Michael Kiwanuka has expressed his concerns about the financial burdens of touring, which he believes could dissuade new musicians from performing live. In a recent interview with Music Week, Kiwanuka discussed the significant strain that rising costs have placed on artists, including his own experiences during the summer festival season.
He stated, "I just finished festival season and I could feel the hole it made in my pocket. For artists that make music that has a human touch to it, you need to tour to connect with people." These sentiments were echoed by a report from PIRATE, which noted that 88% of artists have recognized an increase in touring expenses over recent years, with 72% not making any profit from touring.
Kiwanuka highlighted that the high costs could particularly hinder emerging artists from gaining essential live experience and connecting with new fans. His worries align with comments from band members of Blur and members of Easy Life, who have faced similar challenges with the financial viability of touring.
Additionally, Kiwanuka mentioned his aspirations to revisit his own record label, Movement, to support new talent after the release of his forthcoming album 'Small Changes', set to drop on November 15 via Geffen Records.
The topic of the grueling touring landscape is gaining traction. Featured Artists Coalition's CEO, David Martin, previously emphasized the detrimental impact of vanishing grassroots venues on UK talent. A recent report disclosed the alarming rate of venue closures, emphasizing the need to address these systemic issues that stifle the growth of both emerging artists and new audiences in the live music scene.