Study shows venue shortage is stopping young musicians before they start

A new study suggests that the lack of small venues is actively discouraging young people from pursuing music. The survey, conducted by One Poll, questioned 1,500 people aged 18 to 25 and found that 54% have wanted to play music in some form, whether in a band, solo or as a DJ. But 28% of that group said they have either given up or scaled back those ambitions because there are no suitable venues near where they live.

Another 22% said performing live simply “feels unrealistic” in their area. Those figures don’t account for the people who never even started because the path seemed blocked from the beginning. The problem is not just about lost gigs. It’s about lost scenes, lost communities and lost development. Without small spaces to fail, learn and grow, the pipeline that produces artists like The Smiths or Amy Winehouse starts to dry up.

The numbers back up what many have been saying for years. Grassroots venues have been closing at an alarming rate across the UK, squeezed by rising rents, licensing issues and changing cultural habits. This study gives a human scale to that loss. It’s not just a business problem. It’s a cultural one that affects who gets to make music at all.