Exclusive: UB40's emotional plea to save Birmingham's venues, musicians, and night-time economy

UB40’s Robin Campbell has spoken at Birmingham’s night-time economy summit, a major industry event in the city, where concerns have been raised over the future of the city’s nightlife and live music scene.

Speaking exclusively to BirminghamWorld, he said the “circuit had been decimated”.

The Night Time Economy Summit has brought together industry leaders at Hockley Social Club, including UB40, to discuss the challenges facing venues, musicians, and nightlife businesses.

While the event highlights the sector’s importance, organisers say more support is needed to secure its future.

The summit showcases Birmingham's role in the night-time economy, but for many, it also highlights the challenges facing venues and live music spaces.

The decline of grassroots venues has been ongoing, with COVID only making things worse. Many in the industry believe councils and government must step in to prevent further closures.

Support for nightlife isn't just about saving venues. From artists and promoters to hospitality staff and suppliers, the sector plays a vital role in local economies, cultural life, and communities.

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With live music and nightlife contributing significantly to the local economy, industry leaders - including UB40 - say urgent action is needed.

The summit has put the spotlight on venue closures, funding concerns, and the role of local authorities in shaping the future of the sector.

Lyle Bignon, Night Time Economy Ambassador, says: “We're hosting over 2000 delegates here at the night time economy Summit, which is an incredible moment for Birmingham in the West Midlands.

“We're welcoming visitors from over 20 countries. We've got 265 speakers, most importantly, for the next 48 hours, the eyes of the NTA industry in the UK and Europe are on Birmingham, the West Midlands. So it's an incredible moment as a shop window to show off what we've got, but also to facilitate and enable conversations.”

Robin Campbell added: “Compared to when we started, you know that the circuit has been decimated. You know, I mean, COVID didn't help, but before that it was, it was going downhill anyway, you know, it's the whole, the whole industry has changed, and you know that way of promoting yourself has disappeared.

“Government, councils need to support the venues. They need to support and help those venues survive. You know, there was no help during COVID and so many independent places went down, went under because there was no help. You know, you need help.”

Lyle added: “It isn't just the bricks and mortar of clubs and venues. There is a whole supply chain and a whole set of cultural commissioning and artistic excellence that forms part of the night time economy. So we need to treat it with the important significance and contribution to our society that it provides.”

The Night Time Economy Summit 2025 was held in Birmingham at Hockley Social Club from Wednesday, February 5, to Thursday, February 6, 2025.