Despite the petition signed by over 50,000 people, including signatures from major record labels and famous DJs, the iconic, London-based nightclub Fabric has been forced to indefinitely shut their doors.
The club has shut down while a council reviewed and an internal review of the club’s security structure was launched.
This venue was on the forefront of the dance music scene in the United Kingdom and was a staple for the city’s nightlife. Many supporters of the petition felt that the closure of the venue is a short-term fix to an even more complex drug and alcohol issue and is just a platform for real estate developers to push shutting these spaces down for their property value.
Fabric is one of many nightclubs/music venues that have suffered from tighter government regulations and legislations which potentially threaten the music industry and nightlife economy.
However, London’s new mayor, Sadiq Khan, is vowing to protect the cities’ clubs and music/theater venues with a new plan. If enacted, the plan will force developers to assume the cost of soundproofing new properties and building developments, rather than having the venue owners take on this expense. Here’s Khan’s full statement on this agent of change principle.
“I intend to protect venues like the Curzon Mayfair by introducing an ‘Agent Of Change’ rule into the next London Plan. Developers would be responsible for ensuring their new developments don’t threaten the future of existing venues.
That would mean developers building flats near existing venues will need to ensure that residents are not unduly affected by sound from the venue, and that may include paying for soundproofing.
I’m very pleased to hear that Westminster Council included this principle when the planning application was first submitted in 2013, and are taking the necessary steps to protect a cinema which makes a significant contribution to the character of the area and is a real cultural gem.”
In fact, Fabric’s petition creator and resident DJ, Jacob Hansen, urged the city of London to come together alongside with Khan to protect the establishment as well as the many others facing similar challenges.
“Let’s ask them to back Fabric’s future and the rest of our city’s clubs as icons of London’s incredible music scene and pledge to work together with him to make our clubs safer while also protecting our night time economy.”
This problem has been felt across the world, with threats on major music venues such as Hugos Lounge in Sydney, Ministry of Sound in London and Liverpool’s The Kazimier.
Major issues like rising tax levies, licensing issues, noise complaints, as well as drug/alcohol-related incidences have forced many cities to develop ways to combat these potential threats. Some examples are scene through the forming of alliances and groups that work toward protecting nightlife, music and theater of the arts. London has implemented a Night Time Commission, while Amsterdam and Berlin have both benefited from having people in advocacy roles who provide a bridge between the nightlife business community and local government.
What many government officials fail to realize is the significance of supplemental revenue that nightclubs and venues bring in, such as hotel stays, dining out, parking/transportation and additional entertainment experiences. Nightlife stimulates local economy and has a direct impact on businesses in the surrounding area!
What kind of regulations would you like to see implemented to ensure the future of these music venues?
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