County Durham Music Report 2025
Between January and March 2025, Index Music was commissioned by Into the Light to conduct research about the music community of County Durham. This report shares the voices, experiences and insights of local musicians, promoters, educators and music lovers, highlighting the strengths and challenges within the community and offering practical recommendations to support its growth and sustainability.
Please note this is a public version of the report, with information on local businesses, artists and freelancers redacted if direct consent was not provided. If you are not currently visible on the public version of our spreadsheet or Google map but would like to be included, please fill out a listing here or get in touch at hello@indexmusic.co.uk.
Additional Materials
- Link to Download PDF of Report
- Survey Questions: Full List of Questions Used in the Research
- Survey Responses: Full Details
- Survey Responses: Highlights and Summaries
- 1:1 Meetings: Questions Asked
- 1:1 Meetings: Summaries
- Music Map: Spreadsheet (Public Version That Has Been Redacted)
- Funding Resource: Collation of Funding Opportunities
Acknowledgements
This research project was funded by Into the Light. Into the Light is a place partnership building a new, stronger, cultural future for County Durham. Into the Light is funded by Durham County Council, The National Lottery through Arts Council England, The UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Durham University.
Thank you to
The County Durham music community for contributing their time by filling out and distributing the survey. The 16 stakeholders that contributed their time and expertise to this research project.
The local Durham creative community that contributed to our music map at the Place Lab launch event. Into the Light, Place Labs and Durham County Council for entrusting Index with this project.
If you didn’t get a chance to contribute to the report or music map but still want to be included, please get in touch hello@indexmusic.co.uk or add a listing to the Index Directory.
