Tech entrepreneur Terry Marshall, co-founder of Marshall, gifts £100,000 to the Own Our Venues campaign
In a significant boost for the music industry, renowned saxophonist Terry Marshall and his wife have donated £100,000 to the Own Our Venues funding initiative. This contribution comes as part of a broader effort to safeguard the future of grassroots music venues (GMVs) across the UK.
Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Amplification, expressed his appreciation for these venues, stating they played a vital role in his career. He and his wife have a history of attending GMVs and appreciate live music. At the age of 81, Marshall still occasionally performs guest appearances.
The Own Our Venues campaign, launched in 2023, aims to place GMVs into community ownership, protecting them from commercial instability and ensuring affordability and accessibility. So far, the campaign has raised £2.88 million to secure the future of five GMVs. With the latest donation from Terry Marshall and his wife, the campaign has now initiated a new £3 million fundraising campaign to protect an additional seven venues.
The new venues targeted by the campaign include The Joiners (Southampton), Bedford Esquires, The Croft (Bristol), The Sugarmill (Stoke), Peggy's Skylight (Nottingham), The Pipeline (Brighton), and The Lubber Fiend (Newcastle).
Matt Otridge, COO of Music Venue Properties, praised Terry Marshall and his wife's donation, calling it "leadership" and a "deeply personal impact" on the music industry. Terry Marshall emphasised the collective responsibility in the music industry to support grassroots venues with his quote, "With enough support from others in the music industry and fellow artists, Own Our Venues can make that hope a reality. It's up to you."
The campaign has received widespread support from fans, artists, and local communities. Moe Hickman is credited for the photo in the article.
The Own Our Venues initiative is gaining momentum, with key figures like Terry Marshall stepping forward to support the preservation of live music spaces. The overarching aim of the campaign is to provide long-term stability to venues that foster local talent and contribute cultural value to local infrastructure. The campaign seeks to preserve these venues as essential cultural spaces for future generations of musicians and music lovers.
In light of the music industry's resilience, renowned saxophonist Terry Marshall, co-founder of Marshall Amplification, has extended his support by donating £100,000 towards the Own Our Venues campaign, intended to safeguard grassroots music venues (GMVs) across the UK. His contribution, coupled with his wife's, embodies a strong stand for the future of live music spaces, aligning with their personal interest in the entertainment business and dedication to supporting local talent.
