CMS Committee share their Grassroots Music Venues report, supporting the campaign for a levy on arena and stadium tickets

MPs have backed the Music Venue Trust’s campaign on both a levy on arena and stadium tickets and a cut in VAT to support grassroots music venues.

Last Saturday, the Committee published their much-anticipated report after thorough consultation, which included extensive roundtable discussions and evidence sessions. The report addresses the current crisis in the grassroots music ecosystem and proposes arena and stadium shows should contribute to supporting grassroots touring via a £1 ticket levy.

The Committee presents crucial solutions recognizing the severity of the crisis facing grassroots venues and its potential impact on the UK’s music industry. In addition to recommending a voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets, they propose a VAT reduction on tickets to alleviate financial pressures on vulnerable sectors.

The report also advocates for a fan-led review of live and electronic music this summer to address long-term challenges in the live music industry.

Mark Davyd, CEO & founder of Music Venue Trust, Jon Collins, CEO of LIVE, David Martin, CEO of Featured Artists Coalition, and Annabella Coldrick, chief executive of Music Managers Forum, have all welcomed the report.

“As one of only three net exporters globally and with a multi-billion-pound industry in terms of gross value added to the economy, the UK is a music powerhouse. Live music is a key part of this success, contributing £5.2 billion and supporting 228,000 full- and part-time jobs in 2022, even after the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, grassroots live music venues, the local, limited capacity venues integral to the pipeline of creative and professional talent and key fixtures of our communities, are now facing a crisis of soaring costs and closures. These venues are stopping live music or closing entirely at a rate of two per week. Artists, and the people who rely on them for business, are facing a cost-of-touring crisis and finding opportunities squeezed. Promoters are less able to put on shows or make them financially viable. Festivals, electronic music venues and even academies and arenas are not insulated from the impacts. A comprehensive review by the Government is now needed to fully examine the long-term challenges to the live music ecosystem. This should be launched as a matter of urgency by summer 2024 and cover the perspectives of everyone affected, including fans.” (Grassroots Music Venues – Report Summary Extract)

You can read the full report to find out more here.