What is the future for the live sector?

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 at 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 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 new guidelines realistic for promoters? Are nightclubs being treat unfairly? Where does the industry go from here?

Episode four of Skiddle's new Guest List podcast series (recorded live during a webinar on 23rd July 2020) attempts to tackle all of these questions and plenty more.

Skiddle's David Blake is joined by Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association and the man behind the #LetUsDance campaign; 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.

You can listen to the Guest List podcast below or on Apple, Spotify and TuneIn.