For advertising, partnerships and venue hire visit www.outernet.com/b2b
For advertising, partnerships and venue hire visit www.outernet.com/b2b
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan and TfL have joined with music industry and media leaders including the Music Venue Trust, Featured Artist Coalition, Outernet, the Metro and Universal Music to shine a spotlight on London’s fantastic music venues and artists and the significant impact they have on the capital. London’s 179 grassroots music venues play a vital role in the capital’s music scene, growing the next generation of talent, boosting the capital’s economy and nightlife. In the last year, the venues have welcomed more than 4.2m audience members, hosted performances by more than 328,000 artists, employed nearly 7,000 people and contributed £313m to the economy.
Some of the world’s leading artists have performed in grassroots music venues over the years, with seven of the top 10 biggest selling albums from last year from artists who have made their name and built their fanbase in the capital’s venues. That includes Chappell Roan who performed at the Garage, Charli XCX who performed in a number of east London clubs, Coldplay who performed at The Dublin Castle, and Noah Kahan who performed at The Social.
The London Creates music campaign includes the first ever special Grassroots Music Tube Map celebrating all aspects of the capital’s music scene and connecting Londoners and visitors with its grassroots gigs. Transport for London (TfL) has reimagined the iconic Tube map with a brand-new black background and lines turned into electric cables and named after key parts of the industry.
The map will be screened for a month at Outernet London. The interactive display of the map will be shown in the Now Arcade space, which links the HERE nightclub to The Lower Third grassroots music venue on Denmark Street.
The map, which is part of TfL’s 25th anniversary celebrations, features:
The Bakerloo line as songs
The Central line as genres
The District line as 25 artists to see in 2025
The Jubilee line as albums
The Metropolitan line as independent record labels
The Northern line as iconic artists
The Piccadilly line as contemporary artists
The Victoria line as subcultures
25 grassroots venues
25 nightclubs
25 record shops
Philip O'Ferrall, CEO Outernet said:
"Music has always been central to Outernet with Denmark Street part of the district and two new music venues . Anyone who loves live music knows that grass roots venues are the life blood of the industry so they must be protected and nurtured. The map is a brilliant illustration of what we have in London and we must never lose that.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“London’s grassroots music scene is renowned around the world. From providing opportunities for talented aspiring artists to develop their trade, to giving Londoners a great night out, our venues are an essential part of our life at night and provide a huge boost to our economy. However, they have faced huge challenges in recent years, which is why we’re joining with partners across the capital to champion all parts of London’s grassroots music scene. This special edition Tube map is a great way to highlight what a huge impact the scene has on our capital, as we continue to do all we can to support venues and build a more prosperous London for everyone.”
Adem Holness, Head of Music at SXSW London, said:
“London’s grassroots music venues and promoters often feel like our best-kept secret. These are the places for genre-defying artists before they become international, and where communities create new music scenes. When we started crafting SXSW London, we knew we needed grassroots promoters and collectives to help us present the boldest new music cultures globally. As a Londoner, I’m super proud to see the iconic status of grassroots music culture celebrated as a reminder that some of London’s best bits come to life after dark. Love seeing London uniting to champion the capital’s grassroots music scene.”
Ruby Horton, Venue Manager of 100 Club, said:
"Music has always been an integral part of London's nightlife, and the city's music scene is considered one of the best in the world. This success owes much to grassroots music venues, which provide artists with their first opportunity to perform in front of an audience. These spaces allow artists to hone their craft, make mistakes, and grow. By taking the risk of nurturing talent before it moves on to larger venues, grassroots venues play a key role in the development of the music scene. They are also places where people gather, form lasting friendships, and build broad communities around a shared love of music. For these reasons, these spaces must be protected and supported before it’s too late. This map acknowledges their importance and serves as a reminder to preserve them."