Renate Berlin Lease Secured, Moth Club at Risk: Week's News

What's happening at three major clubs this week

Berlin's Renate survives lease threat

Berlin's Renate club secured a lease extension on December 16, guaranteeing operations through 2026 after facing year-end closure. The Friedrichshain venue will temporarily shut after its 86-hour New Year's Eve marathon featuring Ben Sims and Lewis Fautzi for planned improvements.

Moth Club fights residential development

London's Moth Club held a December 12 fundraiser as it confronts closure risk from an adjacent 190-flat residential project in Hackney, where balconies would directly overlook the stage and smoking area—threatening noise complaints that could shutter the venue.

Paragon hosts mayoral inauguration

New York's Paragon will mark an unusual political crossover on January 1 with an inauguration party for incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani, featuring an all-Brooklyn lineup including Ashley Venom and DJ Sanna.

Why Renate's lease win and Moth's fundraiser reveal venue pressures

Renate's December 16 lease extension saved the Berlin stalwart from closure mere weeks before its contract expired, following a year marked by fire damage and eviction notices. The Friedrichshain venue will pause after its 86-hour New Year's marathon for improvements before reopening in 2026—a testament to Berlin's club ecosystem resilience.

London and New York face different fights

Across Europe, Moth Club in Hackney held a December 12 fundraiser against a starker threat: an adjacent 190-flat residential development with balconies overlooking its stage and smoking area. Meanwhile, New York's Paragon announced an all-Brooklyn lineup for a January 1 party honoring incoming mayor Zohran Mamdani—a rare political crossover signaling nightlife's cultural weight. Both stories underscore venues navigating gentrification, development pressures, and the fragile economics keeping independent spaces alive.

How politics and ownership are reshaping electronic music spaces

Berlin's Renate secured a lease extension on December 16, ensuring operations continue into 2026 after facing closure threats throughout 2025. The Friedrichshain club will temporarily shut following its 86-hour New Year's marathon for regrouping and improvements.

Venues under pressure, politics in the club

London's Moth Club held emergency fundraising on December 12 amid closure risk from an adjacent 190-flat residential development whose balconies overlook the venue's stage and outdoor areas—a scenario familiar to clubs battling gentrification. Meanwhile, New York's Paragon hosts an inauguration party for mayoral figure Zohran Mamdani on January 1, featuring an all-Brooklyn lineup including Ashley Venom.

In corporate news, newly released documents confirm Beggars Group holds a 51% majority stake in XL Recordings as of 2024. Over 600 artists, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, signed an open letter December 16 urging Live Nation to divest from its Israel subsidiary.