SIR – RE John Phillpott’s letter (Arts are dying a painful death, May 18).

It`s hard not to agree with first half of the letter. Creative Industries bring joy, inspiration and revenue to West Midlands and to the rest of the country. It is distressing to see empty venues, theatres and arts centres.

We risk losing not only theatres but grass roots music venues, cultural magazines, radio stations and TV channels. Creative industries are at complete halt.

Millions of workers, many of them self employed have no income and no prospects to starts earning anytime soon.

Mr Phillpott is asking why creative industries are in such a dire state.

For the sake of being blunt – because they have been underfunded by decades of austerity, cuts and political machinations. It has been going on as long as I am alive – a good 40 years.

Average income for a musician in UK is roughly £20,000, independent and unsigned artists and performers hardly make minimal income. Many rely on two or three day jobs to fund their career.

Where are all those wealthy rock stars asks Mr Phillpott to fund the arts. Well, the last rock band that really enjoyed a financial and commercial success were Arctic

Monkeys and that was 17 years ago. Today, the reality is that hardly anyone has money in the entertainment industry.

Worcestershire has its share of living rock legends and I can assure Mr Phillpott they have been supporting local artistic scene from their own pockets. Many of us on the independent circuit work virtually for free.

I would like to assure Mr Phillpott that rock has always been a medium of protest and encouragement for social change. The Worcester scene has produced such amazing acts as Soeur, Raptor, Ria Plays, Dead Dads Club, Happy Bones, nth cave, Nuns of the Tundra, Kick The Clown, Hannah Law, Chloe Mogg, Hey Jester, The Earnest Spears, Sedated Society, The VHTs and The Lightweights (to name only few).

All those bands receive national radio airplays, tour the country and successfully record – and will be making racket for years to come. Despite all the odds.

Angry letters to local papers won`t change it.

MALICIA DABROWICZ

Worcester