TicketSwap and GoFundMe launch #LocalLegends campaign to help music venues affected by COVID-19

17 November 2020 - Press release

- The #LocalLegends campaign, launched today, is calling on individuals and businesses across the UK to start campaigns to save their local music venues from the brink of collapse.

- The UK campaign is part of a Europe-wide partnership between TicketSwap, GoFundMe, and Dutch cultural match-making investment company Cosimo, across 14 countries to raise £2m for venues struggling to survive as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

- With income from grassroots music venues falling by 75% since March and six in ten (60%) staff expected to be out of work by Christmas, the campaign calls on people to act now to avoid essential local venues dying out.

Today, TicketSwap, GoFundMe, and cultural investment company Cosimo, announce the start of a first of its kind Europe-wide campaign across 14 countries to help raise over £2m and save at least 250 music venues struggling due to the effects of COVID-19.

In addition to the 250 venues already onboard, the #LocalLegends campaign is calling on individuals and local businesses in the UK to donate to existing GoFundMe campaigns for their local venues, big and small, whether it’s a club, concert hall, jazz joint, or arena, and donate an amount of their choice to help keepbusinesses going during this difficult time. They are also being urged to set up campaigns on behalf of venues in their local area if one does not already exist. The aim is to keep as many music venues as possible going and to give back to the community they are a part of.

Since March, local venues in the UK have been placed in a precarious situation and as winter approaches, coronavirus cases surge, and the UK finds itself back in lockdown, music venues are forced to close once again and, as a result, are in urgent need of financial help. According to a recent Live Music report, the income of grassroots music venues has fallen by 75% since March and 71% of the staff are currently on furlough, with six in ten (60%) of people expected to be out of work by Christmas.

Legendary musician Nile Rodgers comments: “Local venues are the bedrock of our industry. They’re a space for musicians to bring people together, hone their craft, and start building an audience. The UK has such a rich musical heritage and it's vital that these institutions stay in place for the next generation of artists. We must act now”.

The #LocalLegends campaign hopes communities across the country will rally together and help one another by donating what they can to save their local venues and ensure they are still standing this time next year.

Keiron Marshall, Owner of The Sound Lounge music venue explained, ''Local music venues are not just bars or places for bands, they are lifelines to the community. They offer a safe space for people to come in and to feel part of something, they offer training, employment, and events for people to tackle social isolation. We receive government help, but many venues up and down the country slipped through the cracks and need support to survive this crisis."

Chris Carey, Head of International Marketing at TicketSwap and pioneer of this European campaign added, ”2020 has been a very tough time for everyone, and especially for music venues which closed first and will be among the last to reopen. These institutions play a massive role in their communities and those communities will support them if it's made easy. Our pilot in Groningen (Netherlands) saw one venue unlock €11,000 from their patrons within 24 hours of launching. We are confident we will see this success all over Europe as venues set up their pages and launch.”

The campaign targets 14 countries; Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the UK, and is the first Europe-wide campaign of its kind.

The Local Legends campaign is also supported by The Night Time Industry Association (NTIA) and the Association for Electronic Music (AFEM).

 

Venue owners, members of the public and local entertainment businesses can set up a campaign at: https://www.gofundme.com/p/locallegends

Individuals can find existing campaigns for music venues in their local area and donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/local-legends


#LocalLegends