In a remarkable effort to safeguard the future of grassroots music, the beloved Brighton venue The Pipeline is set to transition to community ownership, thanks to a £7 million initiative spearheaded by renowned DJ Fatboy Slim and Manchester’s Mayor Andy Burnham. This initiative, likened to the “National Trust of music venues,” aims to ensure the survival of such crucial cultural spaces amid a challenging economic landscape.
A New Chapter for The Pipeline
Located on Little East Street, The Pipeline is the latest venue to be acquired by Music Venue Properties (MVP), which has been actively purchasing the freeholds of music venues to protect their legacies. With this latest acquisition, The Pipeline joins the ranks as the tenth property under MVP’s stewardship, marking a significant milestone in the campaign to preserve the UK’s live music scene.
Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I love venues like this because they remind me of when I started out, that youthful excitement and feeling about having to perform.” He emphasised the vital role that such venues play in the music industry, asserting, “Rooms like this are where dreams come true or where memories are made, and enormous acts learn their craft.”
The Vision Behind MVP
The MVP initiative operates by raising funds through community investments and shares, allowing them to purchase venues and lease them back to the businesses that manage them. This model provides a sustainable solution for venues that frequently find themselves at the mercy of landlords who may not understand the unique needs of the music community.
Other notable properties in MVP’s portfolio include The Booking Hall in Dover, The Snug in Atherton, and The Joiners in Southampton. The collective has earned a reputation as the largest landlord of dedicated music venues in the UK, a testament to its commitment to preserving the cultural fabric of live music.
Voices of the Community
Thomas Evrenos, the proprietor of The Pipeline since 2017, shared his relief and optimism regarding this new arrangement. “For the future of the venue, this means a lot because having landlords that understand what we are doing and realise that our purpose is to create a place that is good for musicians is super important,” he remarked. Evrenos confessed that without this support, he may have been forced to consider closing the venue.
MVP’s Peter Cornforth echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of live spaces for cultivating talent. “Brighton is a really vibrant place but you need live spaces for people to come and learn their craft,” he noted. The core mission of MVP is to preserve the pivotal role that grassroots venues play, not only for artists but also within their local communities.
The Broader Picture
While the initiative represents a hopeful turn for The Pipeline, the challenges facing grassroots music venues across the UK remain daunting. According to the Music Venue Trust, over half of these venues reported no profit last year, and the sector suffered the closure of 30 live music spaces, resulting in the loss of approximately 6,000 jobs—nearly 20% of the workforce.
However, there is a glimmer of positivity; attendance at grassroots gigs surged by 13%, with 21 million fans flocking to concerts featuring emerging talents. This indicates a strong demand for live music and a vibrant grassroots scene, despite the financial hardships many venues face.
Why it Matters
The transition of The Pipeline to community ownership is not merely a local triumph; it represents a vital step in the broader fight to preserve the UK’s cultural heritage. As venues continue to close at an alarming rate, initiatives like MVP’s offer a lifeline, ensuring that the heart of live music remains beating strong. By investing in these spaces, we are not just saving buildings; we are nurturing the dreams of countless artists and preserving the cultural tapestry that enriches our communities. The future of music depends on the survival of these grassroots venues, and Fatboy Slim’s involvement is a beacon of hope in an increasingly uncertain landscape.
