The music industry is all about extremes. While ticket agents can rake in hundreds of pounds per ticket for the biggest pop stars, more than half of the UK’s independent music venues failed to turn a profit in 2025. It’s a dire statistic that understandably has had a knock-on impact on the independent music scene, with 30 venues closing and 6,000 jobs lost across the industry over the course of just one year.
That’s why, over the past few months, The Independent has teamed up with the Music Venue Trust to relaunch the Main Stage programme to highlight the work of the country’s grassroots venues. We’re covering eight venues from across the UK, talking to the people in charge about the importance of these spaces and what they need to stay afloat.
