Friday Figures - 11 Feb

Writing for the Guardian, Rhian Jones asks: “With the cost of living reaching its highest level in almost 30 years in December, when inflation jumped to 5.4%, while average wages have dropped, is there a risk of live music becoming elitist?” Whilst the full answer may not be as straightforward, alongside inflation, the pandemic has exacerbated financial situations with working class and lower income families hit hardest, which has an inevitable knock-on effect on disposable income. And given that the increase in cost of living isn’t unique to the UK, global trends will no doubt have similar impact. In the live music scene, irrespective of larger shows or smaller gigs, this is something to be mindful of.

Read the full article here.