New London Creates music campaign brings together industry leaders from across the capital to champion all aspects of London’s grassroots music scene
London, a city renowned for its vibrant and diverse music culture, is taking significant steps to support and celebrate its grassroots music scene. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched a city-wide campaign, “London Creates MUSIC,” aimed at championing the capital’s world-class grassroots music venues and artists. This initiative has garnered widespread support from key players in the music industry and media, including the Music Venue Trust, Featured Artist Coalition, Outernet, the Metro, and Universal Music.
The campaign’s primary goal is to highlight the crucial role that London’s 179 grassroots music venues play in nurturing emerging talent, boosting the economy, and enlivening the city’s nightlife. In the past year alone, these venues have welcomed over 4.2 million audience members, hosted performances by more than 328,000 artists, employed nearly 7,000 people, and contributed £313 million to the economy. These venues are not just stages for up-and-coming artists but are also cultural hubs where communities come together to experience live music.
Some of the world’s most celebrated artists have honed their skills in London’s grassroots venues. Notable examples include Chappell Roan at the Garage, Charli XCX in various east London clubs, Coldplay at The Dublin Castle, and Noah Kahan at The Social. These venues offer a unique opportunity to experience a diverse range of talent before they achieve mainstream success, all for an average ticket price of £11.
However, these vital venues have faced numerous challenges in recent years, exacerbated by the long-lasting effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. To address these issues and champion London’s position as a global music capital, City Hall has united leaders from across the city’s music industry.
A standout feature of the campaign is the first-ever special Grassroots Music Tube Map, which celebrates all aspects of London’s music scene. Transport for London (TfL) has reimagined the iconic Tube map with a new black background and lines transformed into electric cables, named after key elements of the music industry.
The map includes:
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
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s grassroots music scene is renowned globally. From providing opportunities for aspiring artists to giving Londoners a great night out, our venues are an essential part of our nightlife and a significant boost to our economy. However, they have faced immense challenges in recent years, which is why we’re joining with partners to champion all parts of London’s grassroots music scene. This special edition Tube map is a fantastic way to highlight the scene’s impact on our capital, as we continue to support venues and build a more prosperous London for everyone.”
Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, said: “It might only be a short distance from the Cart and Horses pub in Stratford, where Iron Maiden first started out, to the London Stadium where we’re playing in June, but it’s been a 50-year journey. London’s diverse music scene and its grassroots venues are essential to nurture and support new artists, bringing music fans together and creating lifelong passions and memories. We need to cherish it, celebrate it, and protect it.
