News | LondonBoris Johnson backs plan for 'night mayor' to oversee capital's nighttime economyNighttime economy: Polly Scattergood performs in 2012 at the now-defunct Madame JoJo's cabaret club in SohoPaul Hudson/Flickr/Creative Commons licence CC BY 2.0Pippa Crerar19 October 2015London could have a “night mayor” as part of a plan to help protect live music venues. The capital has lost 35 per cent of its grassroots haunts since 2007, with names such as the Astoria and Madame Jojo’s closing down. The threat to the remaining venues from rising rents, licensing restrictions, noise complaints and housing development has prompted fears for the long-term future of the UK’s £3.8 billion music industry.Boris Johnson today backed a campaign to save the venues with a plan to create a champion of London’s night-time economy.Gone but not forgotten: London Astoria RexRexThe Amsterdam-style “night mayor” would bring together businesses, residents, local authorities, transport and police to maximise the sector’s potential. Read MoreNew theatre for the Astoria site in Oxford St revampAstoria to be knocked down for CrossrailWatch Boris Johnson sing along with Save Soho campaigners outsideMr Johnson also hopes to boost growth in the sector, worth £600 million in music tourism alone, by creating new venues.He said: “Grassroots music venues have played a key role in enabling some of the biggest names in music to develop as artists and to build audiences.“This timely report will shape our long term action plan to safeguard and revive London’s vital network of live music venues.”MORE ABOUTBoris JohnsonMadame JojoLondon Astoria
