A collaboration between useyourlocal and live music marketplace GigPig has been struck to boost footfall in pubs and bars across the UK.
Michael Forster and Stuart Mills toast their new partnership at The Queen’s Head, Great Whittington
Useyourlocal provides a single source of information for pub-goers looking for information on locals nationwide. Until now, any live music events taking place in those venues needed to be manually added to the website by the operator themselves.
Live music is proven to boost footfall for hospitality venues. The Live Music Index, an industry-first report published in autumn 2023, found that 79% of venues see increases to revenue and footfall when gigs are staged.
“I’m really pleased to partner with useyourlocal because it paves the way for more customers to support their local venues and artists,” said Michael Forster, chief executive of GigPig.
“Venues save time, safe in the knowledge that live gigs booked via our platform will be seen by an engaged and interested audience wanting to support their local. Boosting their footfall at a time when the cost-of-living continues to bite is crucial, and we want to do all we can to support the hospitality sector.
“Often artists live within a ten- to 20-mile radius from gigging venues, so customers are also supporting home-grown talent by heading to live music gigs at their local. That support is hugely important for the music industry and gives professional artists the chance to carve out a great career. This is an exciting collaboration and I can’t wait to see how it develops.”
Stuart Mills, founder of useyourlocal, said: “We know that live music is a massive attraction for customers visiting our website, so this is a hugely positive step forward in making sure that we are driving up footfall for these pubs and bars.
“Our mission has always been to get people to visit their local, more often. We’re delighted that this partnership makes it as seamless as possible for GigPig’s venues to promote their upcoming events to the widest audience possible, and it’s a brilliant bonus for those artists registered on GigPig too.”
