COMMENT: Save the Alley

The campaign to save London’s musical epicentre Denmark Street, better known as Tin Pan Alley, struggles on, and it is a struggle that affects all those who make a living out of MI….

Two years ago, London’s Tin Pan Alley, or Denmark Street as it’s more commonly known, received one of those blue plaques they put on UK buildings of historical significance. Usually they signify that someone important or significant lived there at some point. More often than not it’s a writer or a scientist. Occasionally a musician. 

But the point is that the plaque only arrives when they’re not there anymore. They are history. Hence the plaques. 

Hopefully, it won’t be the only remaining evidence that it was once the very epicentre of London’s, the UK’s and indeed the World’s music scene. But, unless there’s some significant change in policy it looks like it will itself become history. But it’s not going without a fight.

The ongoing campaign to save the street from redevelopment has been bravely fought, not least of all by its chief protagonist Henry Scott-Irvine, but it has always been on the back foot. Understandably, it is difficult to make progress when all the planning applications are approved and the legal weight is behind the developers. That does tend to stack the deck somewhat. 

But it has raised a huge amount of awareness, reminding us of both the area’s cultural legacy and the ongoing battle with developers who, because of the campaign, have promised to retain the street’s musical heritage. The reality is, however, that it’s mere lip service and dealers will be simply unable to survive in an area likely to command significant rents. So, the developers can tell the world they want music to stay in Denmark Street, but shrug when those rents become too burdensome for those shops to remain.

The campaign has had the support of some notable bodies including The Musician’s Union, UK Music, Music Heritage UK and Reclaim London, as well as an array of musician’s wistfully recalling their early days recording, writing or simply buying gear (or even musical equipment) on the street. Missing from the list of supporters on the campaign website is the Music Industries Association, which you would have thought would be somewhat closer to the campaign than any of the other bodies. But very little, if any, support has been forthcoming from the UK MI market’s trade body. Which is a shame.

The campaign is not over, of course, and I’m sure Henry Scott-Irvine will continue to scrap until the very end. He is attempting to organise a band with 17,000 guitarists in it to put the spotlight on the street and increase public support. At the very least it will provide a hell of a send-off, but let’s hope it can instead be the catalyst for a stay of execution. If you know some properly famous guitarists or other musicians try and enlist their help. 

Music and the music industry has changed beyond all recognition in recent years and maybe some of those old stores are out of step, but you will miss them when they’re gone. Unless….

If you want to get involved in the campaign or simply find out more go here