Recently defenestrated Co-op Live GM Gary Roden has found an unlikely supporter in the shape of Music Venue Trust (MVT) CEO and founder Mark Davyd, who has stated “I don’t think he should have had to resign.”
The MVT, which represents the grass roots live music industry, and Co-op Live bosses have been at loggerheads recently over proposals for a £1 levy on arena mega-shows, which would be invested in supporting independent venues.
The MVT maintains that a levy would ensure the survival of grass roots music venues, and with it the street-level pipeline for acts that will one day fill venues such as Co-op Live.
In a controversial BBC interview, however, Roden suggested that the reason independent music venues are currently closing at a rate of two a week, according to the MVT’s figures, is because many are “poorly run.”
These comments, along with what some may argue was Roden’s own “poorly run” Co-op Live postponing its opening, twice so far, led to the GM’s resignation last week.
Jessica Koravos, president of international at Oak View Group (OVG), which operates the venue, said following Roden’s departure that “neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live general manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry.”
In a lengthy post on Facebook, MVT chief Davyd was perhaps surprisingly supportive of Roden, writing: “I’m sorry Gary Roden resigned because I was genuinely hopeful that what I know about him from his professional history would a) deliver a great new venue for Manchester and b) eventually cut through and get over the negativity that his employers have brought to the whole debate about the need for arenas and stadiums to support the grassroots.”
Davyd conceded that “half the people who follow me on Facebook are waiting for me to say something cutting, biting and vindictive,” but they were likely to be disappointed.
Addressing Roden’s comments about small venues, he wrote: “He said what he said and I didn’t like it and did not hold back from saying that. Nor did a huge number of music fans who were rightly offended by the statements. However, I don’t think he should have had to resign over that, and suspect quite strongly that in reality he did not, despite the tone of the announcement.”
For Davyd, despite Koravos’s statement distancing OVG from Roden’s opinions on the matter, the dismissive outlook on independent venues appears to come from above: “The specific issue with Coop Live Arena and its negative approach to the need for financial support for the grassroots sector did not start with Gary, he simply gave voice to it in a public forum,” he said. “The impression is being given that his comments were made in isolation; the reality is that in our experience so far it would be fairer to say they expressed the ethos of the arena owners, Oakview Group.
“Their statement on his departure says they intend to have constructive conversations with grassroots organisations once the arena is fully operational. As I’ve always done in our dealings with them, I’ll take that at face value while noting that, whether they will enjoy the experience or not, Music Venue Trust is the grassroots organisation they would need to talk to if they genuinely want to play a positive and constructive role in supporting grassroots music venues.”
Davyd seemed optimistic about the possibility of building a positive relationship with Roden’s replacement Rebecca Kane Burton, the former head of the O2 Arena in London who steps in as Co-op Live’s interim general manager.
“Gary’s replacement comes to Coop Live with a history of working at the O2, an arena, and operating company, with a markedly different approach to these discussions and their relationship with MVT,” Davyd said. “Let’s hope that this new General Manager brings a new and positive attitude, and understanding, with them.”
The MVT chief went on to wish Roden well in his future endeavours – something he added he had also done regarding the imminent arena opening last time he saw the then-still-employed arena GM, and extended the same positive wishes to Kane Burton.
Closing in a similarly civil manner, Davyd added: “We are not now, nor have we ever been, the enemies. It’s not us versus arenas. It’s everyone together in one big ecosystem. We are simply asking that this is acknowledged, respected, and acted upon.”
Co-op Live’s ‘opening’ show featuring Peter Kay, originally scheduled for April 23 is now due to take place on May 23, although as the Bolton comic has cheekily pointed out on social media his opening extravaganza will in fact now be the ninth show to take place in the new venue.
Manchester favourites Take That and Elbow, Filipina-American pop rocker Olivia Rodrigo, crooner Barry Manilow and rock duo The Black Keys (who should have performed last week) are among the acts who will now grace the Co-Op Live stage ahead of Kay’s ‘opening’ show, assuming all goes according to the latest plan.
