representative of Birmingham’s population as a whole.
Giving live music a stronger place in local decisions
The report recommended recognising grassroots venues, pubs and bars as cultural assets within local policy. Planning, licensing, regeneration and environmental decisions all affect their ability to operate, making coordination across these areas important to the health of the wider sector.
It also proposed clearer information hubs and stronger local representation, potentially through a Music Office or night-time leadership role. Assessing how new policies affect venues, their suppliers and audience spending would help decision-makers account for live music’s wider contribution.
Further recommendations included digital skills training, support for less-connected parts of the city and research that reaches a broader range of communities. Together, these provided a basis for more informed local support during recovery and longer-term development.
Research by the Birmingham Live Music Project, involving Aston University, Birmingham City University and Newcastle University. Authored by Patrycja Rozbicka, Adam Behr and Craig Hamilton, with support from the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre.
