Sony UK Pledges To Support Small Venues; Warner Next?

Sony Music UK has pledged to support the country’s grassroots music venues financially, although details are scarce. 

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The announcement was made at Venues Day 2017, which took place Oct. 17 at the Ministry Of Sound Club in London. A picture of Sony Music UK chairman and CEO Jason Iley was displayed on screen, accompanied by this statement: “Sony is committed to supporting and developing artists from grassroots to festival headliners.

“We recognize the vital role that grassroots music venues play in that journey, providing an essential platform for artists to be able to take their first steps and develop their audiences. These venues are the heart of our music communities, and we support the work of Music Venue Trust to protect, secure and improve them.”

A Pollstar request to Sony has so far been unanswered.

The Music Venue Trust, which hosts Venues Day, argues that grassroots music venues form the music industry’s research and development department – the place where up and coming artists hone the skills required to rock the big stage.

Venues “need to be recognized as such by the companies who reap the rewards of their hard work,” a MVT statement reads.

The organization confirmed to Pollstar that it is in talks with Warner Music UK as well, which is headed by Max Lousada. Pollstar reached out to Warner as well as Universal Music for comment.