Data from live music marketplace GigPig, which provides artists with a platform to find gigs, showed that weekly bookings rose during the two-week period over Christmas and New Years (w/c 18 and w/c 25 December 2023).
London was the standout city, with a 52% increase on average gig numbers when compared to the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, Newcastle saw a 47% increase, Birmingham a 22% rise and Manchester a 14% uplift.
GigPig co-founder Kit Muir-Rogers said: “The festive season is notoriously the busiest time for venues and artists but the last few years have been hampered by world events.
“That’s why it’s great to see a resurgence this time around. Coupled with the news that venues and artists want to do more in the seed music industry in 2024, it’s an optimistic footing to start the year.”
Press play
This comes as the Live Music Index, a survey of more than 500 venues and 1,000 artists conducted in conjunction with CGA Nielson, has highlighted that there is an appetite for growth in the ‘seed’ music industry this year.
A total of 87% of venues plan to increase their music offering in 2024, while nine in 10 artists expect to gig more often in hospitality premises in the year ahead.
Meanwhile, analysis showed an estimated 33% sales uplift and 36% footfall rise when artists and DJs gig.
Muir-Rogers added: “Undoubtedly there is still a nervousness about cost pressures for many and some will feel a post-Christmas slump.
“My plea is for customers to support the hospitality and music industry throughout the year by visiting venues where artists are on stage in their local venues as much as possible."
Call for support
He added: “By making every venue a stage we will keep our cities and towns alive.”
Furthermore, around half of venues said they host live music to support local gigging artists, who are making a good living – around £24,948 on average – through their gigging careers.
Artists however have called for more support on logistics to ensure they have a successful year ahead.
Top of the list is changes to sound quality and associated technology in venues, followed by request for venues to better organise their live music offer.
