I've been thinking a lot about how the music industry as a whole really pushes the narrative that talent development is predominantly useful as a funnel onto 'bigger and better things' and arenas/stadiums (cont)

Whilst I get why it needs to be presented that way to committees and that argument does have its utility, it also overlooks a core function of grassroots culture (cont)

Which is that some music will only ever be niche. Some acts will never go beyond 200 cap rooms and yet by continually focusing on the 'grassroots to mainstream' narrative the value, creativity and contributions of those small scenes gets overlooked (cont)

The grassroots community and grassroots music venues are not just pawns to be used on some route to mainstream success. They perform a vital function regardless of whether or not the industry sticks around long enough to see it.

For full transparency @musicvenuetrust has often had to sit in meetings with Government and lean heavily on that narrative but we never do it at the expense of losing the bigger picture. Not all music is made to sell records and grassroots venues understand that better than most.

Anyway that's enough for my Sunday Sermon today. Off to listen to The Weakerthans and marvel at the wondery.