Music Venue Trust launches The Last Safe Space, A New Podcast for Grassroots Music Venues

Music Venue Trust has announced the launch of its brand new podcast, The Last Safe Space.

Hosted by MVT CEO Mark Davyd and Campaigns and Communications Manager Toni Coe, the podcast features weekly episodes, providing a straight-talking, data-driven round-up of the biggest issues affecting the grassroots ecosystem. The Last Safe Space is designed to ensure that venues, artists and audiences are kept up to date with the stories that matter most.

For privacy reasons YouTube needs your permission to be loaded.

The first episode of the podcast, titled Licensing Breakthrough, is now available to watch. The episode explores a range of updates, including:

  • The UK Government’s acceptance of the majority of Licensing Taskforce recommendations, a major milestone in protecting Grassroots Music Venues
  • Manchester City Council’s pioneering £250,000 funding blueprint for local venues
  • MPs discussing and advocating for Grassroots Music in Parliament
  • Updates from MVT’s regional meetings in Frome and Edinburgh
  • The latest news from the Own Our Venues campaign, crisis interventions and new partnerships

New episodes of The Last Safe Space are released every Friday, debuting first on YouTube and then Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and other major podcasting platforms, allowing listeners to tune in on their preferred platform.

The launch of this podcast comes at a critical time for Grassroots Music Venues in the United Kingdom. MVT’s 2024 Annual Report found that Grassroots Music Venues operate on an average profit margin of just 0.48%, with 43.8% of venues reporting a loss in the previous 12 months. By providing timely news and practical insights, The Last Safe Space aims to strengthen the network’s resilience and rally wider community support.

Mark Davyd, CEO, MVT

Mark Davyd, CEO, MVT
“The Last Safe Space is designed to put the facts straight into the hands of the people who need them most, the venues, artists, and communities who keep grassroots music alive. There’s so much noise out there, but very little of it is focused on the real day-to-day challenges our network faces. This podcast gives us a platform to tell it like it is, share victories, highlight risks, and make sure everyone knows how they can take action.”

 

Toni Coe, CCM, MVT

Toni Coe, CCM, MVT
“We want this to feel like a conversation inside the movement – honest, practical, and connected to what’s happening on the ground. If you care about live music, this is the podcast for you.”