Google and GigPig put Britain’s pub gigs on the map

Thousands of live gigs taking place in pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants every month will now be easier to discover through Google Search, including AI-powered experiences such as AI Mode and AI Overviews.

‍‍

Thousands of live gigs taking place in Britain’s pubs, bars and other hospitality venues every month will now be easier to discover through Google Search, following almost a year of work with Manchester-based live music platform GigPig.

Live performances taking place every week in the UK’s Seed Music Venues can now surface through Google Search, including through Search AI-powered experiences such as AI Mode and AI Overviews.

The launch comes as people increasingly turn to Google to find live music nearby. Google Trends shows UK search interest for “live music near me” has increased 40% over the past year.

GigPig supplies its live event data directly into Google’s Live Events ticketing module, allowing gigs booked on the platform to surface when people are looking for live music, artists, venues and things to do nearby.

To make that possible, GigPig has created a dedicated page for every gig and linked its venue information with Google Points of Interest, helping Google surface accurate information about live performances taking place across Britain’s hospitality venues.

The move opens up a part of Britain’s live music scene that has traditionally been difficult to discover online.

While concerts, festivals and ticketed shows are widely promoted through ticketing platforms and event listings, many gigs in pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants are free to attend and paid for by the venue. As a result, they can be much harder for audiences to find.

‍

Kit Muir-Rogers, Co-Founder of GigPig, said: “There is an enormous live music scene happening in plain sight across Britain’s hospitality venues. The problem is that much of it sits outside the traditional ticketing ecosystem, so historically it has been surprisingly difficult to discover.

“The way people find things to do is changing quickly. People are increasingly asking Google what’s happening around them, whether that’s live music tonight, a DJ nearby or somewhere to go this weekend.

“GigPig knows those performances are happening because the venues are actually booking them on our platform. By connecting that data with Google, we’re making thousands of gigs easier for audiences to discover, while helping venues drive footfall and artists find new audiences.”

‍

Shaun Jenkinson, Operations Director at The Innvest Group, which operates Katie O’Brien’s, said: “Live music is a huge part of the atmosphere at Katie O’Brien’s and gives people another reason to come through the door and stay longer. Anything that makes those gigs easier to discover is a positive thing for venues like ours, particularly when so much live music in hospitality is free to attend and can be hard to find online.

“Making that information more visible through Google should help more people discover what’s happening locally and ultimately drive more footfall into venues.”

‍

The launch follows almost a year of work between GigPig and Google’s Strategic Partnerships and Product teams.

GigPig was founded in Manchester in 2022 to make it easier for hospitality venues to find, book and manage live entertainment, while giving artists more opportunities to find gigs and get paid for performing.

-ENDS-



‍

About GigPig

GigPig believes hospitality represents one of the least visible parts of Britain’s live music economy. Unlike traditional music venues, performances in pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels are often free to attend and therefore leave little trace in ticketing data, despite providing paid performance opportunities for thousands of artists and generating footfall for venues.

GigPig is a live music marketplace connecting hospitality venues with artists across the UK. Its platform allows pubs, bars, hotels, restaurants and other venues to find, book, manage and pay artists, while giving performers a free way to find and manage gigs.


‍