Bassline closing down after twenty two years

Bassline closing down after twenty two years

Bassline closing down after more than two decades of operation has been met with sadness by the nightlife community in Joburg.

Bassline focused on offering a stage and space for established and up and coming artists, both alternative and underground. Bassline closing down is a strategic move to extend the brand of the company.

They will be putting a lid on the venue side of business and move into the avenues of artist management, technical production, and the ever lucrative festival fields.

The managing director, Brad Holmes admits that the plan to change their business model has been a long time coming…

“The venue business itself has become increasingly more difficult and generally speaking, if you read any of the stuff that has been researched on the music industry. The customer is getting a lot more value out of a festival where he is paying R300 or R400 and is seeing ten acts in a day, whereas when you come into a venue you are seeing one or two acts.  It’s also got a lot to do with the economy itself. Everybody is streamlining their business because it makes sense and the world is changing. If you want to survive in the music industry you have got try and be ahead of the curve. Anybody and everybody who is a performer in South Africa has played at Bassline at some stage in life, whether you are playing afro-pop, ragga, death metal. We are going to stick to our core business and grow it.”

Bassline is known for its weekly ragga nights and has grown into a space for alternative music and events. One of these events is the popular Imbawula storytelling platforms.

Bassline closing down might be the end of an era, but it is also a move to ensure future growth. Management plans to continue developing Bassline’s relationship with artists, business partners, and the City of Joburg as they always have.

 Sourced