Is club culture dying or is it just a blip?

The news today is awash with stories of the increasing numbers of clubs that are closing. A death knell is being rung across the world, with widespread scaremongering about “the death of club culture”.

While there’s no doubt that a large degree of shrinkage is occurring in line with a global economic downturn, calling it the “death of nightlife” might be an exaggeration.

Is club culture dying or is it just a blip? Let’s investigate…

EVERYTHING COMES IN CYCLES
Back in the early ’80s, everyone was hailing the death of disco. After the superstar DJ era of the late ’90s, dance music went through a decline but came back stronger. Likewise, recessions come and go. It’s a tough time right now, but this too shall pass.

ECONOMIC PRESSURE FUELS INNOVATION
When the going gets tough, humans get creative. So, while clubs are closing and there is increasing pressure on the industry, these times provide the catalyst behind new ideas, inventive solutions and a desire for change.

NEW GENERATIONS NEED CONNECTION MORE THAN EVER
The modern age has cultivated a culture of disconnection, from ourselves and each other. Finding ways to socialise and work through life’s challenges in an open, permissive environment means there is a deep need to keep rave culture alive.

IT’S NOT “DYING” EVERYWHERE
While you might be aware of a decline in Western locations, across the world, rave culture is thriving in previously underrepresented nations. In Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America, there are rich cultures and movements feeding into global culture. So, it’s a case of looking beyond the standard locations.