52% of disabled music fans avoid gigs due to lack of accessibility

52% of disabled music fans say they avoid gigs due to a lack of accessibility at venues, a new survey has found. 

Accessibility platform Transreport asked 1,000 people with disabilities in the UK about the primary issues in partaking in live music events – nearly 7 in 10 said that concert venues are "ill-equipped" to accommodate them.

According to respondents, some of the biggest barriers in attending gigs include difficulty getting in and out of venues, overcrowding, and a restricted view of the stage. 

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63% of respondents highlighted the "accessibility tax", which sees disabled patrons often paying more than non-disabled attendees to attend gigs due to higher transport fees, accommodation, and even the ticket fee itself if, for example, venues don't offer complimentary companion tickets or there is a lack of availability of disabled-provision tickets.

Nearly half of those surveyed said they didn't feel welcome at music events due to their disability, with a further 58% claiming that support is "inadequate" for disabled people at shows.

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Around 67% of people surveyed said poor or ill-equipped transport links were a massive hinderance to their ability to attend shows, while 27% said travelling to venues is too difficult to event attempt. 

Kerensa Phelps, a 29-year-old wheelchair user from Swansea, said: “Unfortunately a lot of venues are completely inaccessible. In the past, I’ve had to travel across the country to see a band, despite them playing multiple venues near to home."

"This costs a horrendous amount in travel and accommodation, and took a full day of travel each way," she adds.

Transreport's CEO Jay Shen has criticised "barriers that add stress and uncertainty" to gigs that should be "a joyful, inclusive experience."

“Challenges start right at the booking stage, where arranging support, navigating travel, and finding accessible accommodation often means managing multiple disconnected systems, none of which guarantee that access needs will be met," he continues.

“Access should never be a luxury. With the right infrastructure, partnerships, and intent, we can build experiences that are inclusive by design – from booking, to encore, accommodation, and the journey home.” 

Megan Townsend Is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on Twitter