The closure of the O2 Academy Brixton is causing bands to skip the UK on world tours, says the promoter

Bands are missing the UK from their world tours due to the closure of the O2 Academy Brixton, a music promoter has claimed.

Mazin Tappuni, who represents acts including Sam Fender and Lewis Capaldi, said artists had been put off visiting the UK due to the lack of a venue of a suitable size to put on a big show in London.

Mr Tappuni made the comments on the first day of a two-day council licensing hearing at Lambeth Town Hall, which will determine the future of O2 Academy Brixton. The venue has been closed since a fatal crowd crush outside a concert in Asake last December left two dead.

Security worker Gabrielle Hutchinson, 23, and mother-of-two Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, a nursing graduate, died from injuries sustained in the off-site smash. A 21-year-old woman injured during the night remains in a serious condition in the hospital.

Speaking in support of a bid to reopen Academy Music Group (AMG), which operates the venue, Mr Tappuni said artists, managers and promoters had found themselves in an “incredibly challenging” situation since the closure of the O2 Academy Brixton.

He said: “On a tour at this level, artists use their big London show as an (anchor). This show generates the most revenue, meaning profits can cover the costs of smaller regional shows.

“Without this show, what we’re seeing is international artists canceling their UK tours or choosing not to tour here.”

Mr Tappuni added that there was only one other venue in London, the Eventim Apollo (commonly known as the Hammersmith Apollo), which could host a similar number of people to the O2 Academy Brixton.

But he said that since the 4,900-capacity O2 Academy Brixton closed last December, the Eventim Apollo had seen “unprecedented demand” from artists and it was now “almost impossible” to get an on-site meeting.

Mr Tappuni added: “While I understand and acknowledge the tragic events that have taken place, we have never had overcrowding or security issues at our Academy Music Group shows. (They) are among the best at what they do.”

Mr Tappuni was one of eight people, including music industry and night workers, local business representatives and customers who spoke in favor of AMG’s bid to reopen the Brixton venue.

Councilors are also considering another application by the Met Police to withdraw AMG’s license to run the venue entirely, which would see the O2 Academy Brixton close indefinitely.

Philip Kolvin KC, representing AMG, told the hearing that the venue operator had strengthened security and health and safety measures at the O2 Academy Brixton following the fatal incident last December.

A new crowd management company, Showsec, has been brought in to manage venue security, the number of CCTV cameras at the venue has increased as part of the improvements and test events will take place before it reopens properly, said Mr Kolvin KC. .

He said the venue’s doors, which were broken in during the December 2022 incident, had been reinforced to prevent them from being pushed inwards and their handles removed to prevent the doors from being pulled outwards.

Mr Kolvin KC added: “There will be no way to enter this venue without a proper ticket.”