You may not immediately make the connection between local music and tourism, however, if you look closely at the most successful live music venues in Liverpool, then it becomes very clear. Tourism, especially from Beatles fans and football fans, has a massive impact on businesses in the city and this includes live music venues. So how does tourism affect live music in Liverpool?
Why Should Local Musicians Care About Tourism in Liverpool?
The fact is, tourists bring in an awful lot of money to the city, which extends to artists and venues. In 2024, it is estimated that tourism will bring in approximately £5 billion pounds to the city’s economy, surpassing the amount in 2019 (pre pandemic) at £4.8 billion. Last year, Eurovision alone brought £55 million into the city and its success has even spurred on the revival of Mathew St Festival, which will be held at the Pier Head this summer.
It’s not surprising that a lot of this money is spent in bars, live music venues and festivals. If Liverpool only relied on local music fans, without this boost from tourism, a lot of venues and events organisers simply wouldn't survive and many artists would struggle to find work.
What Kinds of Tourists Benefit the Live Music Scene?
People visit Liverpool for a number of different reasons, including many that have a direct impact on venues and artists.
This probably won’t be a shock to anyone who has ever been on a night out in the city centre, but Liverpool is Europe’s second biggest hotspot for Hen and Stag dos. This brings a lot of footfall to including live music venues and bars that host acoustic musicians. Football fans heading to bars with live music also isn’t an unusual sight after a match, especially if Liverpool FC are playing.
Arguably one of the biggest reasons that people visit the city is The Beatles. Visiting their home town is almost like a pilgrimage for many fans, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the band brings in around £120 million into Liverpool every year. Places such as The Cavern Club, which hosts live music all day, wouldn't have nearly as much popularity, and perhaps would have never been rebuilt in the 1980s after it was filled in in the early 1970s, if it wasn't for The Fab Four. Even venues such as The Jacaranda on Slater St use their historical connection to The Beatles to promote their venue, even though they don’t host many tribute acts. There are also many bars that host live music that have no historical connection to The Beatles that have named themselves after songs, albums and members in order to attract tourists, including Rubber Soul, Harrison’s and Sgt Pepper’s bar.
The Downsides of Over-reliance on Tourism
Unfortunately, relying on tourism isn’t always very reliable. This was especially seen during the pandemic, with many venues still struggling to recuperate their losses to this day.
Another downside to pandering to tourists is that many venues prefer covers to original acts. This can especially be seen in venues that mainly cater to tourists who are in Liverpool mainly to have a simple night out (e.g. hen and stag dos) and venues that rely on Beatles fans. The reality is, if the target audience would rather sing along to known hits, such as The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ or Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, then original songs unfortunately aren't going to be prioritised.
Conclusion: How Does Tourism Affect Live Music in Liverpool?
It’s clear that tourism’s impact on live music should not be ignored, and artists and venues alike can benefit from understanding both its benefits and downsides.
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As a tour company and as musicians, Liverpool Cycle Tours Ltd actively promotes venues with origonal music such as Outpost Liverpool Guac 'n' Roll Vegan Kitchen Kazimier Stockroom The Jacaranda Club and of course the Cavern Pub on a Monday and even last week we brought along a group from Germany to hear original live music so there is a market for a city centre venue that doesn't just do covers