Tour routes in the UK are getting shorter and shorter, but what is the reason behind it? In recent years, the UK live music scene has seen a significant reduction in the number of shows on tour circuits. Artists now play fewer gigs compared to the 1990s, with grassroots tours shrinking from 22 shows in 1994 to just 11 in 2023, according to the Music Venue Trust. Despite recording a record high in spending in 2023, the UK live music sector has been slogging through trying times. In the same year, grassroots venues called 2023 the “most challenging year”, with…